Golf Digest India - May 2017

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1

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

THINK YOUNG | PLAY HARD

PUBLISHED BY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

jyoti randhawa mike round HEALTH & FITNESS

victoria lovelady O

EDITORS’

2017

F

IN G

BES

T

Exclusive Official Media Partner

B

CHOICE

IT’S SERGIO’S TIME! spain’s sergio garcia wins first major at augusta national

EST IN GOLF |

IN G O L F | B E ST I N

OLF | BEST IN G

|B LF

EST

ige awards india learn golf week gia research report

GOL

INDIA GOLF EXPO 2017

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

l l

Contents 05/17

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 Golf Expo Promoting the game!

53

GIA Research Report Unveiling the tenets of the first-of-it’s-kind findings about India’s golf industry

54

India Golf Expo Awards

56

Exclusive interview with Mike Round, Director Development, Ladies European Tour

by Rohit bhaRdwaj & aman misRa

50

58

India Learn Golf Week

70

The Referee’s View: TV broadcast can be misleading

72

Fitness Tips Get those hips moving

74

China deal to bolster growth in Asia

India Digest

18

22

Newsmakers Update on Indian golfers around the world

26

Junior Golf

30

Club Round-Up Updates from courses across India

34

Inside The Ropes Interview with Jyoti Randhawa

by Rohit bhaRdwaj

38 40

Cover Story 18

50

It’s Sergio’s Time!

Sergio Garcia fulfilled his Major wish with a win at The Masters to become only the third golfer from Spain after Seve Ballesteros & José María Olazábal to do so

43

Business Of Golf Industry updates

by Chuah Choo Chiang 76

Health & Fitness Victoria Lovelady Corporate Digest Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup

44

TATA HITACHI World Corporate Golf Challenge

48

Yatra Golf Retreat

80

Lifestyle

Features 82

How to Hit the High Ball Be a greens-in-regulation machine. by jason day

86

Butch Harmon: 3 Secrets from 3 Great Putters

92

2017 Hot List: Golf Balls 38 gold and silver winners, plus Costco enters our blind test.

Corrigendum

In our April issue - we had wrongfully mentioned SGDC: Course Maintenance Specialist (Article - Building A Golf Course By Anit Mehrotra, Page 44). It should instead be written SGDC: Course Construction & Maintenance Specialist. The error is regretted.

12 golf digest india | may 2017

Ernie Els and Vijay Singh launch new course in Malaysia

by mike staChuRa

40

62

Conquering the 17th at TPC Sawgrass

64

Interview with former PLAYERS Championship Exec. Director Matt Rapp

98

The 38 Best Things in Golf Our complete guide to the golf lifestyle. by the editoRs

Cover Photograph: Ben Walton/Golf Digest

Editor’s Letter

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Dear Readers,

T

This issue marks the start of Golf Digest India’s official relationship with the US PGA Tour. Now we have a partnership with the PGA Tour, European and Asian Tours.

These important global bodies have responded enthusiastically to our magazine’s focus on quality.

Jack Nicklaus

The recently concluded 6th Annual India Golf Expo took place in Gurgaon and saw 400 delegates gather to chart out the future of Indian golf. The most significant announcement was that of “India Learn Golf Write to me at rishi@teamgolfdigest.com or Week” – a week long programme that will on Twitter @RishiNarain_ give an opportunity to some 20,000 golfers to take their first introductory golf lesson with the sole aim to create the next 100,000 Indian golfers in 5 years. This initiative of the Golf Industry Association ( GIA) is backed wholeheartedly with all the associations connected with the game – namely the Indian Golf Union, the National Golf Academy of India, the Women’s Golf Association of India & the Golf Course Superintendents and Managers Association of India.

The first edition of India Learn Golf Week is scheduled for September 25- October 1 and over 40 golf clubs in India are expected to participate in what could truly be a gamechanger. Read more details inside. Golf Digest will be right there backing this initiative every step of the way and keeping our readers up to date on the progress of this national movement.

Meanwhile, we continue to bring our readers happenings from around the country and our world class instruction articles.

Happy Reading!

Rishi Narain

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.

14 golf digest india | may 2017

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.

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Cover Story

IT’S SERGIO’S TIME! Defending champion Danny Willett of England helps 2017 Masters winner Sergio Garcia of Spain put on the prestigious Green Jacket

18 golf digest india | may 2017

Cover Story

SE V E BA L L ES T ER OS, JOSÉ M A R Í A OL A Z Á BA L … SERGIO GA RCI A : T HE HEIR A PPA R EN T H A S FIN A L LY FUL FIL L ED HIS DES T IN Y

F

SERGIO'S

prize money (2017)

$1,980,000

rom the iconic moment that youthful Spaniard emerged from behind a tree and bounded up the fairway at Medinah in the 1999 US PGA Championship, Garcia had been feted as a Major champion in waiting.

And waited he has. A further 69 Major championships, in fact, since he finished runner-up to Tiger Woods in Chicago.

On April 9 2017, the day one of his golfing idols, the late Ballesteros, would have turned 60, the stars eventually aligned for Garcia in Georgia, and Spain finally had another Major champion, another Green Jacket.

“To do it on Seve’s 60th birthday and to join him and Olazábal, my two idols in golf my whole life, it's something amazing,” said Garcia. “José sent me a text on Wednesday night telling me how much he believed in me. And what I needed to do.

And just pretty much believe in myself.”

Like Ballesteros before him, Garcia displayed obvious talent from an early age, taking up the game at the age of three under the careful tutelage of his father Victor, a club professional in Spain.

Young Sergio won his club championship aged just 12 and four years later he became the then youngest player to make the cut at a European Tour event in the 1995 Turespaña Open Mediterranea. Land of Valencia, aged 15 years and 46 days.

Victory in the 1998 Amateur Championship earned Garcia a first invitation to the Masters Tournament in 1999 when he shared a practice round with both Ballesteros and Olazábal, wisely picking the brains of his compatriots who already had three Green Jackets between them at that point.

Olazábal would go on to swell that number to four that week, and initially, Garcia felt Augusta National offered him an enticing opportunity to one day join Spain’s elder statesmen in the pantheon of Major champions. Yet over time that feeling diminished, with eighth place in 2002 and tied fourth position two years later the nearest he came to the Green Jacket, before he ultimately ‘found peace’

SE RG I O’S BE ST FI N I S H E S I N M A J ORS Masters: Won (2017) US Open: T3 (2005) Open Championship: 2nd/T2 (2007, 2014) PGA Championship: 2nd/T2 (1999, 2008)

10

th career win on the PGA Tour for Sergio (Seve Ballesteros had 9) Sergio has now moved to No. 7 in the World Rankings. His highest rank has been No. 2 (after winning the HSBC Champions in 2008) He is currently 12th in the Fedex Cup standings on the PGA Tour

1

with this win, sergio moves to the no. 1 spot in the Race to Dubai Standings on the European Tour

19th start - Most Masters starts ever before first win 22 - Most number of top-10s in majors at the time of first win 74 - appearances for Sergio before he won his first Major. Only Jay Haas - 86, Lee Westwood and Colin Montgomerie - 75 each have more starts without winning a Major

3

number of Spaniards to win the a Major, and Green Jacket Seve Ballesteros (1980,1983), Jose Maria Olazabal (1994, 1999) & Sergio Garcia (2017)

may 2017 | golf digest india

19

JD Cuban/Golf DiGest

Cover Story

Sergio Garcia exults after holing the winning putt against Englishman Justin Rose on the first playoff hole during the 2017 Masters at Augusta National

S ERG IO’S SC O RES FO R T HE WEEK 71, 69, 70, 69 (-9, tied with Justin Rose) 1.65 putts/green - Sergio’s putting average for the week.

Sergio was five out of six for sand saves (83.33%) over four rounds Sergio was second in driving accuracy for the week as he hit 45/56 fairways (80.36%). First was Soren Kjeldsen with 46/56.

75% Greens in regulation for Sergio - tied for second-most in the field (54/72) greens. First was Paul Casey with 56/72

20 golf digest india | may 2017

“ When I ca me her e in 1999, I felt lik e t his cour se wa s pr oba bly going t o gi v e me at l e a s t one M a jor ...” with the course.

“When I came here in 1999 as an amateur, I felt like this course was probably going to give me at least one Major,” he said in the Butler’s Cabin, before receiving the Green Jacket from 2016 winner Danny Willett.

“I'm not going to lie, that thought kind of changed a little bit through the years, because I started feeling uncomfortable on the course. But I kind of came to peace with it the last three or four years, and I accepted what Augusta gives and takes.

And I think because of that, I’m able to stand here today.”

During those ‘uncomfortable’ years at Augusta, it was the other Major championships which seemed to present

Garcia with a more viable route to Major success, with that second place behind Woods at Medinah in 1999 followed by three further runner-up finishes in Majors, in The Open Championship in 2007 – when he lost to Padraig Harrington in a play-off - and 2014, as well as the US PGA Championship in 2008, alongside a string of other top ten finishes, including five in the U.S. Open.

While Majors continued to prove elusive, significant victories elsewhere on the world stage did go his way – including the Players Championship on the US PGA Tour in 2008 and the HSBC Champions in 2009 – while Garcia also forged a reputation as one of Europe’s

Cover Story Amateur winner Sergio Garcia in 1999 with that year’s Masters champion José María Olazábal

'Congratulations to Sergio Garcia on his first Masters victory and first Major! I thought Sergio played very composed, played very well, and he played like he wasn't going to be denied even after he made a couple mistakes. He fought his way back into it. Sergio was just very composed all day. Sergio played like that champion that he is.'

Jack Nicklaus | @jacknicklaus Amazing @TheSergioGarcia! I celebrate your triumph as if it were mine. Much deserved, and how special to win on Seve's birthday! GP Gary Player | @garyplayer Congratulations @TheSergioGarcia on your fantastic win @TheMasters Well deserved! We are all sure Seve pushed you from above!

Seve Ballesteros Foundation | @seveballesteros most passionate and fearless Ryder Cup players, a mantle he also inherited from Ballesteros and Olazábal, the pioneering pairing he had watched conquer the Americans as a youngster.

In 1999, aged 19, Garcia had become the youngest player to represent Europe in the biennial contest, and after a further four appearances, he took on the role of vice-captain in Wales in 2010 after slipping down the world rankings, before a return to winning ways on the European Tour the following year earned him a place in the team when Olazábal’s took on the captaincy.

Fittingly, the pair united at Medinah, the scene of Garcia’s first near miss in a Major, in 2012, the year after Ballesteros lost his battle with cancer, and together, Garcia, Olazábal and Team Europe channelled the spirit of Seve to pull off one of sport’s greatest comebacks. Five years on, it somehow seemed fateful once more that on Ballesteros’ birthday, Garcia would finally make his Major breakthrough following an epic encounter with another protagonist of the Miracle of Medinah, Englishman Justin Rose.

As if there weren’t already enough signs to suggest that it might be Garcia’s time, after dropping two shots back during the final round, he eagled the 15th hole to return to the top of the leaderboard alongside Rose. The last player to make three on that hole en route to victory?

Olazábal in 1994, of course.

There would be one more scare on Garcia’s journey, as he missed his chance to seal victory on the final hole in regulation play, but when the pair – the friends - returned down the 18th hole one more time, Garcia was at last to fulfil his Text & Images: European Tour

“José is a great man and we’ve had a great relationship for many, many years. To be able to join him and Seve as Masters Champions from Spain, it’s unbelievable.” destiny, as he watched his 14ft birdie putt curl agonisingly around the cup, before finally dropping.

Happier than ever off the course, more mature on it, at 37, Garcia had paid his dues and his moment had finally arrived. Seventy-three previous Major championships worth of frustration was let out in one primal scream, before he dropped to the ground and beat his fist into the hallowed turf of Augusta National, the venue he will now return to for the remainder of his life.

As he slipped into the Green Jacket, Garcia joined that most elusive of clubs, an institution which did have two Spanish members, and now has three.

Movingly, Olazábal had sent him a note of encouragement earlier in the week which clearly had a profound effect.

“He did mention a couple of things that kind of touched my heart a little bit,” said Garcia. “He said, "I'm not sharing my locker at the moment, and I hope that I get to do it with you. So if you guys wouldn't mind putting me with José, it would be great. “He's a great man and we've had a great relationship for many, many years.

To be able to join him and Seve as Masters Champions from Spain, it's unbelievable.”

W I T H SE RG I O'S W I N T H E R E A R E N OW SI X ST R A I G H T FI RST T I M E M A J OR W I N N E RS Jason Day (2015 PGA Championship) Danny Willett (2016 Masters) Dustin Johnson (2016 US Open) Henrik Stenson (2016 Open Champion) Jimmy Walker (2016 PGA Champion) Sergio Garcia (2017 Masters)

may 2017 | golf digest india

21

Newsmakers

PLAYERS IN THE NEWS Professional Golf Tour of India

Shamim coasts to 5-shot win at Kolkata Classic

O

vernight leader Shamim Khan kept his head steady to clinch the Rs 40 lakh Kolkata Classic, his first ever title at the historic Royal Calcutta Golf Club, by five strokes. Entering the final round with a 3-shot cushion, Shamim was well aware that just keeping the errors out on the final day would pave the way for his victory.

That’s exactly what he did with a dogged final round of even-par-72.

The 38-year-old with a total score of 10-under 278 bagged his 13thprofessional title and took home the winner’s cheque worth Rs. 6 lakh. He thus climbed from fourth to first in the PGTI Order of Merit.

Reigning Indian Open champion and home course favourite SSP Chawrasia finished runner-up at five-under-283 following a final round of two-under 70.

Kolkata’s Shankar Das (72) claimed third place at four-under-284.

There was a marked difference in Shamim Khan’s (70-68-68-72) ball-striking on Friday.

He went from hitting six out of 16 fairways in round three to 10 out of 16 in the final round.

“I MADE A LOT OF GOOD CHIP-PUTTS THIS WEEK THAT MORE THAN COMPENSATED FOR MY POOR DRIVING IN THE FIRST THREE ROUNDS.” — SHAMIM KHAN

Mukesh fires 67 to bag Cochin Masters

M

how golfer Mukesh Kumar produced a class act, a bogeyfree 5-under 67, in the final round to bag the Rs 40 lakh PGTI Cochin Masters title at the CIAL Golf Club in Kochi by one stroke.

Mukesh, who totaled 12-under 276 for four days, thus gave his preparations for Asian Tour’s Panasonic Open in Japan a major boost. It was a record 19th PGTI win for Mukesh and his second in Kochi after 2015.

Sri Lankan Anura Rohana claimed the runner-up spot at 11-under 277 after his final round of 2-under 70.

Mukesh Kumar (70-68-71-67), lying overnight tied third and two off the lead, made a determined start with two birdies on the first six holes followed by an astonishing par-save on the seventh where he recovered from the water

hazard and sank a 20-footer.

Mukesh began closing the gap with leader Rohana on the back-nine. He landed his approach shots within two feet on both the 10th and 13th to make birdies and thus take a share of the lead. Mukesh went ahead when Anura dropped a bogey on the 14th. The winner of over 120 titles finally sealed it with a birdie on the 16th to pocket Rs 6 lakh.

PGTI Order of Merit Rank

Player

Prize Money (`)

Played

1.

Shamim Khan

15,34,600

6

2.

Ajeetesh Sandhu

10,77,800

5

3.

Khalin Joshi

10,39,361

6

4.

Mukesh Kumar

10,06,547

3

5.

Harendra Gupta

8,70,842

6

6.

Udayan Mane

7,79,341

5

7.

Honey Baisoya

7,42,470

5

8.

Anura Rohana

6,94,601

5

9.

Sanjeev Kumar

6,20,945

5

10.

Shankar Das

6,06,060

5

l Updated till Cochin Masters

Siddikur clinches inaugural Chittagong Open: Bangladeshi golfing icon Md Siddikur Rahman lived up to the expectations of the home crowd that turned up to cheer him at the Bhatiary Golf & Country Club (BGCC) in Chittagong as he registered an imposing six-shot victory at the inaugural City Bank American Express Chittagong Open on Saturday.

Siddikur shot a clinical two-under 70 in the final round to keep the trophy with the host nation. He ended the Rs. 40 lakh event with a remarkable 16-under 272 total.

22 golf digest india | may 2017

Newsmakers

Autistic golfer Ranveer conferred with ‘Bheem Award’ Fast Facts

M

any stories inspire us to ‘endure limits’ but there are few that inspire to take those limits ‘head-on’ move ahead and make a mark.

Ranveer Singh Saini is one such narrative that has topped the list of inspirational stories. Ranveer, an autistic golfer, won India’s first gold medal in golf at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

The 16-year-old star from Haryana has won 3 gold medals at the Asia Pacific Games, and has also been named in the Limca Book of Records thrice.

For his numerous achievements, Ranveer was conferred with the highest sports award of Haryana, ‘Bheem Award’ by the honourable governor Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki in February.

4 Indians earn cards on the MENA Tour for 2017

Finishing inside the top-55 at the Final stage of qualifying school - Feroz Singh Garewal, Abhishek Jha, Karan Vasudeva, and Rohan Bahri all earned their playing rights on the MENA Tour for 2017.

Garewal (75-70-78) led for the first two days before his last round six-over dropped him into a tie for 10th place alongside Jha (75-73-75.) They both totalled 7-over 223. Vasudeva finished T-38 with a tally of 20-over 236 while Bahri placed T-44 four strokes behind. The qualifying was held at the El Jadida Golf Club in Mazagan, Morocco between March 7-9.

Selected Scores

Casablanca Open (54 holes, Prize money - $40,000, Venue- Palmeraie Country Club, Morocco) T-41st - Feroz Singh Garewal T-61st - Arkesh Bhatia (Am) Royal Golf Mohammedia Open (54 holes, Prize money - $40,000, Venue- Royal Golf D’Anfa, Morocco) T-56 - Rayhan Thomas (Am)

CSJC names Chawrasia Sportsperson of the Year

At their annual event to facilitate the best in spor t, the Calcutta Sports Journalists Club (CSJC) awarded SSP Chawrasia the Sportsperson of the Year award.

This comes on the heels of back-to-back Indian Open wins, becoming only the third person in the history of the tournament to do so. Speaking to GDI, the CSJC said Chawrasia was chosen out of a host of athletes which is decided by votes from members of the CSJC. The ever gracious SSP, was on hand to accept the award in his hometown of Kolkata.

Pre v i o u s w i n n e r s o f t h e award include Saina Nehwal(badminton), Saurav Ghosal(squash), and Harbajan Singh(cricket)

24 golf digest india | may 2017

l Ranveer is the first Indian along with his unified partner Ms Monica Jajoo to win gold medal at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles on 31st July, 2015. l First Indian to participate in Special Olympics -Asia Pacific Golf Masters, Macau 2013 & to win Level 1 & Level 2 golf competitions. l First Indian to have consecutively been a LIMCA record holder for his victories at the Asia-Pacific Golf Masters tournament for three consecutive years 2014, 2015 and 2016. l Conferred with the Indian Achiever’s Award by former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri’s son, Sunil Shastri l Honoured with the PHD Sports Excellence Award by the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry-Sports Committee. l Felicitated by the honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi on the Haryana Swarna Jayanti Diwas

Women’s Golf

Vani wins her second title by 9 shots Vani Kapoor claimed her second title of the season with an impressive 9-stroke margin in the sixth leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour held at the par-71 Poona Club golf course. Her three-day total read three-over 216.

Vani had earlier won at the Tollygunge Club in Kolkata.Gaurika Bishnoi and Amandeep Drall were tied second with identical scores of 225 after 54 holes.

Bengaluru lass Sharmila Nicollet was placed fourth with a total score of 227. The Tour will resume after a two-month break in July.

Junior Golf

Jeev gives back to Chandigarh and golf Jeev Milkha Singh (centre) with the winners of the Milkha Junior Golf Challenge at the Panchkula Golf Club

F

ormer Asia No.1, Jeev Milkha Singh has set up an initiative in his endeavour to grow the game of golf. This will allow junior golfers to showcase their talents on a competitive platform.

On the 8th of April 2017, the Milkha Charitable Trust played host to 110 junior golfers. Teeing it up at the Panchkula Golf Club, they played the inaugural tournament of the Milkha Junior Golf Challenge. This is in association with Ultimate Golf, and aims to create future Olympians to represent the country.

The tournament saw juniors playing in 19 different categories, 10 for boys and 9 for girls. From the winners, two get a chance to represent the country at the Ciputra World Junior Golf Championship, Jakarta from June 6-9 two months later.

Through the trust, Jeev has offered to sponsor air tickets for four winners of the season-ending Milkha Junior Golf Championship scheduled in his hometown during the last week of May. The winners get a chance to represent India in the US Kids World and Teen World Championship at Pinehurst, North Carolina,USA.

26 golf digest india | may 2017

The winners in various categories were as follows -

BOYS

GIRLS

6 years & below

Jaibir S Kang

7 years & below

Mahika Garg

7 years

Harjai Milkha

8 years

Yogyata Modi

8 years

Krish Chawla

9 years

Vabhi Chadha

9 years

Ajay

10 years

Ceerat Kang,

10 years

Gurnavjeet Singh

11 years

Hazel Chauhan

11 years

Vasu Sehgal

12 years

Puneet K Bajwa

12 years

Ayush Pannu

13 years

Gurnaaz Gill

13 years

Akshat Sharma,

14 years

Vasundhara Thiara

14 years

Hargobing Singh

15-18 years

Lakhmehar Pardesi

15-18 years

Ankush Saroha

Junior Golf

Fr. Agnel Multipurpose (Vashi) school kids enjoy golf tips during IGU’s ‘Golf in Schools’ initiative in association with Evolution Golf

IGU ‘GOLF IN SCHOOLS’ GETS A KICK START IN MAHARASHTRA In an effort to promote the game, the Indian Golf Union (IGU) has introduced the ‘Golf in Schools’ programme (GISP) across the nation.

The main goal of the GISP, is to introduce golf to thousands of school children every year. The West Zone of the IGU has taken up fulfilment of this vision with a missionary zeal.

After starting this programme in a number of schools in Gujarat, it has now moved to

Maharashta where the first school, Fr. Agnel Multipurpose in Navi Mumbai is a beneficiary.

Headed by Rev. Fr. Saturnino Almeida, the school has chosen to initially introduce the sport as one of the games in their Annual Summer Coaching Camp which was held from April 8 to May 1 in the school premises.

The Evolution Golf team headed by Amit Nigam, conducted this camp with 68 children

(both boys & girls) between the ages of 6-13 enrolled for the programme. During this camp, they learnt the basics of the game - and also visited the CIDCO’s Kharghar Valley Golf Course in Navi Mumbai for a practice session on the driving range.

A few more schools in Navi Mumbai and Pune have already expressed their interest in this initiative.

Promising Junior

PRARTHANA KHANNA

Prarthana began playing golf at the age of six.

The Gurgaon girl’s foray into competition was a year ago, when she made waves on the Albatross Tour, wrapping up the Player of the Year award in 2016 courtesy three wins.

This made her eligible for the True Visions International Golf Tournament held at the Suvarnabhumi Golf Club in Bangkok from April 4-7 last month.

The tournament saw the participation of 160 golfers from across 19 nations. The Indian contingent comprised of 27 members including boys and girls in different categories.

In her age bracket, she finished 5th overall, becoming the only Indian to make two birdies - the first four positions all went to Thai girls who were familiar with the layout. Winning the 2016 Junior Masters Championship held at Classic Golf and Country Club helped her qualify for the US Kids European Tour Championship to be held in Scotland, June 2017.

Before that, Prathana will now tee it up in her first IGU sub-feeder tour at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club Resort in Chandigarh.

Her ultimate aim is to turn professional and contribute to women’s golf in India.

Fast Facts

Born : November 13, 200 8 (8 years) Height : 4’ 6’’, Weight : 31 kgs School : Shri Ram Sch ool, Aravali Handicap : 16 Represents : Manesar Golf Club, and practices at Hamoni Golf Camp Coach : Abhishek Ahlaw at Mentor and Idol : Her father, Puneet Khanna

may 2017 | golf digest india

27

Junior Golf

My aim is to turn golfers into players: Jared Golf Digest India caught up with Jared Steger, coach at the International Junior Golf Academy(IJGA) to hear about his experience as he visited three cities in India – Chandigarh, Gurgaon & Delhi. In this time, he worked with more than forty juniors.

BY AMAN MISRA

E

very month Golf Digest India in partnership with the International Junior Golf Association (IJGA) and Albatross Junior Golf Tour India, brings you advice to help groom future champions. IJGA is one of the premier academies for junior golfers that aspire to play college golf and later professionally.

Based out of Hilton Head, South Carolina (USA) their objective is to not only develop golfers, but also focuses on academics and all-round development. Jared Steger is based out of the IJGA academy.

Post his three city tour of India, Golf Digest India caught up with Steger to hear from him about his experience as he worked with more than forty Indian juniors in the first week of April 2017.

Originally from Chicago, Coach Steger played Division I college golf at Northern Illinois and then at Western Illinois. Prior to this, he competed professionally for five years on the Web.com Tour, PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latin America.

GDI: This was your first time in India, tell us about your experience?

Overall the trip was great. Everyone was so friendly and the people who do play golf are very passionate about it. The game is continually growing and getting more popular.

All of the places we went to were very busy whether it was a weekend or weekday.

GDI: How did the junior golfers you worked with from India compare to the rest of the world?

The top golfers compare very favourably to the best in the world. I was fortunate to work with a few players who are on the national squad and their golf games are very impressive.

You are seeing more and more success from Indians at International junior events as well as amateur competitions such as the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships.

GDI: What do Indian juniors need to do in order to succeed on the world stage?

The common theme I saw with Indian golfers when compared to the rest of the world, is they could improve their short game.

Many players had a very good long game, however the short game whether it be putting, bunker play, or chipping or pitching could be improved.

28 golf digest india | may 2017

IJGA coach Jared Steger with Indian juniors at the Chandigarh Golf Association

GDI: What is the most important aspect of the game?

Having a growing mindset. Every player I work with, it doesn’t matter what level they are at, each person at some point in their careers will have to learn to deal with disappointment and change.

A player needs to understand that golf is not about good days and bad days, and instead is about understanding the big picture and focusing on the specific task at hand that you are trying to accomplish.

Indians need to learn how to practice more efficiently. It doesn’t matter what level you are at. The more a player can practice with a purpose or have a game plan will make them better golfers.

Jared’s advice l After a player hits 5 balls we might have them make ten 3 foot putts in a row or they have to get up and down before they return to hit balls. l By doing this, a player now has to recall what they learned and hence the learning curve has been elevated dramatically which enables better performance. This way they are challenging themselves both mentally and physically. l The more you can recreate tournament-like conditions in practice, the better the performance in tournaments.

GDI: Why is club fitting so important, especially for juniors?

If a club is too heavy or too long, it will force them to compensate and could lead to improper mechanics and bad habits.

In addition to this, too many juniors are in search of distance and use a standard driver when they are not tall or strong enough. This causes them to lose distance as they cannot swing the club efficiently. Another common problem we saw was with shafts, which are the engine of the golf club. If it is too stiff, you will lose distance. On the other hand, if the shaft is too flexible, you will lose accuracy.

Across The Country

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

Spreading Camaraderie

Poona Golf Club stages women’s Pro-Am With an aim to promote women’s golf in India, the 2nd Birla Sun Life Asset Management Women’s Pro-Am teed off at the Poona Golf Club on March 25. The event was supported

by Casablanca Sparkling Wines and Tourism Authority of Thailand.

14 women’s professional golfers teamed up with 38 amateur and junior golfers in a Texas

Scramble format.

The results were close, as professional Saaniya Sharma’s team won by two strokes - with a score of 49. Her team comprised of Vaishnavi Naik, Shishir Donde, Mayur Aiya.

Mehul Sanghani of Birla Sun Life gave away the prizes.

Amandeep Drall’s team finished runner-

up with a score of 51. Nishna Patel, Satish Shitut, Divesh Wadhwan were the other members. They received their award from Devang Shah. Shah is the president of the Golf Industry Association (GIA) and also managing director of Navratna Ahmedabad Golf Infra Pvt. Ltd. – the builders of Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Club.

Legacy

Noida GC hosts 37th PSPB inter-unit tournament For the past 3 decades, public sector oil companie s have employe d India’s top amateurs, enabling them to travel and train on the national circuits. Every year the PSPB inter-unit tournament becomes a mini “Nationals” of sorts as India’s top amateur players compete for their teams.

Oil India Limited (OIL) took the top honours with a gross score of 412 at the 37th PSPB Inter-Unit Golf Tournament held at the Noida Golf Course from March 21-24. Right behind were Oil and

30 golf digest india | may 2017

Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) who finished runners-up on 434.

The OIL team was made up Simarjeet Singh, Yuvraj Sandhu, Harimohan Singh, Varun Parik and Kshitij Naved Kaul. ONGC was represented by Aadil Bedi, Tapender Ghai, Dhruv Sheoran, Sunit Chawrasia and Jaiveer Atwal.

Other participants included Public Sector Undertakings such as Bharat Petroleum Ltd.(BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corp.Ltd., and Petronet LNG.

Skills Challenge The golf fans also witnessed an exciting ‘Skills Challenge’. Winners in various categories are listed below: Putting winner - Kshitij Naved Kaul (OIL) Longest Drive (Ladies) - Tvesa Malik (OIL) Longest Drive (Gents) - Anshul Patel (GAIL) Stableford Winning Team - Sandeep Deb (AOD) and K Deka (OIL)

Across The Country Welcome Initiative

Rules clinic for Meghalaya Junior Golfers

As part of promoting golf in the state of Meghalaya, the Meghalaya Golf Promoter’s Society (MGPS) organised a Rules Clinic conducted by Prantor Baruah.

Baruah, an internationally certified PGTI referee held the session at the Shillong Golf Club on the April 8.

The main intention of this clinic was to educate and enlighten juniors who will play the feeder and main junior tour events.

Established in March 2016, the MGPS is a registered body, affiliated to the Indian Golf Union. MGPS runs the only golf academy in North East India, and is supported by Protouch Golf Academy, Kolkata.

PGTI referee Prantor Baruah offers advise to the juniors

Golf Digest View Introducing junior golfers to the rules of the game is a big step towards popularising golf. We need more golf clubs to take up such initiatives on a regular basis.

MGPS held the Rules Clinic at Shillong Golf Club

Legal Tangle

Bombay HC halts Tiracol GC work pending inquiry In the last week of March 2017, the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court ordered construction to be stopped at the Tiracol golf course in Goa. The planned Rs. 500 crore golf project had its tenancy free certificates taken away, thereby stopping all progress until an inquiry is conducted.

According to the petitioner, land granted to tenants under the Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1964 is not allowed to be used for anything else other than that for

the purpose of agriculture, while such land was bought by Leading Hotels Ltd. to build the said golf course.

The project which was approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) allowed coastal regulation zone clearance for the building of an 18-hole golf course and ecotourism resort at Tiracol village in Pernem Taluka. It ran into controversy soon after when the promoters of the project began acquiring land.

Golf Digest View Developing 2-3 quality golf courses in Goa will bring in millions in tourism revenues and higher spending international tourists.

Think of Phuket plus Antalya in Turkey as proof. Unfortunately local interests have till date blocked all attempts to create tourist golf facilities in Goa. may 2017 | golf digest india

31

HOLE-INONE CLUB

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CONGRATULATIONS ACERS Hole-in-One’s Aayaan Sardana Jaypee Greens Golf Resort Mini Course, Greater Noida 14th February 2016 Amit Kumar MEGEPTA, Bengaluru 16th February 2016 Varun Srivastava Jaypee Greens Golf Resort, Greater Noida 30th March 2016 Channappa Gowda NS Eagleton Golf Resort, Bengaluru 29th October 2016 Rajan Sood Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida 10th December 2016 Mamta Bhargava Tollygunge Club, Kolkata 22nd March 2017 Kiran Sharma Tollygunge Club, Kolkata 29th March 2017 Archana Kumar Tollygunge Club, Kolkata 31st March 2017

Inside The Ropes

Playing different sports made me injury proof: Jyoti Randhawa

BY ROHIT BHARDWAJ rohit@teamgolfdigest.com

H

e has been a flag bearer of Indian golf for more than two decades now. Threetime Indian Open champion and former Asia No. 1 Jyoti Randhawa was undergoing a slump of form following a hand injury in 2013. But the adrenaline junkie and an adventure sports enthusiast made a strong comeback in 2016 seasonending tournaments World Manila Masters and Panasonic Open India. He was in the mix in Manila, leading the first two rounds, before finishing joint fourth. Further, he came close to winning once again at the Delhi Golf Club, ending runner-up in the weather-curtailed Panasonic Open India.

The 44 -year- old lo oks confident and is raring to go in the new season. Randhawa spoke about his son Zorawar’s interest in golf and his target of winning a title in Asia on the sidelines of the $1.75 million Hero Indian Open. Excerpts from the interview:

GDI: How are you scheduling your season now and how many events do you target?

I am going to play all of the Asian tour and a few in the European tours. I am looking at playing 20 weeks this year.

GDI: What are your goals now?

I need to win a golf tournament either in Asia or in Europe that is what I am looking forward to.

GDI: Describe a day in the life of Jyoti Randhawa- during season and off season…

When I am back from a tour I watch a lot of movies, relax, spend time with my son Zorawar, and go for rides either on my bike or my car. I also do a

34 golf digest india | may 2017

lot of target shooting. During off season I am out in the jungles, I go sky diving, do scuba diving.

I pack my bags load my 4/4 and go to the mountains and/or go fishing.

GDI: Describe your daily fitness routine…

I usually wake up at 5:30 am and go for my regular work out session – I do a little bit of running around 3-4 kms to warm up then a little stretching and then a lot of core exercises.

With age muscles tend to wither so in order to tone the muscle I also do light weights for muscle toning & strength.

GDI: You’ve been athletic and into various sports from a young age. How important was that in keeping you relatively injury free throughout your career?

Being athletic has been the key for me, being fit has always been an advantage. That is the reason I have never got injured besides a few broken bones due to adventure sports. Because of playing so many sports all my muscles and hand eye co-ordination improved and eventually became injury proof and the muscles developed in a certain way where they can take all the load.

Being athletic has been the key for me, being fit has always been an advantage.

That is the reason I have never got injured besides a few broken bones due to adventure sports.

Inside The Ropes

FAST FACTS

Date of Birth: May 4, 1972 Residence: Gurgaon Turned Pro: 1994 Asian Tour Wins: (8) 1998 & 1999 Hero Honda Masters, India; 2000 Wills Indian Open; 2000 Singapore Open, 2004 Volvo Masters of Asia, Malaysia; 2006 Hero Honda Indian Open, 2007 Hero Honda Indian Open, 2009 Singha Thailand Open.

Other Wins: (1) 2003 Suntory Open (on Japan Golf Tour) Best finish in a Major: Tied 27th at 2004 British Open Best World Ranking: 70

Jyoti Randhawa with his caddie Suryavijai Singh during the 2016 Panasonic Open India at the Delhi Golf Club

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35

Inside The Ropes

PICTURE PERFECT: Jyoti Randhawa with son Zorawar and wife Chitrangada Singh

SUPER MODEL: Jyoti Randhawa walks the ramp at the Louis Philippe Cup in Bengaluru

GDI: How much of a role did your army background and father play in you becoming a professional golfer?

Whatever I am today it is because of my father and the army background. My father always pushed me to play golf and the army background granted me access to golf courses and good training. My discipline in life and my game also come from the army background I was raised in.

I practice at Golden Greens golf course. I have had an association with Pritam Saikia from the last 2-3 years and he is my coach.

GDI: You are an adrenaline junkie and love adventure and outdoor sports. What are you up to these days?

As I said earlier I like sky diving that’s the latest passion I have. I go biking a lot. Next I am going to Aligarh for sky diving.

GDI: Your love for motorcycles is well known. What is the latest addition to your garage?

I have a Yamaha R1 - 1000 cc, which I have had for few years.

I had a Hayabusa as well but given to my schedule I can only

36 golf digest india | may 2017

maintain one bike, so I am just happy with the R1 currently.

GDI: You are an ace shooter as well. How has your shooting been and are you considering more focus there?

Yes, shooting has improved. The best part is golf helps shooting and shooting helps golf. In both the games you have to be relaxed and should be able to execute under pressure and have a clear mind. I am pursuing shooting but I still have a few years left in golf so once I’m done with golf I will take shooting seriously.

GDI: Is your son Zorawar taking to golf?

Yes he is really into golf but I do not push him too much as he is just 9 years old. But yes he wants to play golf and wants to go out with me and like the outdoor life. He has got a good swing, and I hope he will become a good golfer one day.

GDI: Where do you practise most often and who is your coach?

GDI: You’ve inspired a whole generation of golfers. Your advice to youngsters aspiring for a pro career?

For a good game one needs to remember that there is no short cut to hard work. One should have complete knowledge of the game, should be ready to work hard to achieve the goals, should have discipline in life and in the game and lastly should follow a strict routine.

GDI: What do you feel needs to be done for India to churn out more world class golfers?

I think having more public golf courses could solve the problem.

Golf courses should charge a minimal fee from the users. The golf courses should give free access to students as we have a lot of talent and we just need to encourage them to take up golf.

I usually wake up at 5:30 am and go for my regular work out session – I do a little bit of running around 3-4 kms to warm up then a little stretching and then a lot of core exercises.

Inside The Ropes

Whatever I am today it is because of my father and the army background. My father always pushed me to play golf and the army background granted me access to golf courses and good training.

Jyoti’s favourites Golf course in India Delhi Golf Club

Golf course around the world Capilano Golf Course, Vancouver and Lake Karrinyup Golf Course, Australia Movie The Shawshank Redemption Actors Daniel Day-Lewis Music Soft rock, Michael Jackson, Bryan Adams everything 80s

JYOTI TURNS ENTREPRENEUR

Jyoti Randhawa ventured into new territory by setting up a new physiotherapy and rehab centre in New Delhi called ProHealth Asia. Randhawa felt such a centre was much needed for sportspersons and golfers in particular to help expedite the recovery process.

Drink My everyday juice which is orange, pomegranate and grapes Food Thai food (chicken green curry & rice) Superstitions Not superstitious Essentials in your travel bag My rifle, my ammo, my fishing rod, my ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) Mid-round power snack? a banana Sport apart from golf Swimming, shooting and sky diving Holiday destination Thailand (I love the beaches there)

Jyoti Randhawa (2L) with his partners at ProHealth Asia - (L-R) Ruchir Goel, Nupur Nath, Philippa Stewart and Abhinav Gorawara

GDI: What is Pro Health Asia? How can they help golfers?

Philippa Stewart, who has been handling physiotherapy on the Asian Tour for almost 15 years is with Pro Health Asia and I have been treated by her for the past 20 years now. I met my other partner Abhinav, 2 years back and we decided on doing this physiotherapy clinic and that’s how Pro Health Asia was born. I wanted someone good as a physio, who would be able to provide world class service.

I have worked with physios in India and abroad and when they really know what they are doing, they are invaluable to golfers and other sportspersons.

GDI: Do you recommend Pro Health Asia to fellow Indian golfers?

It is not only about me being in the business but the quality of the service that Pro Health Asia provides. Both preventive and the rehab we have are world class and we also have the right people at the right place. Philippa Stewart and Shrikant Iyengar are doing a great job and are the best fits for Pro Health Asia.

Clubs in your bag Irons –TaylorMade irons Driver –TaylorMade M2 Driver Putter –Odyssey Callaway Wedge –Titleist Vokey design Woods –TaylorMade Golf Course on your wishlist The Augusta National

Mentor

My Dad – he has always been there and has been a big influence in my life

The Augusta National

may 2017 | golf digest india

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Business of Golf

Former Asian Tour chairman Han launches design firm Kyi Hla Han has officially launched his golf course architecture company After serving 13 years as chairman of the Asian Tour, Kyi Hla Han has launched his design firm with the opening of The Dalat in Vietnam. “I am ready to embark on a new personal venture that follows my passion after enjoying the last two decades working with the Pro tours.” Kyi Hla was a pioneer of Asian Golf having played regularly in Europe in the mid 80s when few Asian players had ever appeared there.

An Associate Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, the company is the only Asian-based signature design entity operating in Asia which ensures clients have personal oversight during the design and build process with response to any issues.

As company principal, Han brings international design insight inspired by his 25-year career as a touring professional, playing on the Asian, European, Japanese and Australian PGA Tours. In 1999 he topped the Asian Tour Order of Merit standings.

Han also played a significant role in the formation of the Asian Tour in 2004. He remains a director on the board. Recent Han Golf Design projects which have received acclaim include a signature co-design role in Mandalay Myotha Golf Club in Myanmar. He is currently in pre-planning with a large multi-use coastal resort in western Myanmar. He has been a recipient of the (United States) National Golf Builder of the Year Award.

Rain Bird joins forces with GEO

Rain Bird, one of the world’s largest irrigation products companies, has partnered with international non-profit, the Golf Environment Organisation (GEO). This relationship will build upon the two organisations’ shared interest in creating a stronger, more sustainable future for the entire golf industry.

“This new, globally relevant relationship with GEO aligns with Rain Bird’s goal of helping golf courses maintain the best possible playing surfaces with less water,” said Mohan Subramanian, International Sales Manager for Rain Bird’s golf division, vicepresident of GCSMAI (Golf Course Superintendents & Managers Associaation of India) and Board member of India’s Golf Industry Association (GIA).

Jonathan Smith, GEO’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rain Bird aboard the sustainability platform that has been created with so many established partners. Rain Bird’s knowledge, insight and commitment to The Intelligent Use of Water will guide the on-going development of industry solutions. Their support will also help us advance our advocacy and communications activities within the sector and promote golf’s positive aspects to a wider audience.”

Rain bird Corporation provides complete irrigation solutions to golf courses around the world. Golf Environment Organization, is an international non-profit dedicated entirely to providing a credible and accessible system of sustainability standards for the golf industry.

38 golf digest india | may 2017

SGDC to develop four courses across India n Gurgaon-based Silverglades Golf Development Company Pvt. Ltd (SGDC), India’s integrated golf course development company, has announced that it will develop four courses in different parts of the country. n The projects are based in New Delhi, Naya Raipur, Jammu and Kashmir, and Mizoram. n While all four courses are a work in progress, the Delhi Development Authority Qutab Golf course in Lado Sarai will be reconstructed. The objective is a new design of greens, tees, bunkers, water bodies, cutting edge underground drainage and irrigation systems over two phrases. n On the other hand, the Thenzwal Golf Resort in Mizoram is the first to be developed by any Indian state under the SwadeshDarshan Scheme floated by the Ministry of Tourism. n In the wake of floods in 2014, the Kashmir Golf Course(KGC) in Srinagar will attempt to draw players and tourists by the second half of 2017. The fourth project in Naya Raipur will see the construction of the first 18-hole golf course of global standards in central India over the next three years. n Apart from attracting golfers, the focus will also be on the creation of jobs and adding to the economy as well.

Business of Golf

‘Hero Challenge’ extended to 3 European Tour events European Tour Announced A Three-Event One Hole Shootout Series With Leading Indian Motorcycle Manufacturers Hero MotoCorp

A

collaboration between Hero MotoCorp and the European Tour, it is a one-hole knock-out contest which is scheduled to be held during the weeks of the British Masters, Scottish Open and DP World Tour Championships.

These plans were revealed by the ET chief executive Keith

Pelley and Pawan Munjal, chairman, managing director and CEO of Hero MotoCorp.

Already supporters of events on different tours worldwide, the Hero Indian Open is a European Tour event, while the Hero Women's Indian Open is part of the Ladies European Tour (LET) calendar.

On the PGA Tour, the Hero World Challenge is hosted by Former World Number 1, Tiger Woods.

The first edition of the Hero Challenge, was held in the run up to the British Masters at The Grove last year in October. Eight players went head-to-head in the knock-out won by Frenchman

Alexander Levy.

Held under floodlights, the one-hour event also saw celebrities take part. Television and social media covered the extravaganza live, which saw more coverage as compared to the four days of the main tournament.

MENA champion to get PGA Tour special invite The winner of the Order of Merit on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Tour will be extended a special invitation to compete in next year's $6.9 million Dean & DeLuca Invitational on the PGA Tour.

One of the five invitational tournaments on tour, the event is held annually every May in Fort Worth, Texas at the Colonial Country Club.

Founded in 1946, past champions include five-time winner Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus among others.

This comes in the wake of a partnership between Dean & DeLuca and Thailand's MahaSamutr Country Club. The fine foods specialist Dean & DeLuca, was bought over recently by Pace Development Corporation who is a MENA Tour sponsor.

A spot in the tournament is the latest in a line of incentives up for grabs on the MENA Tour which also includes numerous starts on the European Tour, playing privileges on the South African Sunshine Tour and an exemption into the Final stage of the Asian Tour Q-School for leading professionals.

The PGTI should take a cue from this development, as it would ensure world ranking points and better playing opportunities for its players in the long run.

Rayhan Thomas is a promising Dubaibased amateur playing on the MENA Tour

may 2017 | golf digest india

39

Health & Fitness

STRENGTHEN

YOUR CORE

When golf returned to the Olympics last year, Victoria Lovelady from Brazil got the honour of representing her country in the Games. As a supremely fit athlete, Victoria has been scorching the greens world over. The 30-year-old golfer from Sao Paulo shared her fitness secrets with Golf Digest India on her last visit to Delhi.

Fitness Routine

If you are in the off-season, you do more of strengthening exercises.

Do more of cardio as you want to build your muscles fast. But during the season you don’t want to get hurt in the gym. So, I do exercises that help my body maintain its health. There are exercises you can do on the course to activate your body – some stretching etc and then there are the ones that involves weights which you can do only in the gym. A good gym session for me will be about 90 minutes. I do a mixture of core exercises as I demonstrated and some bit of strengthening like sprints on the treadmill. I make sure that I have everything well-balanced. I start running for 5 minutes and then I do intervals every 15 seconds, going 80% of my maximum speed 5 times. So I feel my heart rate go up a little bit but you don’t need to devote too much time there to feel you had a good workout.

Diet Plan

I stopped eating gluten. Leaving gluten helped me overcome migraine. It’s crazy! I have a lot of carbs – I eat potatoes and sweet potatoes. I also have fish as it lends you good amount of protein and vitamins. I have steak once or t w i c e a m o n t h . Fo r a n y sportsperson, you need to have a lavish breakfast. I have 2-3 eggs, bread, basil leaves with yoghurt.

Basically I ensure that I have a lot in my body before I tee off. I have a small lunch but I make sure to have a big dinner. But all this depends upon how your body functions.

Side Plank: A golfer wants strength in his bigger muscles like the obliques, and this exercise provides you just that. It also helps straighten your body.

40 golf digest india | may 2017

Images: K. JaIraJ ChaudhrI, Instagram: @vICalovel adygolf; loCatIon Courtesy: dlf golf & Country Club

Health & Fitness

Rotation: You can do this also with a heavy medicine ball which promotes

rotation for golf. It’s important that you keep your feet off the ground as you are also using your balance to stabilize everything.

BEACH BUM: At the Copacabana beach in Rio

LOVELADY’S FAVOURITES Actors – Matthew McConnaughey, Meryl Streep Food – Brazilian: Rice, beans & steak; Indian: Curries, Butter Chicken, Samosa with Avocado sauce and Betel leaf

A good gym session for me will be about 90 minutes. I do a mixture of core exercises as I demonstrated and some bit of strengthening like sprints on the treadmill.

I make sure that I have everything wellbalanced. I start running for 5 minutes and then I do intervals every 15 seconds, going 80% of my maximum speed 5 times

Drink – Acai (a Brazilian fruit) juice, beer Golfing destination on wishlist Pebble Beach, California Holiday destination – Ilha dos Marinheiros, an island in Brazil Driver – Ping, rest of the clubs are TaylorMade Other Sports - Surfing. I just love to surf whenever I get some time

Lateral Plank: One of the exercises I like is the lateral plank where you use your glutes too. Working out

your glutes means better stability. The exercise also helps stretch your hip flexors as in the golf position a lot of impact goes there and they become hard.

Text: Rohit Bhardwaj

may 2017 | golf digest india

41

Snap Chat

STRAIGHT TALK

Victoria Lovelady

IN ELITE COMPANY

With 9-time Major winner Gary Player

With actor Matthew McConaughey (centre) and PGA Tour regular Rickie Fowler during the 2016 Rio Games

trains with my first coach Jaime Gonzales at Sao GDI: When did you pick golf and how was your Fernando Golf Club in Sao Paulo, is just 15 years old golfing journey till the Olympics? and has infinite chances to represent Brazil in the VL: I started playing golf as it was in my family.

2020 Tokyo Olympics. I am grateful to the Almighty My dad Paulo Alimonda led me into the sport and to have bestowed me with such a wonderful life.

I loved competition so much that I decided to go to the United States when I was 16 years old. My mother Silvia Curti was a US citizen. I played high GDI: Has staging the Olympics last year school golf in California and my dream was to play changed the way Brazil government wants to college golf there. God orchestrated everything popularise golf in the country? along with the hard work I put in to help me earn VL: We are still waiting for the Marapendi course a scholarship to University of Southern California (in Rio) to be established as it is too much up in (USC). I was in the best University teams that time the air when it comes to future planning of the and was surrounded by talented amateur players course. I had a hope that after the government and that’s what inspired me. I had to come out of my opened the course for the public post the Olympics, comfort zone to be where I am. I sponsors will pump in money to had to leave my country, learn a popularize the game. But that’s different language and culture. I not happening at the moment. then joined the Symetra Tour and I think the authorities who are further qualified for the Ladies responsible for the course, it’s European Tour (LET) which their duty to make it accessible to helped me get world ranking the public and keep the costs low. points in order to qualify for the Golf has always been an expensive Rio Games. Thankfully, I had a sport in Brazil and now we have family who always supported got a chance to change this. So the me but still I had to fight without federation and the government much financial help from — VICTORIA LOVELADY need to act as door openers and sponsors etc. leaders to promote the sport.

“MY AIM IS TO PLAY WITH THE BEST AT THE LPGA. I WILL KEEP PUTTING MY BEST EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL AND BE THE BEST GOLFER I CAN.”

GDI: What is your ultimate ambition in golf?

VL: I still need to improve. My aim is to play with the best at the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) in USA. I will keep putting my best efforts to achieve that goal and be the best golfer I can. I love my life as I get to meet new people and travel the world. I also want to share my expertise with my fellow Brazilian women and help promote the sport in whatever capacity I can. Brazil has no dearth of talented youngsters. Fernanda Lacaz, who

42 golf digest india | may 2017

GDI: What’s the first thing you notice when you come to India?

VL: I notice how lovely the people are – how polite and attentive. I think the Brazilian and Indian cultures have a link. I feel really comfortable here despite being a Brazilian. I love the fact that the Indian federation (WGAI) is doing good things for women’s golf like India has a pro tour while we are still working on something, is quite awesome.

(As told to Rohit Bhardwaj)

With Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt

With former Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson

THE BETTER HALF

With husband Jacob Lovelady

Images: l adIes european tour, Instagram: @vIcalovel adygolf

Corporate Digest

TURKISH DELIGHT!

Participants huddle up for a group picture during the Mumbai leg at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club

L

aunched in 2013, the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup (TAWGC) expanded to include 100 events last year around the world.

Two cities welcomed the India leg of the World Cup, namely Mumbai and Delhi. In Mumbai, at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, Navroze Marshall won the Stableford format with 43 points. Former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar, actor Sikandar Berry, and film directorwriter Homi Adajania were celebrity participants at the event.

The Delhi leg staged at the Classic Golf & Country Club saw Navnit Singh take top honours with 45 points. Prominent corporates at the event included Rajesh Sud (MD & CEO, Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd.), Kavi Arora (MD & CEO, Religare Finvest Limited), Eyad al Subei (CEO, Aramco India).

The two finalists – Navroze Marshall and Navnit Singh – will enjoy a seven-night stay at the fivestar Titanic Delux Belek hotel in Antalya, Turkey. They will be flown business class by Turkish Airlines.

At the Titanic Golf Club, winners of the two-round Grand Final progress to play in the 2017 Turkish Airlines Open Pro-Am.

(L-R) Winner of the Mumbai edition Navroze Marshall receives the prize from Turkish Airlines GM Ibrahim Hakki Guntay (West & South India) and Turkey Consul General E Sabri Ergen

Winner of Delhi leg Navnit Singh receives his prize from Turkish Airlines GM (North & East India) Ozer Guler

Participants enjoy quality time with friends at the BPGC during the Mumbai leg

may 2017 | golf digest india

43

Corporate Digest

Portugal calling as event enters final stage

Participants at the Gurgaon leg gather for a group photo with Team Tata Hitachi at ITC Classic Golf Resort

W

ith the conclusion of the Hyderabad and Gurgaon legs of the 18th Tata Hitachi World Corporate Golf Challenge, the competition all but heats up for the National finals.

Held at the Hyderabad Golf Association on March 25, Vasu Merugu took top honours in the 0-17 handicap category while Chakravarthi Akiri won first prize in the 18-24 handicap category.

At Classic Golf Resort Gurgaon on April 22, Varun Khanna won in the 0-17 category while Som Kapoor won the 18-24 category prize.

The Bengaluru leg is scheduled to be played at Prestige Golfshire on April 29, followed by the national finals a day later at the same venue. The top two golfers from each handicap category in the regional rounds qualify for the National Final. The two winners at the National Final will qualify to represent the country at the WCGC World Final in Cascais, Portugal slated to be held between June 21-25 later in the year.

WCGC is the largest internationally run corporate golf team event, and involves more than 7500 corporate participants from over 40 countries. Making its competitive debut in 1999, India emerged world champions in 2015 when Shasidhar Reddy and Sonam Chugh (both from Hyderabad) won the tournament.

44 golf digest india | may 2017

L-R: Gurgaon winners Som Kapoor, Greesh Bindra, Sandeep Singh (MD - Tata Hitachi), Hritik Gandhi and Varun Khanna

Vijit Nandrajog (Architect, Golf Design India) and Krishnakant Dubey (Asso. Director, Standard Chartered)

Satyabarta Das (Head - Strategic Alliance, Laqshya Media Group) with Goulein Kipgen

Corporate Digest GURGAON LEG

L-R: Sunny Sodhi (COO, Corporate Travel - Yatra) tees off as Amit Khansaheb (Partner, BMR Advisors) & Sanjay Datta (MD, Airborne Holiday) look on

Aman Sawhney (CEO, Swiss Military) lines up a putt

B. Hariharan (VP, Sales & Marketing - ITC Hotels)

Vikram Bakshi (Director, Ascot Hotels & Resorts)

D. Shivakumar (Chairman & CEO, PepsiCo)

Deepit Singh (Director, SARA International) won the longest drive on the 15th hole with a 302-yard drive

HYDERABAD LEG

L-R: HGA president J Vikramdev Rao and NRN Reddy (MD & CEO, KPCL Jaagruthi)

L-R: Raghu Alluri (Exec. Director, NCC), Srinivas Diwakarla (Manager - Brand Promotions, Aparna Constructions) & A. Babu (AGM - Sales, Aparna Constructions)

L-R: Srinivas Vallabhaneni (Director, Krishnapatnam Port), Rishi Narain (MD, RN Sports Marketing) & Chinta Sasidhar (MD, KPCL)

National Finalists (3rd from left) Vasu Merugu, Madhav Kota, Chakravarti Akiri & Pradeep Mittal along with members of the Tata Hitachi Management (Far left) BKR Prasad (Head Marketing), Suresh Nair (Head - Key Accounts & Institutional Business) (Far right) A Krishnakumar (VP - Sales & Marketing) & Shin Nakajima (Director - Sales & Marketing)

may 2017 | golf digest india

45

Corporate Digest

Memorable Yatra to Amazing Thailand

Participants gather for a group photograph

A

like-minded group of CEO golfers, a superb course, fabulous hotel, live entertainment, and delicious meals all combined to make the 5th Yatra Golf Retreat one of the memorable golf events of the season.

50 CEOs were flown in from Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Singapore among other destinations. The guests stayed over the weekend at the majestic Anantara Siam Hotel, located conveniently in the heart of Bangkok.

Nick Faldo's 18-hole, par-72 Summit Windmill Golf Course was the venue for the practice round, followed by the main tournament which was held the next day.

Playing under the double Peoria system, the tournament which was supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways, saw close results.

Speaking post the tournament, Dhruv Shringi, CEO & Co-Founder, Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd. said “We have been hosting the Yatra Corporate Golf event for the last five years with the aim of not only promoting the sport, but also getting to meet and spend quality time with our corporate, hotel and airline partners in an informal environment. Such events are a great mix of serious golf and fun times off the course, further deepening bonds with our partners who have been such great supporters of Yatra over the last decade.”

Mr Kapil Arora, KPMG President, Risk Consulting called it a truly unforgettable experience - “World class hospitality and a top of the line golf experience which was planned and executed to perfection!”

48 golf digest india | may 2017

(L-R) Tarun Rai, Jayant Dua, Vivek Bajpayei, Gautam Bhandari

Mr Mohit Talwar, Managing Director Max India Limited enjoyed meeting old friends and making new acquaintances - “It was a great group of golfers who were all on this trip together. Hats off to Yatra for thinking through every little detail and making the trip memorable.”

Participants were felicitated by Dhruv Shringi during a glittering cocktails and dinner ceremony.

WINNERS -

Handicap category 5-18 Winner Atul Lall Runners-up Ajay Chowdhury Handicap category 19-24 Winner Gaurav Sahgal Runners-up Nishant Kalia Gross winner

Sarbvir Singh

Corporate Digest

The Yatra senior management team at the dinner. L-R: Manish Hemrajani, Bhavik Banker, Croyden Pereira, Vikrant Mudalian, Dhruv Shringi, Gitanjali Kapur, Sharat Dhall, Sunny Sondhi, Akash Poddar, Ashish Mathur

(L-R) Arjun Nohwar, Sarbvir Singh, Manish Dabir, Sunny Sodhi

(L-R) Mohit Talwar, Vivek Gupta, Ranvir Bhandari, Atul Lall, Greesh Bindra

Net Winner Atul Lall, accepts his trophy from Dhruv Shringi

Net Runner-up Ajay Chowdhury receives his award from Yatra CEO Dhruv Shringi

(L-R) Dhruv Shringi, Varun Khanna, Yoeh Phee Teik, Rajesh Sud

Dhruv Shringi, CEO and Co-Founder, Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd

Gross winner Sarbvir Singh along with Dhruv Shringi

Gitanjali Kapur with Rishi Narain of Rishi Narain Golf Management

may 2017 | golf digest india

49

India Golf Expo

Promoting the game!

The 6th annual India Golf Expo 2017 was held on April 20-21 at DLF Club 5 in Gurgaon and saw 400 delegates from 20 nationalities and over 1000 walk-in visitors come together to shape the future of Indian Golf. The expo was organised

by India’s Golf Industry Association (GIA) and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Indian Golf Union (IGU), Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and Golf Course Superintendents & Managers Association of India (GCS & MAI). The Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI) and National Golf Academy of India (NGAI) were also closely associated with the event. Engaging discussions took place over two days resulting in all stakeholders launching the India Learn Golf Week in their pursuit to produce the next 100,000 golfers in 5 years’ time.

Funding Models for Redevelopment of Golf Clubs

Welcome address by Golf Industry Association (GIA) patron Aakash Ohri (Executive Director DLF Home Developers) L-R: Inamul Haq Keen (Incharge Engineering CHQ - J&K Bank), Nuzhat Gul (Secretary Kashmir Golf Club) and Anit Mehrotra (CEO - SGDC)

Attracting Investment in Golf Projects

57

L-R: Vikram Garg (Principal - Blackstone Group), Yash Gupta (MD Hines India) and Naveen Raj Singh, IAS (Secretary - Tourism Karnataka)

Delegates engrossed during the panel discussions

50 golf digest india | may 2017

SPEAKERS

The first day of the Expo saw some very interesting panel discussions from ‘Funding Models of Redevelopment’ to ‘Growing the Women’s Game’. Dominic Wall, Director - Asia Pacific, R&A, apprised the audience of the proposed changes to Rules of Golf while Mike Round, Director - Development, LET, cited examples from UK about popularising the sport.

Atul K. Garg, Sports Commissioner, DDA, with Aakash Ohri

Leveraging technology for Water Management

Carmen Magro (VP - Stevens Water Monitoring Systems)

India Golf Expo

Day 2 witnessed Japan’s H Jay Araki, MD - Casablanka Consulting, talking about the expectations of expats and ways to generate incremental revenue from them. The other highlight of the day was the panel discussion on ‘Building, Planning & Operating Commercial Golf Facilities’ with Silverglades Chairman Pradeep Jain offering some great insights from his 25-plus years of experience.

Unveiling the inaugural 2017 GIA-KEN Research Report by members of the Golf Industry Association

Increasing Golfer Traffic at Courses

Proposed Changes to the Rules of Golf

Dominic Wall (Director - Asia Pacific, R&A)

Manmohan Sardana (Regional Director, North, Ministry of Tourism) Maximising Profit for Golf Clubs

400

DELEGATES

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L-R: Sitaram Rokade (CIDCO - Navi Mumbai) , NPS Dalmi (Secretary - Qutub Golf Course), Harish Shetty (Hon Secretary -KGA) and Col JB Singh (Secretary, AEPTA)

Boosting Golf Tourism in India

GOLF CLUBS REPRESENTED

Stacey Walton (Director - Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand)

Generating Incremental Revenue from Expats

L-R: Dhruv Pal Singh (Addl General Manager, Jaypee Greens Golf Resort), Ravi Grover (Director & COO, Golden Greens Golf Resort), Rishi Narain (MD - RN Sports Marketing) and H Jay Araki (MD - Casablanka Consulting)

Growing Women’s Golf

L-R: Champika Sayal (Secy. General - Women’s Golf Association of India), Simi Mehra (Professional Golfer), Nonita Lal Qureshi (Board Member WGAI), Nandita Rao (VC - Ladies, Indian Golf Union), Mike Round (Director - Development, Ladies European Tour) and WGAI president Kavita Singh

Spas & Outdoor Recreation - Investment & Returns

FJ Singh (MD - Efjay Consulting)

Building, Planning & Operating Commercial Golf Facilities

L-R: Phil Ryan (Founder, Pacific Coast Design), Pradeep Jain (Chairman - Silverglades), and Stacey Walton

may 2017 | golf digest india

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India Golf Expo

A visitor at the Tourism Karnataka stall during the India Golf Expo

52

EXHIBITORS A visitor tries out equipment at the Expo Pro Shop

The TORO Stall, one of the many exhibitors, utilised the opportunity to network during the two days

Course superintendents bought turfcare equipment for their clubs

Visitors were spoilt for choice with the variety of options available

52 golf digest india | may 2017

Golf apparel from top brands were also on display for visitors to buy

Accesories sold like hot cakes with mouth-watering discounts on offer

India Golf Expo

GOLF ECONOMY IN INDIA India’s golf industry contributed Rs 2202.5 crore in economic value in 2015. This figure along with many interesting findings were tabled for the first time during the 6th India Golf Expo in Gurgaon following relentless efforts put in by India’s Golf Industry Association (GIA) in partnership with Ken Research.

G olf based real estate (premiumi sat ion value) has contributed the highest aggregate value of Rs 957.4 crore (USD 143.4 million) to the golf economy with an average golf premiumisation factor of 25%.

Following this, golf facility operations which comprises of revenues from golf courses has contributed an aggregate value of Rs 693.3 crore (USD 103.8 million) during 2015.

From left: Anit Mehrotra, Director - Golf Industry Association & CEO, Silverglades Golf Development Company unveils the GIA golf industry research report with Namit Goel, Director - KEN Research

NUMBER CRUNCHING ` 1962.6 crore

12,989 jobs

Direct value golf economy has generated

` 70 crore

Generated by Sales of Golf Equipment and Accessories in 2015

` 2202.5 crore

Managed to generate

Total value contributed by golf economy

` 239.9 crore

` 32.6 crore

Aggregate wage and income value

Spend by Outbound and Inbound Golf Tourists in India

112

Professional plus national amateur golf tournaments organized in 2016

41 28 43

Men’s Tournaments Women’s Tournaments Junior’s Tournaments

` 68.5 crore Sponsorship money from above golf tournaments organized in India

Rs 188 crore

Investment in New Golf Course Construction and Redevelopment of Existing Golf Courses

Rs 116.5 crore

Expected Market of Golf Equipment and Accessories by FY’2021

Indian Golf Economy Direct and Indirect Contribution, 2015 Golf Sector

Direct Contribution, 2015

Total Employment (Number)

Total Wage Income

Total Contribution

Golf Based Real Estate

957.4

NA

NA

957.4

Golf Facility Operations

524.4

8,380

168.9

693.3

Golf Course Capital Investments

188.0

3621

45.6

233.6

Golf Tournament and Endorsements

167.8

406

0.4

168.2

Golf Related Equipment

70.0

454

17.6

87.6

Golf Tourism and Hospitality

32.6

48

2.0

34.6

Golf Construction Equipments

22.6

80

5.3

27.8

1,962.6

12,989

239.9

2,202.5

Total Golf Economy (Figures in crores) Source: Ken Research

may 2017 | golf digest india

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India Golf Expo

IND

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AS A PLAYER 2017

MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2017

Aditi Ashok had a remarkable year on the Ladies European Tour in 2016, finishing second on the Order of Merit apart from bagging the Rookie of the year. She had 7 top-ten finishes which included two wins (The Hero Women’s Indian Open, and the Qatar Ladies Open). Aditi also represented India at the Rio Olympics and gained partial membership on the US based LPGA Tour.

OLF EXPO AWA IA G

RDS

IND

OLF EXPO AWA IA G

RDS

OLF EXPO AWA IA G

RDS

IND

INDIA GOLF EXPO 2017 AWARDS

REGIONAL AWARD FOR GOLF PROMOTION 2017

SSP Chawrasia continued his good form in 2016, winning twice once at home at the Hero Indian Open (a European Tour event) and away at the Resort World Manila Masters (Asian Tour). He made 348,662 Euros in Europe and US$ 517,467 in Asia. Chawrasia backed up his year with an encore at this year’s Hero Indian Open as well.

West Zone Indian Golf Union (West Zone) & Evolution Sport The West Zone of the Indian Golf Union (IGU) is credited with bringing the game to schools. Institutions have either adopted golf into their curriculum or have conducted introductory camps to children. The West Zone of the IGU plans to reach 10,000 school children by the end of 2017.

Siddharth Naik (R) receives his prize from Mohan Subramaniam (L) and Varun Oberoi

Evolution Golf have been organising L-R : Vineet Mathur and Ravi Garyali present the and promoting junior golf events such North Zone award to Ajay Rana (on behalf of Prakash Bhandari) as the IGU’s Western Indian Inter Delhi Golf Society School Championship, junior Feeder The Delhi Golf Society organises annual tournaments Tour (nine events per year), and the IGU L-R : Mohan Subramaniam and Varun for top amateurs namely the NCR Cup, Delhi State Golf Oberoi present Amit Nigam and Shivas ‘Golf in Schools’ program.

Championship and the Salwan Cup. They have also set Nath with the award up a Golf Academy at the Karni Singh Shooting Range in association with the Sports Authority of India.

East Zone Meghalaya Golf Promoters’ Society and Protouch Golf Academy Meghalaya Golf Promoters’ Society is the first golf academy set up in the North East.

They organise an Indian Golf Union junior feeder tour event and the North East regional South Zone golf symposium in partnership with the Golf Karnataka Industry Association. In 2016, they also Tourism Gaurav Bajaj (C) recieves the award helped put together the Chief Minister’s Hosts the annual from Kalyan Sabrasheeshan (R) Meghalaya Open Golf on the PGTI. Karnataka Golf Festival which sees Protouch Golf Academy, which is participation of over the brainchild of former touring professional Indrajit Bhalotia, is based out of 600 golfers from Kolkata. They boast in excess of 500 juniors who attend camps to learn how to different cities across play the game. Protouch also conducts events in 27 schools. They also support the country, besides L-R : Ravi Garyali presents the award to 12 underprivileged children who play on the Feeder and IGU tours. supporting golf Harish Shetty and Vara Prasad Rao tourism in the state.

54 golf digest india | may 2017

2017

2017

Shaili Chopra (L) receives the award from Phil Ryan

OLF EXPO AWA IA G

IND

RDS

2017

PIONEER IN GOLF COACHING 2017

Golfingindian.com Founded by well-known journalist Shaili Chopra, Golfing Indian is a website that covers the game extensively - whether played in India or abroad. It is a highly interactive platform which combines writing, photographs and video to give a complete experience of the game online.

IND

OLF EXPO AWA IA G

L-R : Deepali Shah Gandhi presented Mita Gowande and Arun Iyer with their award

OLF EXPO AWA IA G

RDS

My Golf Tours Founded in 2011 by Arun Iyer - a veteran of the travel and tourism industry and BPGC lady professional Mita Gowande. My Golf Tours launched an Incredible India 365 days Golf Vacation that offers overseas visitors 11 different programs with 28 Indian golf courses in association with the Ministry of Tourism.

RDS

Tamil Nadu Golf Federation Cosmo Golf Club Late in 2015, the Tamil Nadu Golf Federation Cosmo Golf Club was submerged in water because of heavy rains that caused widespread damage. Within three weeks, the course was playable again. One year later, deja vu when Cyclone Vardah caused more destruction. The course was restored, and renewed with several new additions including the relaying of greens and an automated irrigation system.

BEST NEW GOLF COURSE

DIGITAL INITIATIVE AWARD 2017

Venkatesh (L) was on hand to accept the award from Anit Mehrotra

IND

IND

IND

BEST GOLF TOUR OPERATOR

OLF EXPO AWA IA G

RDS

GOLF COURSE RESTORATION AWARD

OLF EXPO AWA IA G

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OLF EXPO AWA IA G

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IND

India Golf Expo

OUTSTANDING PLAYING CAREER 2017

Rakesh Sharma (L) was on hand to present Simran Singh his award

L-R : Phil Ryan presented Arshpreet Thind with the award

Glade One, Ahmedabad Glade One based out of Ahmedabad is a Par 36, 9 hole course designed by Gary Player. It runs 3486 yards and was developed by Safal Constructions. Amenities include a gym, restaurants, and a golf academy.

Simran Singh Simran Singh was the first to turn professional in India despite starting the game at a relatively late age of 32 in 1965. He was chosen by the IGU to work under the famous Australian coach Norman Von Nida and was later appointed national & regional coach in 1986. He continued in this role until 1994, while becoming the first professional to initiate golf coaching programs at the Delhi Golf Club and the Chandigarh Golf Course.

Notables who worked under him are Shiv Kapur, Jeev Milkha Singh, Amandeep Johl and Daniel Chopra among others.

Ali Sher Ali Sher is the first Indian to win the Indian Open golf tournament in 1991. He repeated this feat in 1993 becoming the first two-time Indian winner. For this, he was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 1991.

may 2017 | golf digest india

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India Golf Expo

Growing Women’s Golf in India Mike Round ( Director Development, Ladies European Tour)

W

omen’s participation is most vital for the growth of golf. They are the catalysts for bringing their families to the course, believes Mike Round, Director – Development, Ladies European Tour (LET). Mike on his maiden visit to the 6th India Golf Expo in Gurgaon illustrated the ways to generate interest among women, highlighted the importance of social media and revealed his intentions of bringing an LET Access Series event to the country. Excerpts from an interview…

By Rohit Bhardwaj & Aman Misra

GDI: How has the LET used social media to help raise awareness about the tour?

MR: We recognised the way society is going and a lot of people are consuming their information through digital channels, often into the palm of their hand or a handheld device. In terms of getting our message out to the consumers, the fans, the spectators, to anyone who is interested in women’s golf - we have to make sure that we are moving with the times. We have invested a lot of time and effort in the last two years in our digital output.

We have got a member of staff who is dedicated to looking after our digital media channels and content, and we have seen a very significant increase in the number of followers on Facebook and Twitter and even number of views on Youtube.

We have also started an alumni Facebook group which allows former members on the LET to connect with each other. This will help in business opportunities thereby growing the women’s game.

GDI: There are many innovations today in the men’s game - for instance the Hero Challenge which is a one-hole shootout event. Has the LET considered such events to popularise the game amongst youngsters?

Mike Round, Director - Development (Ladies European Tour), was one of the speakers at the 6th India Golf Expo

MR: We are in a slightly different position as compared to the men’s game. They have got a stronger schedule.

Obviously we are also looking to strengthen ours – we have got a core number of events at the moment. We are looking to enhance that so that we could also be creative and innovative.

I guess one of the best examples of that is last year when we had

56 golf digest india | may 2017

Playing in Morocco alongside the men’s tour is good for us and the sport... Next year at Glasgow we have got the European Golf Championships with men’s and women’s competition staged together.

This helps in increased visibility for women’s game.”

India Golf Expo a Wednesday finish with the Turkey event rather than the traditional Sunday finish. One of the ideas behind this was to finish when there is less sports coverage of other events that would give us increased visibility. I think the feedback made it a very successful exercise. This was looking at things a slightly different way.

GDI: The European Tour and the LET both staged events recently during the same week for the first time in Morocco. Do you think this will break barriers?

MR: These kinds of things are a step in the right direction.

Playing in Morocco alongside the men’s tour is good for us and the sport. We are seeing more and more of these mixed events coming up. Obviously we have got the men and women competing at the Olympics as well - next year at Glasgow we have got the European Golf Championships where there will be a men’s competition, a women’s competition as well as a mixed competition. The direction of travel is clearly to see the opportunities for the men’s and women’s game to work together, being in the same place, joint initiatives these sorts of things.

GDI: Do role models such as Aditi Ashok help in bringing new followers to the game?

MR: This is an interesting one, I think role models have their place. Aditi I think is absolutely fantastic for not only women’s golf in India but also for golf as a whole in the country. That is an essential part of the mix.

However, you need to look at this holistically. There is no point having a hundred different role models when people try to access the sport they find it too difficult, or its too expensive, or the product isn’t right and isn’t enjoyable.

It is about having the right environment, having the right coaches to provide the right experience. These elements need to come together. This is why all of the bodies in the game need to come together and use their collective knowledge and expertise - which is in abundance in your country.

GDI: Should golf clubs drive m o re m em b er sh i p s fo r women golfers or should they work towards family clinics where they come along with their children and get introduced to the game?

MR: This process takes time.

I think each individual club needs to look at its own operation and make an assessment of their own offers and experiences through the eyes of new beginners. Would it be attractive to them? I think the jump from being a non-golfer to becoming a golfer is a very big jump. It’s almost too big a jump to make on your own.

I think you need to be helped through that process. The additional role of leaders and other organisers may well help to facilitate that. Often some clubs will have come up with very creative ideas when running the junior coaching programmes. Then they can also run adult programmes beside that. When people are dropping their children, they can have an experience as well.

It does begin to build the experience for the family as a whole.

Society has moved to families wanting to go out together. It’s not just the man who goes and spends some time at the golf club - like in the olden days. It’s good for golf to look outside the sport and see what the families do, where they go and what they enjoy doing together.

There are ways in which we can create family experiences for golf. Driving ranges can be developed as places where they could practice together but there are also other opportunities like a cafe or a restaurant or other activities that can be built around them.

GDI: The LET has one event in India right now (Hero Women’s Indian Open).

Would you think of staging lower prize money events on the LET Access Series in future?

MR: If the circumstances are right, yes. We are very very happy with the event that we have here in India. It’s a big country with a lot of people in it, and I am sure there’s scope for pushing that in the future.

The Access series (the 2nd tier LET events) model is a good opportunity as it provides those who are considering whether or not they can make it as a tour professional, and it also gives the federation an opportunity to get used to sending their amateurs to different countries and get used to playing conditions there.

Those tours are something that may well be of interest in other parts of the world. In Europe, the Access tour is serving a very big purpose particularly in talent development.

I think the jump from being a non-golfer to becoming a golfer is a very big jump. It’s almost too big a jump to make on your own. I think you need to be helped through that process... Society has moved to families wanting to go out together. It’s not just the man who goes and spends some time at the golf club - like in the olden days. It’s good for golf to look outside the sport and see what the families do.” may 2017 | golf digest india

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India Golf Expo

India Learn Golf Week September 25 – October 1, 2017

supported by

G

olf ’s governing bodies – the Indian Golf Union (IGU), Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI), Golf Industry Association (GIA), Golf Course Superintendents & Managers Association of India (GCS&MAI) and National Golf Academy of India (NGAI) felt in order to further grow the game in the country they need to produce the next 100,000 golfers in five years’ time.

This is the first time in the history of the sport that they have joined hands in their endeavor to grow the industry and promoting golf. The initiative is supported by the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of America.

The first step in this direction will begin with approximately 40 clubs across the country dedicating a week to this initiative. Out of which 13 have already given their mandate.

According to the program, a member can register a family or friend for an introductory lesson in golf. Clubs will arrange 3-5 instructors at their driving range for the India Learn Golf Week (ILGW) with each of them taking 5 classes a day with 5 students per session. So, each club reaches 100 students per day and 700 new individuals in a week.

The project aims at not only popularizing the game but creating more champions. The clubs too will benefit in the process – getting national media publicity and good revenue due to F&B and additional coaching lessons.

Potential Benefits l More champion golfers l Increase in number of people watching golf on TV l More people reading about golf (print or digital medium) l Enhanced health benefits l Increase in sales of golf equipment l More golf construction and renovation L-R: GCS&MAI secretary general Col. Pravin Uberoi, IGU director general Arun Singh and WGAI secretary general Champika Sayal

India Learn Golf Week is a welcome initiative.

The WGAI pledges its full support for it. A well-known public figure like Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev will attract attention to the game.”

l Increase in number of golf based real estate projects l More sponsors l Enhanced golf tourism facilities in India l Better environment

–Champika Sayal, Secretary General, WGAI Early confirmations 1. Golden Greens Golf Resort, Gurgaon 2. Golmuri Golf Club, Jamshedpur 3. Hamoni Golf Camp, Gurgaon 4. Hyderabad Golf Club 5. Imperial Golf Estate, Ludhiana 6. Jaypee Greens Golf Resort, Greater Noida

NGAI director Karan Bindra (L) with GIA director Mohan Subramaniam

A club member can enrol his family or friends for this programme and at public courses one can register directly.”

– Mohan Subramaniam, Director - GIA 58 golf digest india | may 2017

This is a wonderful initiative and it will bring a lot of media focus. All NGAI coaches fully support the programme.”

–Karan Bindra, Director, NGAI

7. Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad 8. Kensville Golf & Country Club, Ahmedabad 9. Kodaikanal Golf Club, Tamil Nadu 10. Panchkula Golf Club 11. Palms Golf Club, Lucknow 12. Qutab Golf Club, New Delhi 13. Royal Jaipur Golf Club

India Golf Expo

We have already blocked the week for our events. Even if there’s 20 % retention from the 28,000 targeted newcomers that will be huge for the game in India.”

–Arun Singh, Director General, IGU

The Course Superintendents will be more than happy to contribute their bit towards the sport.

–Col. Pravin Uberoi, Secretary General, GCS&MAI

TARGET GOLFERS – 28,000 IN 7 DAYS 4 pros per club x 5 students per day x 5 sessions per day = 100 students x 7 days = 700 students 700 students x 40 clubs = 28,000 students

may 2017 | golf digest india

59

On the PGA Tour

CONQUERING THE 17TH 2015 Winner Rickie Fowler Wants To Emulate Paul Azinger’s Success On Hole No. 17 During The Upcoming PLAYERS Championship 62 golf digest india | may 2017

On the PGA Tour

Paul Azinger (above) had an amazing success on Hole No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass during the PLAYERS Championship

T

here was a time when Paul Azinger always assumed but had never sat down to find out for sure if he was the only player to hold a special distinction in golf.

Eventually, Azinger realized his unique place in PLAYERS Championship lore.

At t h e 2 0 1 5 P L AY E R S C h a m p i o n s h i p, A z i n g e r ’s

position wasn’t threatened.

But Rickie Fowler sure made Azinger sit up and take notice.

Since the first PLAYERS Championship held at TPC Sawgrass in 1982, only one player has birdied the 17th hole 100 percent of the time during one tournament. Azinger is that player. There is no “100 percent” for Fowler, but the Californian

does need an asterisk because he birdied the par-3 17th island hole—get ready—five times. It’s just that he needed six tries to get there.

More on that in a minute.

But, first, Azinger’s story. It’s quite a tale. In 1987, Azinger made history by going birdiebirdie-birdie-birdie on TPC Sawgrass’ No. 17. Nobody had done that before or since.

Azinger vividly recalls that 1987 tournament, his four tee shots over water to the island green and all four birdie putts that made their way to the bottom of the hole. But what is most memorable to him is that he was in contention to win THE PLAYERS, his four birdies just a side note to what he was really trying to accomplish.

With birdies on No. 17 the first three days, Azinger entered the final round tied for sixth. He was paired with Sandy Lyle and Jeff Sluman on the last day.

Although the win didn’t materialize—he finished in that same tie for sixth—Azinger cemented his place in PLAYERS Championship history with his play on the 17th.

Unlike Azinger, Fowler did win at one of golf ’s most-famous courses. His only blemish on No. 17 for the week was his third-round par. In all his other rounds—plus the playoff and sudden-death—Fowler was making birdies. In order to win, Fowler pretty much had to make birdie on all three of his trips to No. 17 on Sunday. Midway through his back nine Sunday, Fowler looked hopelessly out of contention. Then he played the final six holes of regulation in 6-under—the birdie at No. 17 included. Here’s how he did it.

“I’ve played that pin, I’ve played the hole well, so just picked a line a little bit left of the target or left of the pin and hit a perfect shot, hit it right where I was looking. And I knew the putt there,” Fowler said before describing his playoff birdie on the same hole about 30 minutes later. “I was able to just hit a choke-down gap wedge, and it played a little longer in the playoff the two times. But I just had a good [yardage]. I’ve always liked playing 17. It’s been good to me. I played it well all week.”

His last sentence was possibly the understatement of

Fowler’s career.

Despite Fowler’s 2015 heroics, his five birdies to Azinger’s four that led to his signature professional victory, nobody but Azinger has been perfect at No. 17 in one tournament.

Azinger ’s adventures on the island green didn’t start in 1987, though. At the 1983 PGA TOUR National Qualifying Tournament, Azinger was battling through a difficult fifth round, trying to maintain his position and earn his PGA TOUR card. On a day he would shoot a 7-over 77, it was No. 17 that stalled his dream of joining the TOUR. “The pin was on the right side in that fifth round. I was standing over my shot on the tee, and then I backed off. I remember that,” says Azinger, who last competed in THE PLAYERS in 2007 and is primarily a television broadcaster now. “I stepped back up and hit it, and my ball hit the wood (surrounding the green) and went in the water.

Then I chunked my next shot, I hit two in the water and took a 7 (quadruple bogey) there.”

The next day, in Q-School’s final round, Azinger says he thought about that hole all day.

When he finally reached 17, he nearly duplicated his effort from the round before when his tee shot landed on the fringe. “I putted with my right foot on the wood, made a bomb for birdie and earned my card by two strokes.”

Fourteen years after his Q-School adventures, Azinger made history at the island par-3, draining four straight birdie putts. That week he hit two 8-irons, a 9-iron and a wedge into No. 17.

“On the last day (of the 1987 PLAYERS), the pin was in the back right, and I nuked an 8-iron in there to four feet,” Azinger explains. “At the time, it was the most intimidating hole in golf.”

And today?

“If the conditions are tough, if the wind is blowing, it’s still the most intimidating hole in golf.”

may 2017 | golf digest india

63

On the PGA Tour

TPC SAWGRASS WAS MADE FOR FANS: RAPP Matt Rapp served as executive director of The Players Championship starting with the 2011 tournament and concluded his term of service following Jason Day’s 2016 triumph. Rapp, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, still remains involved with The Players, but he is now the Tour’s senior vicepresident for the Championship Management department, a position that allows him to oversee all the events the Tour runs. With another Players almost upon us, the 36th to be contested at TPC Sawgrass, Rapp took some time to discuss the tournament he’s grown to love and what makes it—and its home course—so special.

How do you view TPC Sawgrass in the firmament of great golf courses in the world?

When I first got this gig, one of the people I talked to was Tour administrator (and former PGA Tour player) Mike Bodney, who ran Championship Management for the Tour for a number of years and been involved with the Tour for years and years and years. One of the things he said was don’t underestimate the power of this piece of property.

had Chinese businesspeople come. I’ve given tours, we’ve had meals, we’ve walked around the property. And I’ve done this with up to and including the Chinse Ambassador to the United States. I gave him a tour of the property, took him out on No. 17 and walked him around the clubhouse. He’s not an insignificant person in China. For people like that to be wowed by a golf course, that shows you the power of TPC Sawgrass. It’s pretty special.

What did others tell you about TPC Sawgrass?

Jay Monahan (the new PGA Tour commissioner), who was my predecessor as The Players’ executive director, said the same thing as Mike.

He said, “Don’t forget you have this property.”

Mike was talking more about how the tournament lays out and how the course is laid out for fans, how wonderful it is for fans and how it was built for fans and how unique the course is because it’s so balanced. Jay talked about how No. 17 is the most famous hole in golf and this is a course that’s known all around the world.

He basically said you can get people who are willing to come out and look at the TPC Sawgrass because of how unique it is, people who wouldn’t just go out and look at a golf course, even some prized golf courses. As Jay said, TPC Sawgrass is not just any golf course.

Why is this golf course so great as a host to a significant PGA Tour event?

This place was made for golf fans. Most golf courses aren’t built to accommodate large amounts of spectators. They weren’t built to test the very best players in the world and do so on a completely neutral basis. This course favors no player, no style of play. If you look at the history of the champions, that’s proven out. There are long hitters who have won, and there are short hitters. There are left-to-right champions and right-to-left guys. As Deane Beman, the former Tour commissioner who oversaw the construction of this course, said to me before the 2013 event, “This course was built to test every club in your bag and to reward the person who could control his golf ball the best.”

What are your thoughts about the course?

It’s the purest test in golf. It was built so you can walk the course easily, so you can walk and see all 18 holes and look at every shot. Or you can sit in one spot and walk a short distance that way, a short distance this way and see three or four holes of great golf in close proximity. That’s where we put the fan hubs.

If you’re hot, if you’re thirsty, if you have to go to the bathroom, there are fan services in these places. Then you go back to watching golf.

IF YOU’RE A GOLF FAN, THERE IS NO BETTER EXPERIENCE...

THE FAN WOULD WANT ALL THE BEST PLAYERS TO PLAY, AND AT THE PLAYERS THEY DO. THE FANS WOULD WANT TO TEST THE PLAYERS ON A NEUTRAL SITE. THIS COURSE ALLOWS THAT. THEY WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE PGA TOUR PLAYERS HIT ANY SHOT ON ANY HOLE...

64 golf digest india | may 2017

Do you have any stories about someone who came away particularly impressed with the course?

I was talking with a person who is with Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The person whose company makes all the flatware that is sold at Walmarts in the United States and many other places is a Chinese gentlemen, and most of the stuff is made in China. He wanted to make some of his products in the U.S., so he was out looking and scouting for places to build a factory. He has a base in New Jersey, and he came down here to North Florida. We brought him out to the course, and he was very impressed. He said, “Whenever there are Chinese businesspeople who are coming to Jacksonville, bring them to this course because they will then appreciate where Jacksonville is. People in China know this course. Since that time I’ve done a number of business exchanges where we’ve

What do you say to someone who is visiting The Players Championship for the first time?

If you’re a golf fan, there is no better experience. If you were to ask golf fans to create in their minds what elements would go into making a tournament like Commissioner Beman described, you would come up with The Players Championship because the fan would want all the best players to play, and at The Players they do. The fans would want to test the players on a neutral site where no one player would have an advantage. This course allows that. They would want to be able to see the PGA Tour players hit any shot on any hole, and they would want to enjoy the beauty of golf in a wonderful setting. We have all that here at the course, as well.

Anything else?

Well, since you asked, we have the surrounding areas. This part of Florida is a great place to visit. The World Golf Hall of Fame is a short distance from here. There are 70-plus golf courses in the area, and most golf fans like to play golf, too. Then they can witness history, either here at the golf course during The Players or at the Hall of Fame. Fans can really soak it all up.

Do you find yourself comparing this event to other golf tournaments?

Actually, I grew up in Louisville. I grew up going to the Kentucky Derby, and so that’s my frame of reference for what a big event is.

On the PGA Tour

Dustin Johnson hits his drive on the 18th

may 2017 | golf digest india

65

On the PGA Tour 2016 PLAYERS Championship winner Jason Day (L) of Australia with tournament executive director Matt Rapp

I THINK THE REAL GROWTH OF THE EVENT STARTED BETWEEN THE ’06 AND ’07 TOURNAMENTS AND THE BUILDING OF THE CLUBHOUSE. WHILE THE ORIGINAL CLUBHOUSE WAS SPECTACULAR FOR WHAT IT WAS (COMPLETED IN 1981), IT HAD VERY MUCH OUTLIVED ITS USEFUL LIFE. SO GETTING THE COURSE SAND CAPPED, GETTING THE SUBAIR SYSTEM INSTALLED AND IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE BEST PLAYING SURFACE WAS CRITICAL.

We’re there at The Players in terms of where the physical product is. But we’re not there in terms of reputation on a national and international basis. We’re getting there, though.

Now I would rather have the best product and not be known for it yet than have a bad product yet people think you’re great. I think if that were the case, sooner or later people will figure out your product isn’t great. But our product is great, and it’s our job to help people understand that.

What is it about the Kentucky Derby that makes you want to turn your golf tournament into its equivalent?

The Derby is one of those defining, global events on the calendar that people understand and appreciate. I’ve traveled around quite a bit and gone overseas. People ask you where you’re from, and if I say Louisville, they may not necessarily know where that is. But if I say Louisville is where the Kentucky Derby is, they know. It’s the same with people from here in Ponte Vedra Beach and Jacksonville.

People who travel around and say they’re from Jacksonville tell me that maybe Jacksonville isn’t the most well-known city, but when they tell people Jacksonville is where The Players Championship is, the home of TPC Sawgrass, the 17th hole, they understand.

It seems The Players Championship has a much higher stature than it previously did.

Do you agree?

I think the real growth of the event started

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between the ’06 and ’07 tournaments and the building of the clubhouse. While the original clubhouse was spectacular for what it was (completed in 1981), it had very much outlived its useful life. So getting the course sand capped (covering tees and fairways with several inches of sand to help improve grass health), getting the SubAir system (to pull excess moisture from greens) installed and improving the infrastructure of the course to make sure we had the best playing surface was critical. Then building the clubhouse made it so there are two iconic things about the tournament and the course—the 17th hole and that amazing piece of architecture. People see that clubhouse and that view you get from 18 tee looking at that clubhouse, and it’s pretty dramatic and spectacular. That period in 2006 and 2007 was really the start of the elevation of the tournament. It has always been a great event, but in that time period, that’s what’s taken The Players to the next level.

Is that the idea, that the 2017 Players Championship will be better than the 2016 version which was better than the 2015 version and so on?

We need to continuously improve The Players Championship. And we have definitely improved it for 2017. The changes people will see this year will really blow them away. There will be people who have been coming here all their lives who will be lost on this golf course because some places on this golf course look so different.

© 2017 PGATOUR, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PLAYER APPEARANCE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

THEPLAYERSCHAMPIONSHIP.COM

MAY 11-14 TPC SAWG R ASS | PO NTE VED R A BEACH, FL

On the European Tour

TOUR SNIPPETS Kaymer and McDowell set for HNA Open de France return Major Champions Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell have confirmed they will be part of a new chapter in the prestigious history of the HNA Open de France when they return to Le Golf National from June 29 – July 2.

The pair, both of whom are former winners of the tournament, will be in the field for the 101st edition of continental Europe’s oldest

national Open, which has a new sponsor for 2017 in HNA Group, a global Fortune 500 company focused on tourism, logistics and financial services, while the tournament will also be the second event in the European Tour’s new Rolex Series.

Former World No. 1 Kaymer won the Open de France title in 2009, defeating Lee Westwood in a play-off to claim the third of his 11 European Tour wins to

date, while McDowell has lifted the trophy on two occasions, winning in back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014.

Kaymer and McDowell, who have eight Ryder Cup appearances between them,

are now looking forward to returning to Le Golf National, which will also host the 2018 contest between Europe and the United States.

FORMER WORLD NO. 1 KAYMER WON THE OPEN DE FRANCE TITLE IN 2009, DEFEATING LEE WESTWOOD IN A PLAY-OFF, TO CLAIM THE THIRD OF HIS 11 EUROPEAN TOUR WINS

Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland will renew his rivalry with Germany’s Martin Kaymer during the HNA Open de France

STENSON HOPES TO WIN SCOTTISH OPEN

The Open Champion Henrik Stenson will make his first appearance on Scottish soil since securing the greatest victory of his career, when he tees it up at the 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald Links from July 13 - 16.

Stenson has a special affinity for Scotland, the Home of Golf, after breaking a plethora of long-standing records to win his first Major Championship title at Royal Troon last summer.

The Swede will return to the Ayrshire coast - just six miles from the scene of that memorable victory - for his tenth Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open appearance as the tournament once more assumes prime position in the week before The Open Championship.

This year Scotland’s national open will also be

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the fourth event in the European Tour’s new Rolex Series, a premium category of tournaments each with a minimum prize fund of US$7million. Scottish golf fans will be hoping that Stenson will bring his 2016 Open Championship form to Dundonald in July after his unforgettable battle with five-time Major winner Mickelson at Royal Troon.

THIS YEAR SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL OPEN WILL ALSO BE THE FOURTH EVENT IN THE EUROPEAN TOUR’S NEW ROLEX SERIES

On the European Tour

McIlroy to host charity evening in Belfast

STONE QUALIFIES FOR NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE

South Africa’s Brandon Stone is the first player to qualify for the 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player, part of the European Tour’s newly-founded Rolex Series.

The 23 year old earned his spot in ‘Africa’s Major’ when he became the second-youngest player in South African golf history after Charl Schwartzel to win the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.

Stone, who claimed a second European Tour victory at this season’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, is now looking forward to his second appearance at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City from 9-12 November, having made his debut in the $7.5 million event last year.

World number Two Golfer Rory McIlroy and the Rory Foundation have announced they will kick off the week of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open by hosting a charity Evening with Rory at the Belfast Waterfront.

The event will take place on Tuesday, 4th of July at 7pm and all ticket proceeds from the evening will go to the Rory

Rory McIlroy

Foundation. Award-winning Actor and star of Cold Feet and Lucky Man, James Nesbitt, will act as MC for the evening. The special guest will be announced at a later date.

“Coming home to Northern Ireland is always great, no matter where in the world I’ve been,” said McIlroy.

“TO PLAY GOLF IN FRONT OF A HOME CROWD IS REALLY SPECIAL AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO AN ENJOYABLE EVENING AT BELFAST’S WATERFRONT HALL. IF LAST YEAR’S EVENT IN DUBLIN IS ANYTHING TO GO BY, IT WILL BE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY YEAR.”

NOREN TO RETURN FOR EUROPEAN MASTERS DEFENCE

Alex Noren claimed his first Euro Tour win in 2009 at the Crans Montana course in Switzeland

Alex Noren will return to Switzerland and the famous Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, when the World No. 10 defends his Omega European Masters title from September 7-10.

Having already claimed his first European Tour victory in 2009 on the Crans-Montana course, the Swede went on to make his mark on the 2016 season with his win in Crans-Montana his third of four in a remarkable campaign which moved him into the top ten in the world.

Noren overcame Scott Hend on the first playoff hole last September in a dramatic finale. A run of four birdies from the sixth had handed the 34-year-old a two-shot lead at the turn but Hend fought back on the back nine and the duo had to go back up the last to decide a winner after finishing at 17 under.

On the first extra hole, Noren hit a wonderful tee-shot and an approach to 30 feet as Hend saw his first bounce out of the trees on the left and then only just cleared the water with his second. The Australian chipped to eight feet but Noren holed his putt for the birdie and the win. may 2017 | golf digest india

69

On the European Tour

Tanihara wins March Shot of the Month

J

apan’s Hideto Tanihara has won the March European Tour Shot of the Month after his hole-in-one at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Golf Club in Texas.

Many thought that when Tanihara lost out to Dustin Johnson in the semifinal of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, his chances to make headlines on Sunday might have been over. Many were wrong.

On the seventh hole of his consolation match against Bill Haas, the 38-year-old took dead aim with an eight iron from 207 yards and hit one of the best shots of the year. His ball narrowly carried the bunker, ran out to the back right pin position and dropped into the hole.

“The crowd went wild” Tanihara said. “And when everybody is happy, you tend to get happy, too. So it was a great feeling. You can’t always make a hole-in-one. You try but you usually miss. Sometimes you just get lucky and it went in. I’m just really happy that it did.”

MyEuropeanTour fans voted Tanihara’s shot as March’s Shot of the Month, narrowly edging out competition from Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Andy Sullivan and Duncan Stewart.

TANIHARA, 38, TOOK DEAD AIM WITH AN EIGHT IRON FROM 207 YARDS. HIS BALL NARROWLY CARRIED THE BUNKER, RAN OUT TO THE BACK RIGHT PIN POSITION AND DROPPED INTO THE HOLE.

TV broadcast can be misleading

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.

In Malaysia earlier this year during the Maybank Championship, we received an email communication through to our website feedback page and through Twitter that viewers had seen Anirban Lahiri take an improper drop on the fourth hole of the second round.

The Chief Referee will normally take this forward and review the situation. Quite by chance, we had a new Chief Referee on duty being guided by the regular Chief Referee. It was decided that we would both visit the TV compound to view what had been broadcast and what had caused the email to come in to our feedback channels.

We reviewed the tape several times and it is fair to say that from the picture that was broadcast, it seemed to indicate that an error could have been made by the player.

The player’s ball had splashed into a Lateral Water Hazard which he was trying to drive his ball past and from the picture on the TV, it looked as if the ball had not crossed the far bank of the hazard.

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THE REFEREE’S VIEW John Paramor

ANIRBAN WATCHED THE CLIP AND SAID THAT CAMERA USED TO FILM THE ACTION WAS THE ONE BEHIND THE GREEN WHICH WOULD HAVE PROVIDED A DISTORTED VIEW OF THE FLIGHT OF THE BALL

We requested a copy on to a hard drive in order to show the coverage to the player and we went to the area on the course where this scene was captured.

We looked at how much visibility a player and his marker could have had of the Lateral Water Hazard from the tee, and then fully surveyed the area where the ball did or did not last cross into the hazard.

We then went to the clubhouse and made sure that we had a working computer to display the incident to the player and his group.

Once all players had entered the recorder’s tent, the acting Chief Referee asked the player about the playing of the tee shot and the position of where a ball was dropped under penalty. Thankfully, the marker, Lee Westwood, was able to confirm that Anirban’s tee shot was badly hooked but certainly did carry the far bank and the ball that was dropped was in the correct place.

Both players watched the clip and Anirban added that the camera used to film the action was the one behind the green which would also have provided a distorted view of the flight of the ball, which again assisted in reaching a ‘no penalty’ verdict. It is always wise to remember that television can only show the pictures in 2 dimensions and therefore can often be misleading.

On the European Tour

PGA Catalunya – A Spanish Ecstasy

S

Set in a stunning landscape against a breathtaking mountainous backdrop, PGA Catalunya Resort is an award-winning golf and real estate resort which enjoys an enviable location situated just 50 minutes from Barcelona, 15 minutes from Girona and close to the fabulous beaches of the Costa Brava.

The addition of the new 5* Hotel Camiral is earning the resort the reputation as one of Europe’s finest golfing destinations.

Combining contemporary design with some striking urban-chic interiors created by critically acclaimed designers Lázaro Rosa-Violá, the hotel offers offers 149 contemporary rooms, suites and junior suites, with two restaurants, eight meeting and banqueting rooms, a pool bar, beauty centre, gym, outdoor pool and kids club.

The resort’s two acclaimed 18-hole Championship golf courses – the Stadium Course, voted No.1 course in Spain for five years in a row, and the more gentle Tour Course – weave their way through an expansive, mature pine forest with each hole providing its own challenges, risks and rewards.

Designed by Ryder Cup star Neil Coles MBE and former Spanish Open winner Angel Gallardo, with European Golf Design, the Stadium Course opened in 1999 and has since been consistently ranked among the top 10 golf courses in Europe. It features dramatic elevated tees and challenging approaches to greens guarded by the twin hazards of sand and water.

In 2011, the course underwent a significant upgrade to lengthen the par 72 layout to 7,333 yards (6,705 metres) and toughen up some of its iconic holes, including the

DESIGNED BY RYDER CUP STAR NEIL COLES MBE AND EX-SPANISH OPEN WINNER ANGEL GALLARDO, WITH EUROPEAN GOLF DESIGN, THE STADIUM COURSE OPENED IN 1999 AND HAS SINCE BEEN CONSISTENTLY RANKED AMONG TOP 10 COURSES IN EUROPE. par 5 third with its lakeside green; the eyecatching par 3 eleventh and the addition of trees to the right of the 18th fairway. The course continues to maintain its position in leading international golf course rankings, being one of only two Spanish courses in the World’s Top 100 Golf Courses according to Golf World.

The Tour Course provides a less challenging alternative. Set amid pine trees and lakes, the 6,562 yards (6,000 metres), par 72 layout is shorter and more forgiving than the Stadium Course and most holes have wider fairways.

However, the layout is by no means a walkover, as hopefuls of the European Tour Q-School Final Stage can testify. To gain full enjoyment, this unique course encourages

players to use all their skills and their complete set of clubs.

In addition, the Resort boasts a modern clubhouse and state-of-the-art practice facilities, making it the preferred winter training destination for many Tour professionals and national teams. These include Spain’s largest chipping and putting green, Sergio Garcia’s first junior Golf Academy and Dave Pelz’s Spanish Golf School.

PGA Catalunya Resort also represents the next generation of luxury property development, offering a low-density community where the private residences blend with their natural surroundings and are exceptionally well finished with open-plan layouts and innovative use of glass that brings the outside in without compromising on privacy. may 2017 | golf digest india

71

On the European Tour

FITNESS

GET THOSE HIPS MOVING

The hips are a very important area of the body for the golf swing. They require a good range of movement as well as strength and stability through all phases of the swing. However, modern lifestyles involve a lot of sitting - at home, in work and during travel. Many exercises can help to improve hip range of movement and this month we are looking at one in particular called the ‘hip flexor stretch’.

How it benefits your body

Making sure you stretch these parts of your hips/legs regularly can help with your golf swing and many common activities that require extension of the hip complex, including walking. The hip flexors include parts of your quadriceps (the muscles at the front of your thigh) and deeper muscles at the front of the hips that attach at various points around the hip joints and pelvis/spine. Regularly stretching these tight areas can help reduce the effects of prolonged sitting positions/ postures.

Position 1

How it benefits your golf game

When the structures at the front of the hips/thighs are tight & restricted, the result can often be a change in the position of the pelvis. This in turn can have an effect on your golf set up, posture at address and during the golf swing and subsequently the forces that go through the lumbar spine. Keeping the hip complex mobile can help you to achieve better range of movement and technique during the golf swing as well as improve your walking over the 10,000 steps you may do during a typical round of golf.

The stretch can be done as part of your general fitness training as well as in your warm up. It is the same type of exercise that the European Tour professionals do regularly on tour.

Position 2

HOW TO DO A HIP FLEXOR STRETCH 1

Make sure you have a soft mat to kneel on. Use a long foam roller or golf club to rest your hands on. Start by gently putting pressure through both hands pushing the roller/club down into the ground so that you can feel your core muscles engage.

2

Maintain this downward pressure and activation of the core during the exercise. Then contract the glute on the kneeling side. Maintain this contraction of the glute whilst you drive the hip on that side forward towards the club/ foam roller. You will feel a stretch through the front of the thigh/hip on that side.

3

Hold for 3-5 seconds, then relax back to the start position and repeat 3-5 times. As you get used to the stretch you can slowly increase the time you hold it for.

Make sure you repeat this on both legs.

Text: Nigel Tilley European Tour Performance Institute & Physio Unit

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Position 3

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On the Asian Tour

China deal to bolster growth in Asia

Former Asia No. 1 Jeev Milkha Singh feels winning the 2006 Volvo China Open is still etched in his memory and Asian Tour’s partnership with CGA will offer better playing opportunities for the Chinese golfers

BY CHUAH CHOO CHIANG

T

he once-in-a-lifetime experience of being in the same era as the first generation of mainland Chinese golfers during the late 1990s and 2000s was truly a privilege to savour on a personal front.

And after eight long years, it is truly exciting to hail the Asian Tour’s new strategic partnership with the China Golf Association (CGA) which will see both

parties working hand-in-hand to stage new tournaments in China this season and beyond.

Professional golf in the Middle Kingdom has always been full of optimism and promise, thanks largely to its economic might and a fastgrowing middle class.

Back in the day when golf was like cricket is to America, the likes of Zhang Lian-wei, whose first sporting love was to launch a javelin, taught himself to play the Royal and Ancient

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THE ASIAN PGA TOUR, THE PRECURSOR TO THE ASIAN TOUR IN 1995, SERVED AS A CATALYST FOR A PIONEERING BATCH OF CHINESE PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS ZHANG LIEN-WEI AND CHENG JUN TO VENTURE INTO A NEW WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY.

(R&A) game at a time when golf was showing signs of a boom in China.

A few other milestones paved the way for the game to grow amongst the Chinese.

The legendary and late Arnold Palmer designed and launched China’s first modern-day golf course in 1984 in Zhongshan and over a decade later, the International Golf Association took a massive leap of faith by bringing the World Cup of Golf to China.

On the Asian Tour

Those who witnessed the 1995 World Cup at Mission Hills, won by the American duo Fred Couples and Davis Love III, remember vividly women walking along fairways in high heels while unsuspecting children picked up players’ golf balls that strayed beyond the fairways and found sand traps a convenient playground to pass their time.

Then, there was also the birth of the former Asian PGA Tour, the precursor to the Asian

Tour in 1995. With a schedule of tournaments, the Tour served as a catalyst for a pioneering batch of Chinese professional golfers such as Zhang and Cheng Jun to venture into a new world of opportunity.

During the early days, Zhang, now 51 years old, never had the opportunity to enjoy proper coaching or the best of golf equipment. Starting out as a caddie in Shenzhen, he watched and learned from others, and tried to copy their golf swings.

What he may have lacked in skill and technique, Zhang overcame with an abundance of heart and grit between his teeth as he rose to great prominence, first winning three China Amateur Open golf titles before joining the play-for-pay ranks in 1994.

T h e l i k e a b l e Z h a n g ’s journey of discovery soon saw him blazing a new trail as he amassed five Asian Tour victories and several notable scalps including those of Nick Price and Ernie Els. Zhang’s success inspired another small group of golfers and Liang Wen-chong emerged, with the younger man coming under the wing of the trailblazing Zhang. Despite possessing an unorthodox golf swing, Liang became a force and was crowned China’s first Asian Tour Order of Merit champion in 2007. He is also currently ranked eighth on the Asian Tour’s all-time career earnings with US$3.48 million in winnings.

Wu Ashun has since stepped on the scene in recent times, followed by the exciting Li Haotong, both who are now European Tour champions.

Ultimately, China’s growing number of young and exciting prospects including the likes of Guan Tianliang and Cheng Jin, who both won the Asian Amateur Championship to earn appearances at the Masters Tournament, and Dou Zhecheng stand to benefit through greater exposure to Asian Tour tournaments in China and beyond.

(The writer is Director, Communications at Asian Tour)

ASIAN STARS HAIL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH CGA

Asian Tour stars believe the recently-announced strategic partnership between the China Golf Association (CGA) and Asian Tour will be a massive boost for the growth and development of professional golf in the region.

Under this new and exciting collaboration, golfers will enjoy increased playing opportunities as 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 China Tour Order of Merit.

Indian ace Jeev Milkha Singh, a two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and a winner in China previously, expressed his excitement over the milestone partnership which was signed in Shanghai last Friday.

“This is great news. This is not only a good thing for the Asian Tour but it will also benefit the golf scene in China. I am sure golf in the region will grow stronger from this partnership, especially with the increased playing opportunities for players.

“Winning the 2006 Volvo China Open was one of the sweetest moments I had in my career. It was a turning point for me and it will always be special. I have a lot of good memories in China and I am looking forward to going back again,” said the 45-year-old Singh.

“When I played there years ago, Zhang (Lian-wei) was one of the few active Chinese players on Tour. It’s good to see a lot of talented players around now like Liang Wen-chong, Wu Ashun, Li Haotong and many more,” Singh added.

Fellow Indian Rahil Gangjee, 38, was equally thrilled with the new tie-up, which will see the Asian Tour returning to China for co-sanctioned events with the CGA after a nine-year gap. It also brought back fond memories of his breakthrough Asian Tour victory in China some 13 years ago.

“When I found out that we are going back to China, I recalled a lot of happy memories from my win in Beijing and I was also excited because there are many good courses in China now. I am hopeful the tournaments will grow in strength over the coming years,” said Gangjee.

Other Asian Tour stalwarts such as Anirban Lahiri, the Order of Merit winner in 2015, Korean rising star Jeunghun Wang and Australia’s Marcus Both took to Twitter to express their delight.

Lahiri tweeted “Onward and upwards #AsiaRising” while Wang wrote “Really good news to hear Asian Tour going back into China again. Massive. Well done! #whereitsAT”.

“This is great news. This is not only a good thing for the Asian Tour but it will also benefit the golf scene in China. I am sure golf in the region will grow stronger from this partnership, especially with the increased playing opportunities –Jeev Milkha Singh for players.” may 2017 | golf digest india

75

On the Asian Tour

Els and Singh launch new course in Malaysia

The newly launched Valley Course at Els Club Desaru Coast

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he Els Club Desaru Coast – Valley Course celebrated its official opening recently, marking another milestone for The Els Club Malaysia portfolio.

One of the golfing world’s most-anticipated openings, the Valley Course was created in partnership between two golfing comrades and fellow Major Champions, Ernie Els Design and Vijay Singh, and puts a seal to the golf development in Desaru Coast.

Els and Singh are both Asian Tour honorary members.

The Els Club Desaru Coast first hit the headlines in 2016, with the opening of the Ocean Course, designed by four-time Major winner Els himself. The South African, however, trusted the vision of his great friend, Singh, for the Valley Course; a first-ever collaboration and one that raises the prestige and appeal of what is already one of the world’s premier destination for golf.

The Valley Course, a Par 72, which lies adjacent to the Ocean Course, is an 18-hole Championship layout measuring up to 7,200

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“WE WANTED THE VALLEY COURSE TO BE DISTINCT, WITH ITS OWN TRUE CHARACTER THAT WOULD PROVIDE GOLFERS WITH A MEMORABLE — VIJAY SINGH CHALLENGE.” yards. It has been crafted around a series of undulations, providing impressive vistas around the Desaru Coast region. Bunkering is a major factor, placing the onus on a wellplanned course strategy.

Host to two of the most exciting new golf course designs in South East Asia, The Els Club Desaru Coast is complete with state-ofthe-art amenities, including two clubhouses and expansive practice areas.

“We wanted the Valley Course to be distinct, with its own true character that would provide golfers with a memorable challenge,” said Singh. “We used the undulations to layer in a series of high impact bunkers

that will mean golfers need to think carefully about how to best navigate each hole.”

The Els Club Desaru Coast, with 45 holes of golf (the 27-hole Ocean Course and 18-hole Valley Course) set out alongside the region’s first Els Performance Golf Academy and the Academy Par-3 course, makes this one of the most comprehensive golf destinations in the world.

“Opening the Valley Course is a major step forward in realising the vision of Desaru Coast, and to have The Els Club brand as the first in a long-line of major developments at this special destination is a real privilege,” said World Golf Hall of Fame member, Els. Guests will be able to book their tee-times direct on the www.elsclubmalaysia.com or choose from a series of bespoke packages.

The Els Club Desaru Coast was developed and is owned by Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn. Bhd. (DH1), a subsidiary of Desaru Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (DDC) mandated with the development and operation of Desaru Coast destination resort.

On the Asian Tour

UBS HONG KONG OPEN SET FOR NOVEMBER TEE OFF

Australia’s Sam Brazel will be looking to defend his UBS Hong Kong Open title in November

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he UBS Hong Kong Open will take on added significance later this year when the historic tournament makes its return to the Asian Tour and European Tour schedules in November.

The event – which dates back to 1959 – will be played at Hong Kong Golf Club from November 23-26, and will once again be tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association.

The combined star power of the three golf bodies will once again gather with the hope of etching their name on the trophy alongside such luminaries as Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jiménez, José María Olazábal, Rory McIlroy and Colin Montgomerie.

The UBS Hong Kong Open marks the beginning of the 2018 European Tour season. Not since December 2003 has the iconic event taken its place as the first event of a European Tour season, when Padraig Harrington got his 2004 campaign off to a winning start.

The galleries at the Hong Kong Golf Club can also expect a gripping finale as the UBS Hong Kong Open is set to be one of the last events on the 2017 Asian Tour schedule where the leading Asian Tour players will be battling for the prestigious Order of Merit crown.

Last year, Sam Brazel claimed his maiden European Tour title in just his 17th appearance as the Australian upset the odds to secure a one-stroke victory over Spain’s 2016 Ryder Cup player Rafa Cabrera Bello. It was also his first Asian Tour title.

Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s Director of International Policy, said: “The UBS Hong Kong Open has been a permanent fixture on the European Tour for 16 seasons now so it is only fitting that it returns as the curtain-raiser for the 2018 season.

“This tournament proves the longterm success that can be achieved through collaboration and we are very much looking forward to once again working with our tri-sanctioning partners the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association, as well as Hong Kong Golf Club, to provide another worldclass event.”

Cho Minn Thant, Chief Operating Officer of the Asian Tour said: “The UBS Hong Kong Open always holds a special place on the Asian Tour Schedule. The tournament welcomed a worthy winner in Australia’s Sam Brazel last year and we’re confident this year’s edition will continue to excite as the region’s best players face off against a stellar international field at the Hong Kong Golf Club.”

HO TRAM PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP RESCHEDULED TO 2018

The organiser of The Ho Tram Players Championship has announced that its tournament on the Asian Tour will be rescheduled to a new date in 2018 due to upgrading and renovation works at the Ho Tram Strip.

In order to accommodate the flagship tournament on the 2018 Asian Tour calendar, Asian Coast Development, Ltd. (ACDL) is building another 550 rooms across the street from The Bluffs golf course.

When the ongoing project is finished, The Grand Ho Tram Strip will boast two identical 22-story towers and 1,100 rooms, making for a venue easily capable of hosting the Ho Tram Players Championship.

The inaugural Ho Tram Open was held successfully in December 2015, with Spanish star Sergio Garcia winning the title in a dramatic, four-way playoff at the Greg Norman-designed, links-style course.

Garcia won his first Major title at the Masters Tournament on Sunday.

Both parties will determine by the middle of this year the new tournament dates for 2018.

More information will be released shortly.

may 2017 | golf digest india

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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 78 golf digest india | may 2017

Images: Asian Tour

AC TIO N

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TR I U M P H

#whereitsAT

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Golfers We Like The Golf Life

double-splash 12% of average golfers who play No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass dunk it in the water twice. source: arccos golf

gibbons ’ year by the numbers rounds holes

15,804

miles

6,401

rounds per day

2.4

scoring average

77.2

best score cost per round

arry Gibbons dropped by the driving range at the beginning of this year, thinking he’d hit a few balls. He was in for a shock. “It was like I hit a brick wall,” Gibbons says. “I didn’t realize how much damage I’d done to my body.” ▶ There were the deeply bruised feet. The sore ribs. The torn rotator cuff. Everything hurt. ▶ Not that you should feel too bad for him. For the previous 12 months, Gibbons didn’t just play golf, he completely gave himself to it. He walked an astonishing 878 rounds in 2016, shattering the previous World Record Academy mark of 611.

And he carried his bag for each round.

B

His epic 2016 also broke the Guinness World Record for rounds in a year (812), a record by a golfer who rode in a cart.

“When I decide I’m going to do something, I’m willing to go all in to make it happen,” says Gibbons, 57, a retired vice president of sales at IBM. “Sometimes I’m a little extreme that way.”

From fellow golfers constantly asking about his quest, to strangers bringing him food mid-round, Gibbons was stunned by the attention and support he received. “I didn’t want to let them down,” Gibbons says. It helped that his wife—yes, he has a wife—Joy, dubbed The Golf Widow by friends, created a website (breakthegolfrecord.com) that tracked his progress.

Gibbons walked an estimated 6,401 miles in those 878 rounds, nearly the equivalent of strolling from his home in Austin to Ridgefield, Conn., where he has another home.

And back. Twice.

69 $8.92

pounds lost

33

nongolf days

23

pairs of golf shoes

19

holes-in-one

Marathon Man This dude walked 878 rounds last year

878

1

Gibbons, who played as many as 90 holes in a day, shed 33 pounds despite Joy estimating he ate more than 60 gallons of ice cream. (Psst! If you’re even thinking of trying something like this, push the weight-loss angle.) Gibbons also slashed his USGA Handicap Index of 8.0 down to a low of 1.2, before ending the year at 3.0.

“It’s almost amazing how fast 18 holes goes by now,” Gibbons says. He’s considering a run at the record for most courses played in a year (449) in 2018. Logistically, that’ll be tougher to achieve. Gibbons played 774 of last year’s rounds on just three courses. “I think I’d need a motor home” to break the most-courses-played record, he says. “I haven’t convinced my wife of that yet!”

Gibbons’ 2016 mission included playing the recordbreaking 612th round with his dad in Colorado in September, a hole-in-one in November and a birdie that capped his final loop at his home club—The Hills’ Flintrock Falls Course in Austin—on New Year’s Eve. With about 125 supporters watching, Gibbons gave a champagne toast on the 18th green. And then, finally, he rested.

“It didn’t get monotonous because every round is different,” Gibbons says. “I don’t think I’ll ever be just an 18-holea-day guy.” —A l e x M y e r s Illustration by Oliver Munday

HIGH make greens in reg a habit by jason day w i n n e r o f t h e 2 0 1 6 p l ay e rs c h a m p i o n s h i p

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BE A

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HITTER

BALL swings mean higher shots. I know Rory and Dustin do this, too. (2) My angle of attack into the ball is very shallow—that’s really important if you want to get the ball up. (3) My right arm is pretty straight at impact. If it were bent like some players, I’d struggle to get the height I do. (4) I load onto my right side in the backswing. Guys who don’t shift as much might compress the ball, but they don’t carry it as far. ▶ Now that you know all of this, realize that I’m not expecting you to copy my swing if you want to hit it higher. Some of the things you could easily copy, I’m sure. But a lot of it would require more work than you’re probably willing—or able—to endure. Remember, I’ve been swinging

like this for more than 20 years. ▶ That’s why my coach, Col Swatton, and I put our heads together to come up with four drills that anyone can do to hit their irons higher. These don’t require you to swing faster or have the hip action of a tour pro. They don’t even mean you have to sacrifice time with your kids to grind it out on the range.

Just try the things I’m going to demonstrate in this article when you have a little extra time, and see if your ball flight doesn’t have a little more of an arc when you play. It’s a great feeling knowing you don’t have to chase your 6-iron through an opening at the front of the green just to have a chance at a two-putt par. Now you’ll be able to fly one in there. —with ron k a spriske

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▶ my standard ball flight is about as high as anyone’s on tour—from driver right down to my wedges. That gives me a huge advantage in carrying hazards, flying it over trees and holding greens. It certainly helped me win the Players Championship last year.

In the opening round when I shot 9-under-par 63, I hit 15 greens in regulation. You can’t do that at TPC Sawgrass with a low ball flight. ▶ There are a number of reasons I can send one into orbit. (1) Hip action and clubhead speed play a big role. My hips actually stop rotating in the downswing and check back a little, which might seem bizarre, but this creates a whip-like action with my arms and club. Fast

Photograph by First Lastname

Photographs by Dom Furore

2016

load before you go

pl ayers championship

1

scoring average

▶ If you feel a lot of weight in your left foot as your backswing ends, there’s a good chance you’ll hit a line drive. You need to get your body behind the ball, as they say. Try this: Step on the shaft of a club with your right foot and pin another across your chest as I’m doing here. Now turn back (near, right). Feel all your weight move into your right leg, but notice how the club on the ground serves as a backstop so you don’t sway from the target with your body. The club pinned across your chest should be pointing well behind the ball when you complete your turn, and your head should be behind the ball, too. If you can get to the top of your swing in a similar position when you play, you’re ready to fire off your right side when you start the downswing. That’s good weight shift. It’s a lot like how pitchers wind up and then push off their back leg to throw a fastball.

68.25 1st source: pga tour (2016)

tee it high & let it fly

2 ▶ You’ve probably been told to sweep the ball with your driver and hit down on it with your irons. Truth is, if you want to hit your irons higher, you shouldn’t hit down on it all that much.

To learn what a shallower approach feels like, try this: Tee a ball two to three inches off the ground like you pulled your driver from the bag, but instead you’re going to use a 6-iron. Try to hit this ball as high and far as you can. Notice how your spine has to tilt away from the target and your right arm straightens to launch the ball (left). Spine tilt is really important. If your spine is straight up and down, or leaning toward the target at impact, you’ll swing under the ball and probably pop it up. Weight shift also matters.

Swing off your back foot, and you’ll blade it.

Once you’re routinely hitting it great with this drill, see if you can get similar results by making the same swing when the ball is not teed up.

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+ NIKE shirt, shorts, shoes, belt, hat, glove

hit the slopes

3 ▶ Find a spot where you can attempt iron shots from an uphill lie (right). The slope shouldn’t be too severe, but you want to feel like gravity is pulling you away from the target a little when you address the ball. If you can hit it solid and high from here, you’ve got the proper feeling for a high-ball swing from a flat lie. The slope forces you to shift your weight forward and shallow your downswing. If you leave weight on your back foot, because of gravity or the notion that this will help you hit it higher, you might lose your balance, whiff or skull the ball into the next county. And if you swing down too steeply, the club will crash into the turf.

It’s just physics. Instead, do like Col says and “follow the earth with your clubhead.” Shift your weight toward the target, swing up the slope, and you’ll hit it high and far. The hill acts like a launching pad if you do it right.

turn, shift, rotate

2016

pl ayers championship

strokes g ained: tee to green

2.78

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3rd source: pga tour (2016)

Photograph by First Lastname

4 ▶ This drill puts all the elements you’ve learned so far into one fluid motion. Stick an alignment rod a few inches off your right hip and another the same distance off your left hip. Wind up like in Drill No. 1 without swaying into the rod next to your right hip. Then start down by letting your left hip bump the rod that’s next to it.

Your spine angle should shift as it does in Drill No. 2. Sense your weight moving into the left heel as you do this (near, left). If you feel it in your toes, you’re out of position. Finally, after the bump, rotate your hips toward the target and let the club swing along the ground as in Drill No. 3. You can work on this in three parts, but the goal is to blend it: (1) Turn and post up on your right side; (2) shift your lower body toward the target; (3) rotate your hips and finish the swing. This will really help you get the ball sailing. Greens in reg will become routine. may 2017 | golf digest india

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WHAT GREAT

Photographs by Dom Furore

Photograph by First Lastname

PUTTERS DO 3 tour secrets that’ll get you making putts by butch harmon My dad used to say you can always tell great putters because all their putts have that “going in” look. I love that phrase, and it makes sense when you watch players who can really putt. They give their full effort every time, and they never talk themselves out of a putt. Look at it this way, there are only two things that can happen—you make it, or you miss it—and I can tell you, the best putters only think about one. ▶ There’s no reason the

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average golfer can’t become a great putter. It’s the simplest swing you make; there are no bunkers, no outof-bounds, no rough; you’re on a perfectly smooth surface; and the target is right there. Still, most golfers have a negative attitude, which I never understand. All you have to do is read the break, aim the face and start the ball on line. And, most important, decide to be positive. ▶ Let’s look at a few things I’ve learned from great putters I’ve worked with—and get you dropping more putts. — w i t h p e t e r m o r r i c e Photograph by First Lastname

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‘this is phil’s 30-40-50 drill. use it to learn distance control, and you’ll stop three-putting.’

putting from outside 30 feet

phil mickelson: develop your feel for distance on long putts Here’s a drill I’ve watched Phil do over the years to hit putts with great speed. He finds a hole on the practice green and sticks three tees in the ground, at 30, 40 and 50 feet out. His goal is to roll three putts in a row from each tee into an imaginary three-foot circle around the hole. He starts at 40 feet and putts from there until he gets three in a row. Then he goes to 30, then 50—going out of order like this means you can’t just get in a groove.

Distance control is the big thing on long putts. If you judge the speed right, you’ll almost always have a simple second putt. But if + FOOTJOY shirt, pants, shoes TITLEIST hat ROLEX watch HOUSE OF FLEMING belt

you judge it wrong, you might leave yourself 10 or 12 feet. On long putts, I like the stroke to be a little longer and slower, so you can put some hit on the ball. When most golfers try to hit it harder, they get quick and jabby, which usually causes a mis-hit. You want the putterhead to accelerate through the ball, so think long and smooth.

Phil’s drill is a great test. And don’t just practice from one angle.

If you start with downhill, right-to-left putts, next time go uphill, left to right. Any 50-foot space will do—even use a water bottle for the hole (above). You’ll quickly see a difference in your distance control.

how to approach any putt

brandt snedeker: keep the routine short and on point Sneds is a great putter for the average golfer to copy because he gets on with it. Once he knows what he wants to do with a putt, he doesn’t waste any time. Taking longer only ups your stress level and invites you to start doubting what you’re doing.

If you watch Brandt, you’ll see when he’s reading a putt from behind the ball, he’s often making little air strokes with the right hand.

Then, when he steps in, he makes three or four short practice strokes, always looking at the hole. He’s fine-tuning his feel.

His stroke is more of a pop action than what we normally see

on the PGA Tour. It has a quicker pace and very little follow-through. I putt like that, too, because it helps me hit the ball on the right line. That’s what good putting is all about.

The best lesson here is to keep your focus simple. As you read your putt, imagine a three- or four-inch trough from your ball to the hole. You want to roll your ball down that trough, and that means getting it started on line. So instead of staring at the ball, track your eyes down your intended line, especially the first foot or two (below). Then give it a good, firm rap down that line—just like Sneds.

putting from inside six feet

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rickie fowler: give yourself a lift Rickie has become very competent with shorter putts. He ranks fourth on tour from a range of four to eight feet, making 82 percent. The best thing he does to hole these is simple enough for any golfer to adopt: He lifts his putterhead off the ground right before he putts (left).

Let’s back up a minute and look at Rickie’s overall approach.

I like that he steps into these putts with the clear purpose of getting the putterface aimed precisely. He’s deliberate about that. In fact, he sets the face with only his right hand, and completes his grip when the face is perfect. Then he takes one look at the hole and raises the putterhead fractionally off the ground before he starts back.

I want you to try this for two reasons: First, it’ll help take the tension out of your hands and arms, and we all know that tension is a killer on these short ones. Second, it sets up a smooth, even backstroke with no risk of the club getting stuck on the grass. Very clever little move. And just like these other tips, it’ll help you putt like a pro. may 2017 | golf digest india

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Play Your Best Swing Sequence ickie Fowler is honing in on greatness. When he linked up with coach Butch Harmon, part of their project was to make his swing less flat for consistency. “Now I’ll sometimes get too steep, and I have to go back to feeling a laid-off position,” Fowler says. “Not that I want to be there, but that’s what I have to feel to get on plane.”

Be it style, social media or swing changes,

R

Rickie Fowler Minor changes aimed toward major results

90 golf digest india | may 2017

the four-time PGA Tour winner isn’t afraid to try new things. A drawer of the golf ball since childhood, he recently started playing a fade off the tee to find more fairways. To set up his win at the Honda Classic in February, he lopped an inch off his driver shaft and used the 43.5-inch model to finish T-17 in driving accuracy for the week while still averaging a commanding 304 yards. No matter what the

experiment is, his natural athleticism always helps him excel.

“Rickie is starting to plan his year around majors,” Harmon says. “He knows he has to drive the ball a little better than last year.”

Fowler has done the work to make his swing less reliant on timing. Now it’s about making his best golf appear at the right times.

— max adler

FLARE THE FOOT

TOE TO THE SKY

A LEVEL TURN

A simple change Butch Harmon has asked of his student Rickie Fowler is to turn his front foot out a skosh at address.

“More flare makes it easier to clear your lower body on the downswing,” Harmon says. “Rickie always had that flare in his right foot; we just had him turn out the left a little more.”

In Fowler’s old takeaway, the clubface pointed at the ball too long in a shut position. To fix this, he focused on allowing the toe of the club to rotate up to start the swing.

From a downtarget view, “the club is more in line with his feet now, and the swing is nice and wide going back,” Harmon says.

Halfway back, note the right angle formed by the shaft and Fowler’s left arm. “All he has to do from here is turn his shoulders, and he’s at the top,” Harmon says. Once there, a flexed back knee is evidence of stability. “Check out his belt line, which stays level,” Harmon says.

“That’s a solid hip turn going back.”

▶ LEFT-ROUGH TENDENCY

8.7%

Rickie Fowler (11th)

▶ AVG. DRIVING DISTANCE

13.8%

3.1%

307.4 YDS

290.8 YDS

315.4 YDS

Tour average

Scott Langley (1st)

Rickie Fowler (11th)

Tour average

Luke List (1st) source: shotlink (2017)

LEGS LEAD

MOMENT OF TRUTH

TROPHY POSE

PRO-FILE

Pound for pound, Fowler is one of the longest hitters in golf. He gets those extra yards by pushing off the ground. “Look at that squat position in his lower body,” Harmon says. “When you go from the ground up, your hands and arms naturally drop into what I call the delivery position.”

Harmon counts four moves to copy in this “perfect impact.” (1) The right arm has straightened into the hit. (2) There’s no backup, meaning the chest is covering the ball. (3) The back of the glove is looking at the target, which means the clubface is square.

(4) The left leg has snapped straight for a power boost.

As he follows through, Fowler extends his right arm and fully clears his left hip. “It’s a beautiful finish position. Everything is forward, and he’s fully rotated,” Harmon says.

“I don’t mind the left foot turning out a bit.

That’s just from the momentum of his lower body. You can tell he ripped this drive.”

rickie fowler 28 / 5-9 / 150 pounds Murrieta, Calif. driver Cobra King F7+ 8.5 degrees ball Titleist Pro V1x + PUMA shirt, pants, belt, shoes, hat

Photographs by Walter Iooss Jr.

Any ball that helps your short game should top your list.

Photograph by Adam Voorhes

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Circle of Trust Finding the right ball starts with evaluating your game he 212 balls on sale at GolfGalaxy.com represent various constructions, feels and, of course, prices. But how do you decide what’s best for you? A good place to start are the 38 balls on the 2017 Hot List. Then consider adopting the three-part Hot List testing process we used at Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort in Orlando. (Blacking out the logos, like we did, is up to you.) ▶ The middle-iron test: This shot offers clues to how the ball launches, how far it travels and at what angle it lands. ▶ The 30-to-50-yard test: If the shot you typically play from this distance is a chip-and-run, spin might be less important to you than feel. But if you want to hit a shot that checks and stops quickly, then a multilayer ball with a urethane cover is must. ▶ Around-the-green test: Good chips and pitches are crucial to scoring. The ball that helps you execute these shots the best should top your list.

What about the driver? Think of it this way: At least 80 percent of your shots aren’t tee shots. Solve short-game shots first. Then, if two balls are close, by all means opt for the longer and straighter one.

On the following pages, we break down the market into three categories: Over $35, $26$35, and $25 and Under. Now, go get your search started. ▶ ▶ ▶

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may 2017 | golf digest india

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Play Your Best Equipment

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Average golf-ball selling price: ▶ Over $35: 42.5% ▶ $26-$35: 12.5% ▶ $25 and under: 45%

bridgestone b330/330-s/rx/rxs

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volvik vibe

$45/$40 The B330 and B330-S are made for faster swingers (105 miles per hour or more). The B330-S is for those wanting a little more spin. At $5 less per dozen, the B330-RX and B330RXS are for sub-105mph swings. The RXS is softer and spins more on short shots.

$40 A new dimple pattern and redesigned cores (the Z-Star’s is softer; the XV’s is larger and softer) help the ball carry farther. A new cover coating (13-percent softer than the previous version) helps friction on short shots. Fast swingers will like the XV.

$48 Titleist shows it’s in command of its technology with subtle but significant improvements. A new dimple design on the four-piece V1x promotes a higher trajectory, and the revamped three-piece V1 comes with a reformulated core for less spin.

$80 The saying “less is more” doesn’t apply here. This sixlayer ball features a core, four inner layers (becoming firmer toward the outside) and a urethane cover.

They combine to produce a high initial velocity and a higher ball flight off the long clubs.

$36 Forget the funky name. This ball is sneaky good for golfers with swing speeds of less than 100 miles per hour.

It has a compression of just 65, which means it has a soft feel with less spin off tee shots. The price for this category ain’t bad, either.

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

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taylormade tp5/x

wilson duo urethane

oncore elixr

wilson fg tour

$40 Chrome Soft was a success, but some didn’t like its pillowy feel. Solving that issue is Chrome Soft X. Both models have a dual-core, four-piece construction with a urethane cover. However, the X provides a firmer feel with a more penetrating trajectory.

$45 Making golf balls is like baking cakes: More layers add complexity—and greater rewards. That’s the idea behind these five-piece balls. We’ll spare you the chemical-engineering talk.

The TP5 is softer with a mid-launch. The TP5x is firmer with a higher launch.

$38 Wilson has claimed to have the softest ball in golf. As others pursued that title, Wilson took the next step by adding a urethane cover. The result here is a ball that feels soft (the core compression is only 25) and provides a little tour sauce on short shots.

$36 The company moved away from its hollow-metal core and now seeks a more stable flight through increased perimeter weighting by infusing high-density particles in the ball’s mantle layer. This is an appealing upgrade from the company’s previous models.

$45 With Duo Ure-

p er fo r m a n ce ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

thane covering the “soft” crowd, Wilson bumped up the compression on its FG Tour and added a highly resilient outer mantle to help you pick up yards off the tee. The urethane cover provides plenty of grab on shots from in close, too.

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● gold ● silver

photographs by ben walton

s o u r c e : g o l f d atat ec h , ja n u a r y 2 0 1 7

Slug by Firstname Lastname Equipment Play Play Your Best

If you want to hit chips that check, a urethane cover is a must.

gutter credit tk

▶ OVER $35 ▶ $26 TO $35 ▶ $25 AND UNDER

bridgestone e6 soft

srixon q-star tour

titleist nxt tour

callaway superhot 70

snell my tour ball

$29 The e6 has made a name for itself over the past decade by keeping average golfers’ tee shots in play and their iron shots launching higher. The updated version’s softer core aims to improve feel throughout the bag. The core is also larger for faster ball speed.

$30 This new lowcompression model features less spin on tee shots and a higher ball flight with the irons. The tour-quality urethane cover with a highfriction coating produces extra grab on short shots normally reserved for elite balls.

$35 The ionomerblend cover helps the ball feel soft, but the large dual core and its soft inner core are the real technological story behind this ball.

The result is a higher ball flight with less spin and more distance for the longer clubs. Who couldn’t use a little of that?

$28 This three-piece ball with an ionomer cover features a slightly higher compression than its predecessor for more ball velocity. The middle layer helps control spin so longer shots fly straighter.

Bonus: It comes in a 15-ball pack for the same price.

$32 This direct-toconsumer favorite offers tour-level technology. That includes a thin urethane cover for the high spin required for those testy short shots. The lowcompression, highly resilient core powers tee shots, and the middle layer minimizes spin.

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

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maxfli u/fli soft

taylormade project (a)

vice pro soft

maxfli u/fli speed

titleist nxt tour s

$35 The challenge with using a supersoft, low-compression core (rated at 35) is generating enough speed. In this case, Maxfli finds distance through a resilient outer core and lowspin mantle. A urethane cover helps you get more spin on short shots.

$35 The urethane cover produces the kind of greensidechecking spin that can help average golfers—who miss far more greens than they hit. But the lower-compression core is formulated so it’s soft (for feel) and resilient (for faster ball speed).

$35 Designed for

average swing speeds, this threepiece ball’s lowcompression core produces less spin off the driver. The urethane cover’s matte finish is a tacky coating of microscopic silicone particles that’s designed to improve feel.

$35 This urethanecover design makes distance a priority.

Its firmer overall compression (95) and dual core provide energy to the ball while maintaining low spin on your tee shots.

The mantle layer increases spin on middle-iron shots for better control.

$35 This two-piece companion to the NXT Tour features a softer version of Titleist’s ionomer-blend cover for those who want a little extra spin on short-game shots. The lowercompression core means shots throughout the bag will feel slightly softer.

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by First b a l l s listed alp hLastname abet i c ally i n pri ce c at egori es

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month 2017 | golfdigest.com

95

Play Your Best Equipment

% ▶ OVER $35 ▶ $26 TO $35 ▶ $25 AND UNDER

How important is it for you to be custom-fit for a golf ball? ▶ Very important/Important: 77% ▶ Not important/Not important at all: 23% s o u r c e : g o l f d atat ec h

titleist velocity

callaway supersoft

srixon q-star

titleist dt trusoft

pinnacle soft

$27 Its reputation as Titleist’s distance ball long established, the current version offers a new focus on feel, thanks to a thinner cover. Still, the larger, more resilient core powers distance, and a high launch helps iron shots land at a steeper, green-holding angle.

$22 This top-seller’s revise includes more speed, better spin.

$25 A cover coating increases friction for short-shot spin.

$22 It’s soft with low spin but still has approach-shot control.

$16 Pinnacle’s softest ball ever produces low spin for distance.

p e r fo r m an c e ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

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kirkland signature tour performance

srixon soft feel

wilson duo

top flite gamer tour

$15 The cult hit packs the tech punch of balls played on tour.

$20 Updates include a softer inside and a thinner, softer cover.

$20 This soft ball gets needed speed from a resilient cover.

$25 This three-piece’s urethane cover is now more durable.

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wilson duo spin

All Things Considered

$27 This three-piece

Looking beyond the hype of Costco’s ball

ball features an extremely low-compression core (it actually measures below zero, at -55) to help reduce spin on the longer clubs. The soft, flexible mantle provides extra short-iron spin, and the resilient ionomer cover adds velocity.

$21 The soft core and thin, soft cover combat hooks and slices.

performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

p e r fo r m an c e ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

e heard the talk, too. Last fall brought a buzz reminiscent of the early days of the Titleist Pro V1. Except this ball was sold by a shopping club at a fraction of the price of tour-caliber balls—and was touted as performing just as well.

In the $25-and-Under category, Costco’s Kirkland Signature Tour Performance ball outperformed the others in several aspects of our evaluation process. That makes sense. A four-piece ball with a urethane cover should beat out mostly two-piece balls

W

snell get sum

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with ionomer covers. So why doesn’t it stand alone in the category?

First, we believed other balls met the demands of players shopping at this price. But Costco’s ability to continue to stock and sell the ball is unclear. We also considered quality control and whether an outsourced ball can match the production capabilities and consistencies of mainstream companies.

(We think there’s a difference.) Did our process show that the Costco ball deserved Gold? Yes. But is its future uncertain? Yes. —e. michael johnson

Strategy by Jack Nicklaus Play Your Best

“Sometimes the middle of the green is no good.”

Center of Attention Know when to aim at the flag TAKE DEAD AIM If the cup is here, thank the superintendent. Here’s a rare opportunity when the play is directly at the flag. But be careful of what’s probably your well-conditioned instinct to cheat your aim a little left of this pin position. A shot that pitches close to the middle of this green is dangerous. If the ball runs or has any draw spin, it’s going to feed over the ridge to the back-left portion of the green. Now you’ve got the toughest two-putt on the hole. In this situation, the best miss is short in the neck of the fairway, where you can still make par with a good chip.

PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTH With a cup cut here, this is the longest the hole can play. It’ll be 190 yards from the back tees and about 150 from the whites. If you feel you’ve got the trajectory that can hit and hold this back-left portion of the putting surface, you face a decision. If your chipping and sand game are strong, you might go at this flag. If lag putting is your talent, the right half of the green is your play. It’s a more manageable putt negotiating the ridge in this direction, and you keep your ball away from that deep middle bunker.

the king and i FIRM IT IN THE BACK OF THE CUP

he middle of the green should be your default target. In my career, I always preferred a pair of 69s than to card 65-85. It doesn’t matter how talented you are. If you habitually go directly at flagsticks, hoping every round might be a scorcher, you’re going to shoot way more scores at the high end of your range.

This is a fairly straightforward concept—except when it isn’t. With certain green complexes, the best strategy can be

T

to aim somewhere other than the middle.

The par-3 fourth on the Prospector Course at Superstition Mountain (illustrated), a layout north of Scottsdale that I designed with my son, Gary, is a prime example. A big ridge runs through the center, effectively making it play like two smaller greens.

Depending on the hole location and your short-game skills, you might be better served leaving a chip for birdie.

—with max adler

Arnold Palmer was a more aggressive putter than I. He made more birdies but also had more three-putts. Over five rounds at the 1962 U.S. Open (I won in a playoff), Arnie had 11 three-putts against my one. It’s a matter of philosophy. I didn’t like testing my nerves with lengthy second putts. If I tested them often enough, I figured they were bound to fail me.

Illustration by Chris O’Riley

AugustA NAtioNAl/getty imAges

As a designer, when I introduce a difficult element, I also give back. Even though the ridge bisecting this green is tricky, once on the correct tier, you’ll see a lot of straight, flat putts. Take advantage. We all can get too accustomed to putting defensively and then neglect to charge the cup on an easy one.

EDITORS’ CHOICE F

BES

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Courtesy of

GOL

2017

IN G O L F | B E S T I N

LF | BEST I N G O G O IN

EST

EST IN G OLF | B | B LF

98 golf digest india | may 2017

our complete guide to the golf lifestyle

▶ Welcome to Year Two of the best things in golf. After introducing the Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Awards last May, we’re back with new recommendations in 38 categories. ▶We’ve got you covered for the latest in travel destinations, gear and gadgets, cool style and fitness products that will help you play your best. Then there’s the stuff that’s just fun: Whether you’re into drones, coolers, cigars, wine or the best in apps, Editors’ Choice is your go-to resource. ▶ Illustration by Kyle Bean

Courtesy of

this divot-repair tool does the job fast and helps you do it right.

the pitchfix fusion 2.5 pin.

CHOICE S

2017

ETS | GE A R & GAD

EDITORS’

&

G R&

G ADG

ADGETS | GEAR

GETS | GEAR &

GET

GAD

GEA

bags ▶ Think of your golf bag as your

headcovers ▶ You might not expect to hear “technical fabrics” or “technology” when considering the innovation in headcovers, but this category continues to be competitive.

junior clubs

More so than just being a conversation starter, these Editors’ Choice winners are companies

▶ Whether it’s your toddler or teen,

that deliver products that are

there should be nothing childish

different. Dormie, for instance, has

about the golf equipment they use.

incorporated a diagonal zipper into

Little Bobby isn’t going to get overly

the design of its hand-made leather

excited about the 65-yard grounder,

headcovers to help ease of use—

so it’s important to have clubs that

little things that continue to make

provide the addicting satisfaction

golfers’ lives easier.

that comes with getting shots in the air. These makers of junior

caddie. It carries your clubs and houses the other things you need on

▶ k n i t Jan Craig, $34-$52

equipment differ in approach, but all

the course. Carry bags have become

▶ fa b r i c Bespoke Golf, $35-$70

succeed in producing clubs to make

more efficient with double straps

Dormie Workshop, $65 and up

that task considerably easier.

that go on and off the shoulders

Seamus Golf, $55-$75

easily, shock absorption, and

▶ b e g i n n e r Golphin

weights that continue to plummet.

(four clubs with bag), $140

With cart bags, it’s about pockets, dividers that won’t damage graphite

▶ i n t e r m e d i at e U.S. Kids

cleats

Ultralight (nine lengths, $35-$280 for single clubs, sets with bag)

shafts, and handles to make getting in and out of the trunk easier. Best of

▶ Remember when the original

▶ t r a n s i t i o n Ping Thrive

all, carry or cart, a golf bag will never

purpose of nonmetal cleats was

(10 clubs with bag), $599

give you a bad yardage.

to avoid damaging greens? Lately, there has been a rush to develop

▶ l i g h t w e i g h t/

golf shoes and cleats with so much

u lt r a - l i g h t w e i g h t

traction that NFL running backs

Callaway Hyper-Lite Zero, $220;

are getting jealous. That’s why we

Sun Mountain 2Five, $220

applaud the re-engineered Zarma

▶ Though it might lack the big-

▶ c a r r y Ogio Cirrus, $200; Ping

Tour. Its softer arms still provide

screen visuals of some of its

Hoofer, $200; Sun Mountain 3.5LS,

extra grab on your full swing, but

expensive counterparts, SkyTrak

$230

they spread out and cushion even

has the necessities you’re looking

▶ c a r t Sun Mountain C-130 (2017),

the most fragile turf. Takes us back

for in a simulator. The launch

$230

to the old days. Like 1992.

monitor connects wirelessly to an

simulators

▶ h y b r i d Bag Boy Chiller, $180; Sun Mountain 5.5LS, $239

iPad or PC and replicates a player’s ▶ Champ Zarma Tour, $11

ball flight and launch data in 3-D.

▶ s ta n d l e s s / s u n d ay Callaway

In the Luxury/Premium category,

Hyper-Lite 1+ Pencil, $120; Ping

GOLFZON Vision’s sensors capture

Moonlite, $90 ▶ s p e c i a lt y October Golf Gear

club trace, impact and spin. These

divot-repair tool

measurements produce life-like

Stand Bag Kit, $200

trajectories, allowing the user to

▶ c l a s s i c Jones Original, $140;

▶ Pitchfix, the ball-mark whisperer

play fade, draw and pitch shots at

Links & Kings Classic 2-Pocket

that last year brought you the

more than 150 courses.

Walker, $875

Twister, a three-pronged, idiotproof tool that fixes ball marks with

▶ va l u e SkyTrak: $1,995

a simple up-and-down motion, now

▶ l u x u r y/ p r e m i u m

has a switchblade-style version.

GOLFZON Vision: $50,000

The Fusion 2.5 lets you instantly flick open the prongs to do their work, then just as easily retract the pins so the whole unit can rest in your pocket, leaving fingers and nails as unharmed as the green you’re leaving behind.

Courtesy of

▶ Pitchfix Fusion 2.5 Pin, $16.50

Photographs by Victor Prado

may 2017 | golf digest india

101

launch monitors

game analyzers

club transport

vest

▶ Golf has become a game of

▶ There’s no longer any excuse for

▶ What the calculator did to the

▶ A good vest should be a staple

numbers, and no digits are more

you to sit in the bar after your round

adding machine, riding and

in every golfer’s closet. The trick

intriguing than those produced

and ponder, I think it was really my

pushcarts did to caddies—didn’t

is selecting a fitted, purposely

by the best launch monitors.

driving that killed me today. There’s

render them obsolete so much

designed vest for your full range

The GCQuad from Foresight Sports

enough game-analyzing and stat-

as eclipse them with all-around

of motion and comfort in a variety

processes 20 times the information

tracking technology for you to know

efficiency. Our top pushcart is easy

of climates. The Fairway & Greene

of its original model thanks to its

in an instant where you’re losing

to unfold and has a sleek design

Caves ¼ Zip Vest will take your

four high-speed cameras in a unit

strokes and what you need to do to

for storage. In carts, our choice

layering game to a new level. It has

not much bigger than a shoe box.

improve. Coupled with scoring, GPS

for the electric category has built-

all the performance elements in a

TrackMan 4 uses two Doppler

capabilities and gaming options,

in connectivity (GPS, electronic

stylish package. Dunning’s Natural

radar-based systems, one that

we suggest you add Arccos 360 or

scoring, etc.) and a smooth ride,

Hand Vest combines comfort and

tracks the ball and another ultra-

Game Golf Live to your game.

and our gas winner gets around at a

technology aptly.

high frequency system that

noise level eerily close to that of an

monitors the clubhead, all in a

▶ Arccos 360, $250

package that weighs barely more

▶ Game Golf Live, $150

than your laptop. ▶ camera Foresight Sports GCQuad, $18,000

electric cart. Efficient, indeed. ▶ pushcarts

training aids

¼ Zip Vest, $95

Big Max Blade Quattro, $300

▶ s p o r t/ c a s u a l

▶ riding carts

Dunning Natural Hand Vest, $79

Club Car Precedent i3 (electric); Yamaha Drive2 QuieTech EFI (gas)

▶ r a d a r TrackMan 4, $25,000 ▶ What makes a great training aid?

raingear

It’s intuitive, it’s original, and it gets

travel cover

▶ golf performance Fairway & Greene Caves

results. We picked this year’s best in three categories based on those

eyewear

criteria, along with value and usage

▶ Finding raingear that protects you from the elements but doesn’t

▶ The travel cover need not be a

by the game’s best players and

▶ Protection and style are important

hinder your swing or comfort level

necessary evil, like, say, the TSA.

teachers. The Orange Whip extends

in eyewear, but visual acuity is

is tricky. Galvin Green keeps up with

No, rather than simply settling for

its classic weighted, flexible training

an undervalued component in

the latest Gore-Tex technology to

a rolling sarcophagus to store,

club to the wedge game; the Visio

athletic lenses. Oakley’s Prizm Golf

produce quality waterproof pieces.

protect and transport your golf

mat and FocusBand help you

technology filters colors to provide

The Argon Jacket is one of the most

clubs, we say invest in a legitimate

transform your putting and mental

better distance perception, grass-

breathable on the market, and it

traveling partner. The Sun Mountain

games.

texture differentiation and more

doesn’t cling to your skin. FootJoy’s

precise reads on the green. Under

HydroLite Rain collection is versatile for any condition.

ClubGlider Meridian, with its retractable rolling legs, moves so

▶ full swing

Armour’s eyewear line is expanding to

effortlessly through airports it’s as

Orange Whip Wedge, $110

offer technical features in a variety of

if you have a golf-bag valet escorting

▶ putting

styles with remarkable comfort.

your clubs everywhere from check-

Visio Mi Putting Template, $45

▶ h e av y- d u t y Galvin Green Argon Jacket, $695

in to baggage claim and beyond.

▶ m e n ta l g a m e

▶ golf performance

▶ lightweight

No tip required.

FocusBand, $500

Oakley Prizm Golf, $140-$190

FootJoy HydroLite, $110-$170

▶ s p o r t/ c a s u a l ▶ Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian, $290

swing analyzers

Under Armour, $75-$160

underwear ▶ Once you get past the

headwear umbrella

awkwardness of evaluating

▶ Club-logoed souvenir hats are great for bragging rights but aren’t

moisture management, pouch

▶ Not all umbrellas are created equal.

typically suited for long-term

▶ Keeping track of your game and

contours and breathability below the

That little collapsible umbrella you

wear and tear. New Era Golf’s high-

your swing has never been easier.

belt, you’ll realize the importance

use on your walk from the parking

performance fabrics look, feel and

You can do it a variety of ways, and

of quality underwear. Tommy

lot to your office? It’s not going to

age well. Bonded seams and laser-

at a variety of price points. Swing

John’s bold 360 Sport Trunk won’t

cut it on the golf course. You need

cut ventilation in the Contour Tech

analyzers offer measurement and

ride up or roll at the waist. Cooling

something that’s going to hang

Tee 2.0 separate this lid from the

data about the club’s motion from

vents and anti-microbial and anti-

tough in high winds without blowing

rest. The Adidas Tour Delta Textured

sensors attached to the club or your

odor features keep things fresh.

inside out. The GustBuster’s two-

Hat has a more relaxed fit and offers

body, or through comparison to a

Lululemon’s No Boxer Boxer is

layer construction allows wind to

a UPF 50+ sun protection, all while

video library.

designed for an athletic build and

pass through the umbrella so it won’t

looking incredibly smart.

focuses on shape retention. Our

be lifted out of your hands. Your

▶ motion capture

sources say you’ll see a pair or two of

game might not stand up in the rain,

▶ golf performance

( at ta c h e d c l u b )

these strutting around locker rooms

but this umbrella will.

New Era Golf Contour Tech Tee 2.0, $40

Blast Motion Golf 360, $150

on tour.

▶ motion capture ( a p p) V1 Golf, $4.99

▶ golf performance

▶ motion capture

Tommy John 360 Sport Trunk, $32

(b o dy ) Zepp Golf 2, $150

▶ s p o r t/ c a s u a l ▶ GustBuster Golf, $45

▶ s p o r t/ c a s u a l Lululemon No Boxer Boxer, $24

102 golf digest india | may 2017

Adidas Tour Delta Textured Hat, $35

EDITORS’ CHOICE

GEA Courtesy of

2017

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launch monitors give us something the game has desperately needed: a way to understand what we’re doing and how we’re improving.

the foresight sport gcquad.

▶ gr and waile a , a waldorf

resorts the americas

a s t o r i a r e s o r t Maui ▶ r i t z- c a r lt o n , k a pa l u a Maui ▶ s t. r e g i s p r i n c e v i l l e

▶ p u n tac a n a re s o r t & c l u b

rockies and great plains

Princeville, Kauai

Dominican Republic ▶ r o s e w o o d t u c k e r’ s p o in t Bermuda ▶ r oya l i s a b e l a

▶ b i g c e d a r l o d g e Ridgedale, Mo.

Isabela, Puerto Rico

▶ t h e b r o a d m o o r Colo. Springs

▶ s a n dy l a n e St. James, Barbados

▶ t h e p r a i r i e c l u b Valentine, Neb.

california

mid-atlantic

▶ t h e i n n at pa s at i e m p o

▶ c o l o n i a l w il l i a m s b u r g ( va .)

Santa Cruz

▶ the greenbrier

▶ l a q u i n ta r e s o r t & c l u b

White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.

▶ t h e l o d g e at t o r r e y p i n e s

▶ k e s w i c k ( va . ) h a l l & g . c .

La Jolla

▶ nemacolin woodl ands

▶ o j a i va l l e y i n n & s pa

r e s o r t Farmington, Pa.

▶ au b u rn m a rr i o t t o pe l ik a

▶ c a b o d e l s o l Los Cabos, Baja

▶ pebble beach resorts/

▶ the omni homestead

( a l a .) h o te l & c o n fe re n c e

California Sur, Mexico

i n n at s pa n i s h b ay

r e s o r t Hot Springs, Va.

c e n te r at g r a n d n ati o n a l

▶ m aya ko b a re s o r t

▶ p g a w e s t La Quinta

▶ p r i m l a n d Meadows of Dan, Va.

▶ re n a i s s a n c e b irm in g h a m

Quintana Roo, Mexico

▶ t h e r e s o r t at p e l i c a n h i l l

( a l a .) r o s s b r id g e g o l f

▶ m u k u l b e ac h , g o lf & s pa

Newport Coast

re s o r t & s pa

Guacalito de la Isla, Nicaragua

▶ r o s e w o o d c o r d e va l l e

▶ re y n o l d s l a k e o c o n e e

▶ o n e & o n ly pa l m il l a

Greensboro, Ga.

San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur,

▶ s e a i s l a n d (g a .) re s o r t

Mexico

▶ t h e r i t z- c a r lt o n , b a c h e l o r g u l c h Avon, Colo.

San Martin

carolinas

midwest

southeast

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

▶ q u i v ir a g o l f c l u b

Kohler, Wis.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur,

▶ erin (wis.) hills

southwest

▶ barefoot resort & golf

Roscommon, Mich.

North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

▶ f r e n c h l i c k (i n d) r e s o r t

▶ t h e b o u l d e r s r e s o r t & s pa

▶ kiawah isl and (s.c.)

▶ g i a n t s r i d g e Biwabik, Minn.

Carefree, Ariz.

golf resort

▶ s a n d va l l e y g o l f r e s o r t

▶ fo u r s e a s o n s re s o r t

▶ m o n ta g e pa l m e t t o b l u f f

Nekoosa, Wis.

s c o t t s da l e at tr o o n n o r th

Bluffton, S.C.

▶ th e in n at e n tr a da

▶ p i n e h u r s t (n . c . ) r e s o r t

St. George, Utah

Southern Pines, N.C. ▶ sea pines resort

northeast and new england

Hilton Head Island

▶ j w m a rr i o t t s a n a n t o n i o h il l c o u n try re s o r t & s pa

Mexico

resorts international for an expanded international listing, go to golfdigest.com/go/ editorschoice2017

▶ l o e w s v e n ta n a c a n yo n re s o r t Tucson

▶ c r y s ta l s p r i n g s r e s o r t

florida

▶ b a h i a pr in c ipe Riviera Maya,

▶ the american club

▶ forest dunes g.c.

▶ pine needles lodge & g.c.

mexico and central america

▶ o m n i b a r t o n c re e k re s o r t

Hamburg, N.J.

& s pa Austin

▶ omni mount washington

▶ r it z- c a rlt o n , d ov e

r e s o r t Bretton Woods, N.H.

m o u n ta in Marana, Ariz.

great britain and ireland

▶ the sagamore resort ▶ hammock beach,

Bolton Landing, N.Y.

a s a l a m a n d e r g o l f & s pa

▶ s t o c k t o n s e av i e w h o t e l

r e s o r t Palm Coast

& g o l f c l u b Galloway, N.J.

▶ innisbrook, a sal amander

▶ turning stone resort

g o l f & s pa r e s o r t Palm Harbor

Verona, N.Y.

▶ fa i r m o n t s t. a n d r e w s

canada

( s c o t l a n d) ▶ g l e n e a g l e s ( s c o t l a n d) ▶ t h e g r o v e (e n g l a n d)

▶ c a b o t l in ks l o d g e Inverness,

▶ t h e k c l u b (i r e l a n d)

▶ omni amelia island

Nova Scotia

▶ old course hotel

p l a n tat i o n r e s o r t

▶ fa irm o n t b a n ff

( s c o t l a n d)

▶ p g a n at i o n a l r e s o r t & s pa

( a l b e r ta ) s pr in g s

▶ trump turnberry (scotl and)

Palm Beach Gardens

pacific northwest

▶ reunion, a sal amander

▶ fa irm o n t ja s pe r ( a lb e r ta ) pa rk l o d g e

g o l f & s pa r e s o r t Kissimmee

▶ b a n d o n (o r e . ) d u n e s

▶ fa irm o n t tre m b l a n t

▶ streamsong resort

golf resort

Mont Tremblant, Quebec

▶ t r u m p n at i o n a l d o r a l Miami

▶ c o e u r d ’a l e n e (i d a h o)

continental europe

resort ▶ p r o n g h o r n r e s o r t Bend, Ore.

hawaii

▶ s u n r i v e r (o r e . ) r e s o r t

caribbean/bermuda

▶ s u n va l l e y (i d a h o) r e s o r t

▶ a b a m a g o l f ( s pa i n) ▶ c o s ta n ava r i n o (g r e e c e ) ▶ l a manga club resort

▶ c a p c a n a re s o r t

( s pa i n)

▶ fa i r m o n t o r c h i d Kohala Coast

Dominican Republic

▶ q u i n ta d o l a g o (p o r t u g a l )

▶ four seasons resort

▶ c a s a d e c a m p o re s o r t a n d

▶ t e r r e b l a n c h e (f r a n c e )

h u a l a l a i Kailua-Kona

v il l a s La Romana, Dominican Rep.

▶ v e r d u r a r e s o r t (i ta ly )

▶ four seasons resort

▶ o n e & o n ly o c e a n c l u b

▶ ypsilon golf resort

l a n a i Lanai City

The Bahamas

l i b e r e c (c z e c h r e p u b l i c )

▶ four seasons resort maui

▶ pl aya g r a n d e c l u b &

at w a i l e a Maui

re s e rv e Dominican Republic

africa and middle east

private aviation

▶ a r a b e l l a c o u n t r y e s tat e (south africa)

▶ “Aspirational” is the word often

▶ c o n s ta n c e b e l l e m a r e

used to describe the pattern

pl age mauritius

when tour players make the move

▶ fa n c o u r t ( s o u t h a f r i c a )

to private aviation. One of the

▶ h e r i ta g e l e t e l fa i r g o l f & s pa r e s o r t (m a u r i t i u s )

tour operators

▶ sun cit y lost cit y (south

first business decisions Hudson Swafford’s team made in January after the CareerBuilder Challenge,

africa)

▶ With today’s money exchange

his first PGA Tour victory, was to call

▶ westin abu dhabi golf

rates, that “once in a lifetime” golf

NetJets, where Todd Goldstein is the

r e s o r t & s pa

trip is looking more affordable

director of golf. Russell Knox made

than ever. But paying for your

the same crossover after winning

international getaway is only part of

the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions in

the equation. How will you organize

China. Soon after returning to the

▶ The best golf academies offer

the whole thing? These top tour

United States, the Scotsman, who

something for the destination

operators will take care of every

lives in Florida, had his team on the

traveler and local lesson taker.

▶ b a l i n at i o n a l g . c . & r e s o r t

detail, from lodging to tee times to

phone with Wheels Up, where Kenny

Other common threads: staff

(i n d o n e s i a )

the best pubs for post-round pints.

Dichter is the founder and CEO.

teachers who rank highly on our

▶ b l a c k m o u n ta i n g o l f

We recommend you reach out to all

Goldstein estimates that his players

Best Teachers lists, well-appointed

r e s o r t h u a h i n ( t h a i l a n d)

four. They’ll propose itineraries (with

invest $30,000 and up to lease time,

teaching studios, and access to

▶ e l s c l u b t e l u k d ata i / d ata i

price quotes), and before you know

knowing as independent contractors

great golf and accommodations.

r e s o r t (m a l ay s i a )

it, you’ll be on your way.

it’s a tax-deductible business

Our list is broken down by region,

expense. With Wheels Up, Dichter

with extra emphasis on the most

asia

▶ flc luxury resort quy

golf academies

n h o n ( v i e t n a m)

▶ Carr Golf ▶ Celtic Golf

found a more economical niche by

popular golf travel markets. You can

▶ f u c h u n r e s o r t (c h i n a )

▶ Haversham & Baker Golfing

focusing on legs of three hours or

even find some great options in the

g r a n d x i v g o l f & s pa r e s o r t

Expeditions ▶ PerryGolf

less within the United States in the

cold-weather states.

Beechcraft King Air 350i.

▶ grand xiv naruto golf

▶ arizona

& s pa r e s o r t (j a pa n) ▶ k awana hotel and g. cse. (j a pa n)

rewards program

▶ NetJets ▶ Wheels Up

VISION54 Golf, Scottsdale; Tour Striker Golf Academy, Gilbert ▶ california

▶ l a g u n a l a n g c o ( v i e t n a m)

Aviara Golf Academy, Carlsbad;

▶ mission hills hainan

▶ Road warriors know that the

(c h i n a )

only way to travel is to make a

▶ onahama ocean hotel

commitment to one hotel and air

& g . c . (j a pa n)

reward program. The benefits—

▶ Simplifying the golf-club-shipping

▶ florida

▶ santiburi beach resort

better rooms, bigger seats, faster

process separates Ship Sticks from

Mike Bender Golf Academy, Lake

& s pa ( t h a i l a n d)

check-in—are too important to

others. This spring, the company

Mary; The Leadbetter Golf Academy

▶ s o n o f e l i c e ( s o u t h ko r e a )

ignore. But the best programs also

plans to add a smartphone app to

at ChampionsGate; Jim McLean Golf

▶ south cape owners club

offer something for the leisure

let golfers ship their clubs on the go.

Center-Trump National Doral, Miami

( s o u t h ko r e a )

traveler. We based our selections

In addition to scheduling pick-ups

▶ hawaii

▶ vinpearl phu quoc resort

on the mix of benefits for frequent

at your club, if you’re not a private-

Kapalua Golf Academy, Lahaina

& g o l f ( v i e t n a m)

and occasional travelers, and on the

club member, you just need to print

▶ m i d d l e at l a n t i c

▶ yong pyong resort

convenience and accessibility of the

a UPS or FedEx label and affix it to

Pinehurst (N.C.) Golf Academy

(south korea)

hotel and airlines’ footprint.

a travel case to send clubs to your

▶ midwest

destination. Golfers have historically

Kohler (Wis.) Golf Academy

australasia

club shippers

Extraordinary Golf, Carmel; Pebble Beach Golf Academy

▶ h o t e l Hilton Honors

dreaded the baggage-claim area as

▶ northeast

▶ a i r l i n e Delta SkyMiles

they pray for their clubs to make it.

Michael Breed Golf Academy

Ship Sticks continues to find ways to

at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point,

make that process easier.

Bronx, N.Y.; Original Golf School at Mount Snow, Wilmington, Vt.

▶ t h e k i n l o c h c l u b (n e w z e a l a n d)

▶ Ship Sticks, $49

▶ south central

▶ peppers moonah links

(one-way ground shipping)

Jim McLean Golf School, Fort Worth;

resort (austr alia)

Dave Pelz Scoring Game School, Austin ▶ southeast The Tommy Cuthbert Golf Learning Center, Kiawah Island, S.C. ▶ west Butch Harmon School of Golf, Henderson, Nev.

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fitness equipment helps you get stronger, more stable and flexible, and it protects your joints and soft tissue.

106 t h e wgolfdigest.com e c k m e t h o d r m t| month s w i n g -2017 training club.

lip balm

apps

▶ When it comes to protecting

▶ Great apps provide a seamless

your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, you should treat your lips with just as much care as

mobile experience on a smartphone

sunscreen and skin care

and tablet. The best ones, like Augusta National’s Masters app,

you do any other exposed part

are immersive. The Masters app is

of your body. That means frequently

▶ Playing golf without sunscreen

one of the best in any category, with

applying a balm that offers a Sun

is like playing a round without golf

live simulcast coverage, real-time

Protection Factor (SPF) of 15

shoes. You can get away with it every

stats and shot-by-shot tracking of

or higher. Another must for golfers

now and then, but it’s a lot smarter

the whole field. Golfshot Plus turns

is a balm that keeps lips from

(and safer) if you’re wearing some.

the GPS in your smartphone into a

▶ If there’s one thing we’ve learned

becoming a crusty, cracked mess

Unfortunately, many products that

super-smart course guide, and Golf

over the past two decades—thanks,

by the end of a five-hour round.

block the sun’s harmful ultraviolet

Clash defines a mindlessly fun first-

Tiger!—having great technique

In a pinch, any balm is better than

rays include ingredients you’d rather

person shooter.

is important, but having great

none, but selecting one that ex-

not have your body absorb. So how

technique and a great physique

cludes harmful ingredients also

do you protect your skin and avoid

▶ e v e n t The Masters, free

is better. That’s why fitness has

is important. What are the ingredi-

any side effects? The products listed

▶ s e r v i c e Golfshot Plus, $29.99

become a big part of building a better

ents you don’t want in a lip balm?

here are the safest on the market,

▶ g a m e Golf Clash, free

golfer. Whether you’re interested

The most common is a chemical

won’t make your hands too oily to

in losing weight, increasing swing

called oxybenzone, which has

hold onto a golf club, and won’t burn

speed or just avoiding back pain,

been shown to cause allergic reac-

your eyes over a must-make putt.

you’re wise to invest in these fitness-

tions, disrupt the hormone system,

equipment choices.

and make it more difficult to have

▶ l o t i o n s Caribbean Solutions

fitness equipment

cooler

children. Another chemical to avoid

SolGuard SPF 25, $14, for six ounces;

▶ If you don’t spend much time

▶ c o m m e r c i a l gy m Equinox

is phenol, which can cause respira-

Kabana Green Screen D Organic

outside, you probably have a cooler

▶ d u m b b e l l s Bowflex

tory issues and irritate the skin.

SPF 35, $20 for four ounces; Thinksport

game that screams “amateur.” If you

SelectTech 552, $299

Retinal palmitate (vitamin A palmi-

Sunscreen SPF 50+, $24 for six ounces

rely on one of those $5 Styrofoam

▶ e l l i p t i c a l Cybex 770AT

tate) also is used in many lip balms

▶ s t i c k Raw Elements ECO Stick 30+,

jobs from the liquor store, you

Total Body Arc Trainer, $8,000

but has been linked to diseases,

$16 for .6 ounces; Z Blok Clear Zinc,

deserve all the lukewarm beer you

▶ foam roller

including cancer.

SPF 45+, $10 for .5 ounces

get. Yeti’s super-premium coolers

TriggerPoint Grid X, $50

are the Rolex of the ice-chest world.

▶ m e d i c i n e b a l l (b a s i c )

▶ All Terrain Armor Lip Protection and

CanDo Dual Handle, $45-$105

Healing Balm, Peppermint, SPF 28, $3

(depending on weight)

▶ Beyond Coastal Lip Balm

▶ medicine ball

Mint Leaf, SPF 15, $3

(with sensors)

▶ Raw Elements USA Lip Rescue,

Assess 2 Perform Ballistic, $495

SPF 30, $6

They look and perform exactly like you’d expect from something

meal-replacement bars

professional-grade. And they’re way more likely to go home with Paulina Gretzky.

▶ Stopping at the turn for a snack

▶ m i n i b a n d s SKLZ Multi-

slows play, and packing a sandwich

Resistance Training Set, $20

into a golf bag isn’t always practical.

▶ p lyo b o x e s Rogue Foam, $175-$965 (depending on height) ▶ r e s i s ta n c e b a n d s

video cameras and smartphones

SuperFlex Golf Fitness Kit, $70

▶ Yeti, $199-$1,299

That’s why meal-replacement bars are a good alternative for

synthetic putting green

golfers. Though we’ll stop short of calling them great “energy” or

▶ s ta b i l i t y t r a i n e r

▶ The selfie is a permanent part of

“nutrition” replacements for whole

Bosu Elite, $200

golf’s fabric, whether you’re making

foods such as fruit, nuts or lean

▶ A synthetic back-yard practice

▶ stretching aid

a video of your swing or capturing

protein, they do store and serve

green has long been a golfer’s

True Stretch Golf, $2,180

the golf trip of a lifetime. We graded

pretty conveniently. As you might

dream, and Southwest Greens

▶ suspension tr ainer

cameras in three categories—the

suspect, some of these bars are

remains our choice to get the job

Redcord Mini, $198

best stand-alone models for

healthier than others, offering a

done. Based in Dalton, Ga., with

▶ s w i n g -t r a i n i n g b a n d s

consumer and professional use, and

good blend of carbohydrates, fiber

distributors throughout the United

Instant Replay, $109

the best one integrated with your

and protein without including a ton

States, the company offers durable

▶ s w i n g -t r a i n i n g c l u b

smartphone. The winners offered

of sugar or sugar substitutes. The

outdoor polypropylene turf with

WeckMethod RMT, $100

the best combination of features,

bars we chose included whole-food

sand worked between artificial grass

▶ t r e a d m i l l Life Fitness

value and ease of use, and they all

ingredients and tasted pretty darn

blades to provide terrific resilience

Club Series, $5,500

make it easy to share your creativity.

good, too.

for those who have enough room to

Genesis Dual-Cable Cross, $5,500

▶ video camer a

▶ Clif Kit’s Organic Dark Chocolate

Just want to practice putting? You

▶ weighted bar

(c o n s u m e r ) LiveView Golf, $179

Almond Coconut ($20 for 12 bars)

can adjust the putting speed by

ActivMotion Bar, $80-$105 (depending

▶ video camer a

▶ GoMacro Prolonged Power Banana

adding more sand or sweeping it

on weight)

(p r o f e s s i o n a l )

+ Almond Butter ($35 for 12 bars)

away from the fibers.

Sony RX100 III, $699

▶ Kind Dark Chocolate Nuts/Sea Salt

▶ smartphone

($14 for 12 bars)

▶ u n i v e r s a l FreeMotion

hit actual pitch shots with a wedge.

iPhone 7+, $769-$969

▶ Southwest Greens, prices vary by region of the country

may 2017 | golf digest india

107

drones ▶ Even the most demure golf course

membership marketing

can look a bit like Augusta National— from the proper perspective. Make your version of a CBS opening montage by flying a drone over

▶ Next to the club president, mem-

your favorite 18. We rated personal

bership chair might be the most

drones in two categories: high-end

stressful position at a private golf

enthusiast models that can carry a high-definition video camera, and

wine

affordable entry models that would

or country club: Keeping the roster at a healthy number is critical to success. An increasingly popular

suit a junior or someone learning to

▶ At first mention, the pairing of golf

method is to engage a membership

fly. The best at any price are easy

and wine might seem odd, but the

marketing company. We were im-

to fly out of the box and will survive

bond is strong. From southeastern

pressed by the résumé of Creative

some rough landings.

Australia to South Africa’s city of

Golf Marketing, based in Manhattan,

Stellenbosch to California’s central

Kan. Founded in 1990, the firm has

▶ professional / enthusiast

coast, almost anywhere you find

a client list exceeding 1,300 clubs,

DJI Phantom 4 Pro, $1,499

great wine, you’ll likely find great

with a long run of success stories.

▶ h o b b y / e n t r y- l e v e l

golf. To borrow Ben Hogan’s famous

Just make sure you have enough

Parrot Bebop 2, $549

quote, the secret is in the dirt. It’s

lockers.

also no coincidence that some of the biggest golf celebrities have

hydration

▶ Creative Golf Marketing, price varies

offered their names—and wallets—to producing vintage bottles worthy of any cellar. Here are the best of the

▶ Dehydration affects organ and

best (listed by varietals and grapes

muscle function, and if that’s not

used in blends).

scary enough, it can ruin your golf

cigars ▶ Whether you smoke regularly or

game. One 2012 study of low-

▶ b l e n d e d r e d (c a b e r n e t

light one up every now and then,

handicap players published in The

s a u v i g n o n , s y r a h , m e r l o t,

there’s no denying that a golf

Journal of Strength & Conditioning

p e t i t e v e r d o t, m a l b e c )

course—or the outdoor fire pit on the

Research found that when

Jack Nicklaus Private Reserve

clubhouse porch—is an ideal place

dehydrated, they hit it noticeably

2009, $55

to enjoy a good cigar. But what kind

shorter and more crooked than

▶ b l e n d e d r e d (c a b e r n e t

of cigar complements a day on the

when they had enough liquids in

s a u v i g n o n , m e r l o t, p e t i t

links? Just like deciding between a

their bodies. So if golf performance

v e r d o t, m a l b e c , c a b e r n e t

hard 8-iron or a soft 7 on that par 3,

is important to you, swigging one of

f r a n c ) Ernie Els Stellenbosch,

the choice matters. Here are ours.

these waters is a smart choice.

2005, $94 ▶ b l e n d e d r e d (c a b e r n e t

▶ Arturo Fuente Chateau

▶ f l at w at e r Icelandic Glacial

sauvignon, shir a z, merlot):

Royal Salute, $7

Natural Spring ($26.50 for 12 pack,

Ernie Els Cape Winemakers Guild

▶ Ashton Classic Churchill, $10

33.8-ounce bottles)

2012, $89

▶ Macanudo Cafe Prince of Wales, $8

▶ s pa r k l i n g w at e r Perrier

▶ b o r d e a u x (m e r l o t,

▶ Nat Sherman Host Hampton, $7

Pink Grapefruit ($5.50 for 10 pack,

cabernet sauvignon,

▶ Padron 4000 Natural, $8

8.45-ounce cans)

cabernet fr anc, malbec)

▶ i n f u s e d w at e r Wanu Water

Mouton Cadet Ryder Cup Selection

+ Nutrition ($24-$25 for 12 pack,

2014, $15

16-ounce bottles)

▶ c h a r d o n n ay

▶ e l e c t r o ly t e ( s p o r t s ) d r i n k

Annika Chardonnay Livermore Valley

Gerolsteiner Sparkling ($22 for 24 pack,

2009, $40

16.9-ounce bottles)

▶ sauvignon bl anc The Goose Upper Langkloof 2011, $16 ▶ shiraz Greg Norman Australian Estates Reserve 2009, $30 ▶ syr ah Greg Norman California Estates Camatta Hills Vineyard Reserve

f o r m o r e , v i s i t g o l f d i g e s t. c o m / g o / e d i t o r s c h o i c e 2 0 1 7

108 golf digest india | may 2017

Courtesy of

2008, $40

NEOU

S | MISCE

CHOICE

MI S Courtesy of

S

2017

M OUS | ISCELLAN

EDITORS’

L CEL

LL

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ANE

ANEOUS | MISCE

here’s a drone that will take off and land with the touch of a button.

the parrot bebop 2.

month 2017 | golfdigest.com

109

The Golf Life Style

2

3

1

gutter credit tk

4

110 golf digest india | may 2017

Looking to impress or just seeking something with versatility?

5 7

8 6

gutter credit tk

Gold Rush Eight gilded timepieces that raise the bar by marty hackel

he gold wristwatch never goes out of style, and with so many great-looking variations available, finding one that fits your personal taste has never been easier. But before investing in a quality timepiece, consider how you plan to wear it. Classic gold watches, like these from Audemars Piguet, Bulova, Citizen and Movado, are ideal for formal occasions. Want something with more versatility? The ones here from Bell & Ross, Breitling, Hublot and Tag Heuer use gold in more subtle ways and feature straps that can be paired with almost anything in your closet. It’s good to have options.

T

1 citizen Eco-Drive, $275 2 breitling Navitimer 01, $26,595 3 hublot Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde in King Gold, $38,800 4 bell & ross BR03-90 Steel & Rose Gold, $6,500 5 movado Heritage Series, $895 6 tag heuer Carrera Heuer 01, $12,700 7 audemars piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding, $44,100 8 bulova Classic Collection #978100, $199

Photograph by Jeffrey Westbrook

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