HK Golfer - April 2019

HK GOLFER APRIL 2019

JOHNSON GEARS UP / MCILROY’S MINDSET / HK’S FIRST JGTA VICTORY DRAGONS RISING / THE GOLF GURU / THAI COUNTRY CLUB FOCUS

LA VETTA SETS A BOLD VISION FOR CONTEMPORARY LUXURY LIVING

Perched high on the serene peak of Kau To Mountain, La Vetta raises the bar with its bold vision of timeless modernity that elevates the art of living.

La Vetta offers breathtaking views of Tolo Harbour and the spectacular ridges of Pat Sin Leng to the Shatin Racecourse and Shing Mun River#. Computerized composited image of Tolo Harbour view photo & Shatin Racecourse view photo.1

Created by boldness

The Central Garden features a large circular water centrepiece and signature square topiary trees. Photograph taken at La Vetta.2

Boldness underscores the design vision for La Vetta, a low-density, luxury residential project developed by Wing Tai Properties and Manhattan Group.

In a forward-looking and innovative approach, the unconventional curved architectural design and modern Italian landscaped gardens integrate fully with each other, sculpting the environment and creating a setting ideally suited for contemporary luxury living.

Crafted by world-class masters

The bold “Curved Architecture” design concept of La Vetta is masterminded by the internationally renowned Yabu Pushelberg, Luciano Giubbilei and P&T Group. Photograph taken at La Vetta.3

Spearheaded by project manager Wing Tai Properties, three internationally renowned teams of masters - Yabu Pushelberg, Luciano Giubbilei and P&T Group - came together to craft this residential masterpiece.

One of the world’s most recognised design studios with an impressive portfolio of projects in over 18 countries, Yabu Pushelberg needs no introduction. The award-winning duo of George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg have redefined how the world sees and experiences the built environment for the past three decades or more. Working in tandem with them is Bing Kwan, the design principal of La Vetta from the awardwinning, global design firm P&T Group.

Name of the Street and the Street Number: 68 Lai Ping Road District: Sha Tin Website: www.lavetta.com.hk The photographs, images, drawings or sketches shown in this advertisement/promotional material represent an artist’s impression of the development concerned only. They are not drawn to scale and/or may have been edited and processed with computerized imaging techniques. Prospective purchasers should make reference to the sales brochure for details of the development. The vendor also advises prospective purchasers to conduct an on-site visit for a better understanding of the development site, its surrounding environment and the public facilities nearby.

This advertisement is published by the Vendor. Vendor: Mega Island (HK) Limited Holding company of the Vendor: Meganew Limited Authorized Person: Ms. Lee Ming Yen Jennifer of P&T Architects and Engineers Limited Building Contractor: Hien Lee Engineering Company Limited Vendor's Solicitors: Kao, Lee & Yip Any authorized institution that has made a loan, or has undertaken to provide finance, for the construction of the development: Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited Any other person who has made a loan for the construction of the Development: Meganew Limited Date of Printing: 23 March 2019. Prospective purchaser is advised to refer to the sales brochure for any information on the development.

“Orchid II”, a circular marble sculpture, is the focal point of the Secret Garden located outside the Villa La Vetta clubhouse. Photograph taken at La Vetta.4

stunning sea and landscapes. From the tranquillity of Tolo Harbour and the spectacular ridges of Pat Sin Leng to the Shatin Racecourse and Shing Mun River#, the breathtaking views from the development stir the senses and set the spirit soaring.

This picturesque setting provides the perfect backdrop for contemporary luxury living in its 158 units comprising 68 houses with a saleable area ranging in size from 1,635 to 5,129 sq ft. A large number offers four bedrooms with two ensuites, making them ideal for homeowners to enjoy house living in grand style. 90 low-density apartment units with a saleable area ranging in size from 544 to 2,306 sq ft, offer a variety of one- to four-bedroom layouts.

Completing the formidable trio is Luciano Giubbilei who is famed for the understated elegance and serenity of his gardens.

The beauty of curves What distinguishes La Vetta is its no-expanses-spared “Curved Architecture” design concept. The curved stone walls and curved glass windows seen on the façade showcase the building’s plasticity, adding a rich fluidity and sculptural presence that is thoroughly modern in style and streamlined in design. The curvilinear aesthetics shift visual paradigms and evoke an emotional resonance in both residents and visitors.

A new language of green The boldness of the design of La Vetta extends to the tranquil themed landscaped gardens designed by Luciano Giubbilei.

Occupying over 40,000 square feet equivalent to about 20 per cent of the site area, the five multi-layered Italianesque gardens are adorned with trees and plants beautifully manicured like natural precision works of art.

A series of signature square topiary trees line the gardens, adding to the green sculptural effect.

Enlivening the magnificent gardens are contemporary sculptures created by leading international artists including Jeppe Hein, Kim Kunju and Cynthia Sah.

A lofty perspective Rising 200 metres above the sea level*, La Vetta offers sweeping visual drama of one of Hong Kong’s most

The indoor heated pool with a spherical bronze installation hanging from the ceiling and a curvaceous “Gym in crystal box” located at the other end epitomises the “Living in Art” ethos of the Villa La Vetta clubhouse. Photograph taken at Villa La Vetta.5

Living in art The artistic lifestyle continues at clubhouse “Villa La Vetta” crafted by creative mastermind Yabu Pushelberg. A glass lift carries residents to the ultra-luxurious clubhouse designed around a “Living in Art” theme. Timelessly modern in matt gold and stone, the lobby offers sweeping views of the Secret Garden through its vast expanse of curved glass walls, providing an effortless appreciation of art from within and without. The Secret Garden and “Orchid II”, a circular marble sculpture created by Cynthia Sah, echo the contemporary aesthetics of the interiors to perfection.

Adding transparency is the curvaceous “Gym in crystal box”, a stunning focal point of the clubhouse. With a clear view of the spa-style indoor heated pool and spherical bronze installation through the glass walls, working out here is an experience that puts the mind at peace while keeping the body elated.

1 This image has been edited and processed with computerized imaging techniques, by combining processed Tolo Harbour view photo & Shatin Racecourse view photo showing the surrounding environment of the development (“Environment Photograph”), and are integrated, combined, merged and extended by computerized imaging techniques, which image is for reference only. The Tolo Harbour view photo was taken on 13 October 2016 in mid-air in the proximity of La Vetta. The Shatin Racecourse view photo was taken on 22 September 2018 on the rooftop of House 1 La Vetta. The Environment Photograph does not reflect the actual views of the development and the condition of the surrounding environment. 2 Photograph was taken on 3 September 2018 in La Vetta, 3 photograph was taken on 12 October 2018 in La Vetta, 4 photograph was taken on 22 August 2018 in La Vetta and has been integrated with sculpture images and 5 photograph was taken on 29 August 2018 in the clubhouse of La Vetta. All photographs have been edited and processed with computerized imaging techniques, which are for reference only. * As of Hong Kong Principal Datum of La Vetta, please refer to the sales brochure for details. # The views do not reflect the actual views of the Development and the surrounding environment.

The view of a unit is dependent on the unit’s level, orientation and the surrounding buildings and environment. The surrounding buildings and environment are subject to change from time to time. The views shall not constitute any representation, statement or warranty on the part of the Vendor in respect of the Development or its surrounding environment, landscape, open space, views, facilities or buildings (whether express or implied). The Vendor also advises prospective purchasers to conduct an on-site visit for a better understanding of the development site, its views, surrounding environment and the public facilities nearby.

Enquiry: 2752 2288

4-colour

Website

IFC→La Vetta ICC→La Vetta

CONTENTS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION APRIL 2019

8

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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24

LIVE UNDER PAR: DRAGONS RISING

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LEGEND TALK: A SPECIAL LANE

HKGA HAPPENINGS

12

THE 852: COACHING FOR CONFIDENCE The HKGA’s Team Coach Gary Gilchrist was in town recently and HK Golfer sat down with the worldrenowned golf coach at Fanling to talk about how to take local golf to the next level.

When Zhang Lianwei lifted his first Asian Tour title in 1996 to deliver China’s first significant victory in golf, Li Haotong was just a year-old while Dou Zecheng wasn’t even born yet.

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THE TOUR: MCILROY MASTERS THE MIND

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GOLF GURU

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ASIA ACTION: THE ADAPTABLE AUSTRALIAN

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GLOBAL GLANCE: RORY REIGNS SUPREME

Maturity and control finally came through for Rory McIlroy at The Players Championship in midMarch, where he once again arrived for the final round within striking distance of a win. This time, he managed to seal the deal.

44

THE VIEW: SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

The Thai Country Club has been open for more than two decades and remains as a haven for an excellent golfing experience.

Eighteen holes are usually what set apart the contenders and pretenders on pressure Sunday.

The room for error has shrunk, and there’s always drama that lies ahead after the first tee shot is hit.

A sparkling run of birdies, several bogeys to mar the card from nowhere, the ball finds the water.

Anything can happen…

WATCH IT: REMEMBERING APOLLO XI It is now 50 years since mankind took its first daring steps onto the moon. On the golden anniversary of this momentous event, Omega i s ce l e b r atin g th e o cc a s i o n with the launch of a brand new Speedmaster that has a special connection to the astronauts and the legacy of the Apollo 11 mission.

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THE TICKET: BACK ON THE MAP

Prior to the 1959 revolution, Cuba was unquestionably the hottest spot in the Caribbean, famed for its glittering casinos, the finest rum, tropical weather, rich musical culture, cigars and classic cars. Now with travel restrictions being much less stringent, the island is poised to flourish again.

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BESPOKE: TAKING TO THE WATER

INSIDE THE ROPE: SUNDAY PRESSURE

ON THE COVER: WILL DJ BE IN TUNE?

6 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

Jason Kwok and Brad Schadewitz provide their exper t tips for The S enior Player, The High Handicapper, and The Pro.

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20

Having regained World Number One status following his victory at the WGC Mexico tournament, Dustin Johnson is now the oddson favourite to win this month’s Masters.

Barry Lane has 17 professional victories to his name, including five European Tour titles and six Staysure Tour wins. A big supporter of innovation in golf, the 58 year-old is thrilled to be playing in the first Jordan Mixed Open in early April, which will make history by bringing together 40 players from each of the Ladies European Tour, the Challenge Tour and the Staysure Tour.

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RETROSPECTIVE: CLASSIC CLUBBERS In the third part of our continuing Classic Clubber series, HK Golfer brings you a selection of archival golfing moments.

The Singapore Yacht Show, Asia’s premier boating and luxury lifestyle event returns from 11 – 14 April 2019 for its ninth year. HK Golfer previews the latest models that will be on display.

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THE NINETEENTH: SHOW UP, KEEP UP, SHUT UP!

CONTRIBUTORS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION APRIL 2019

Edwardo Delgado Barcena

A c l u b f i t te r a n d te a c h i n g profes sional with 16 years of ex p e ri e n ce , Ed w ard o w a s a TaylorMade Golf Performance Lab Motion Analysis Expert and is the current Managing Director of Golf Gears in Hong Kong.

Chuah Choo Chiang

Senior Director of Communications at the PGA Tour, Chuah Choo Chiang is HK Golfer’s storyteller for the PGA Tour events in Asia.

Chris Cox

Calvin Koh

Calvin heads the press operations and media partnership for the Asian Tour. With over a decade of experience in spor t s PR and communications.

A full-time journalist now residing in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Chris co-ordinates international custom content for the PGA Tour.

Jason Kwok

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Louie Chan

Louie is the Editor of HK Golfer and also writes extensively for the magazine, its website and digital platforms. He continues to work hard to lose the distinction of the golf editor with the worst swing!

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Jason has been a Hong Kong PGA Professional since 1995, an Asian Tour Player, and was the Head Professional at the Discovery Golf Club from 2007 to 2015.

Brad Schadewitz

Lead Coach and former National Coach of the HKGA, and holder of the 2017 Top 25 Elite Junior Coach in the U.S. A . title, Brad’s most notable success to date has been coaching the first player ever to represent Hong Kong in the Olympic Games.

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Mike is a freelance sports journalist based in Scotland, the home of golf. He writes for a wide range of publications around the world.

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HK GOLFER MAGAZINE is published by the Hong Kong Golf Association and produced by Design Circles Limited. The HKGA was formed in 1968 with a mission to govern, promote and grow golf in Hong Kong. Responsibilities include Hong Kong national teams; junior and elite player development; grassroots initiatives; a centralised handicapping service for 15,000+ subscribers; and the running of international and domestic golfing events in Hong Kong – including more than 30 amateur tournaments each year plus the Hong Kong Open, the city’s oldest professional sporting event.

ORDERING FROM ADVERTISERS: Advertisers warrant and represent that the descriptions of the products or services advertised are true in all respects. HK Golfer magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. HK Golfer magazine, its officers, directors, employees or agents make no recommendations as to the purchase or sale of any product, service or item. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of HK Golfer magazine. All content contained within this magazine is the sole property of HK Golfer magazine and may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without authorisation. © Copyright 2019 HK Golfer magazine. All rights reserved.

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 7

LETTER FROM THE HKGA

T

he months of February and March brought the HKGA a great deal of positive news in terms of our players’ performance.

Local star Chloe Chan took home the trophy in the Girls’ Division at the 2019 Hong Kong Junior Classic at Clearwater Bay, making history by becoming the first ever JGTA Champion from the SAR. In addition to the staging of the Junior Classic, through its All-Asia Team awards, the JGTA aims to highlight the importance of scholastic preparation in its recruiting process, and names a select few to the JGTA Scholastic All-Asia Team, based on their year-round display of academic excellence.

It is therefore with great pleasure, that we congratulate Selina Li from the HKGA squad on being announced as the JGTA’s very first Scholastic All-Asia Team member.

In overseas action, Michelle Cheung, Mimi Ho and Vivian Lee were selected by the HKGA to represent Hong Kong at the 41st Queen Sirikit Cup (officially known as the Amateur Ladies Asia-Pacific Invitational Golf Team Championship) in March, and the trio finished 11th in the team championship.

Cheung also finished tied 26th in the individual championship, ranking the highest among all of the Hong Kong players.

In terms of our squad’s training, together with HKGA Team Coach, Gary Gilchrist, we are developing a customised practice plan for every junior golfer, as well as assisting them to fully prepare themselves mentally for competition, with the overall goal of taking the sport to the next level locally.

On a final note, the HKGA is extremely disappointed by the Government’s recent decision to take back eight holes from the Old Course at Fanling in 2023, and we hope that some form of alternative will be proposed by the Government to ensure the ongoing development of our beloved sport.

Meanwhile, I hope you will enjoy this latest issue of HK Golfer.

Yours Truly,

YOSHIHIRO NISHI President, HKGA 8 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

HKGA

HAPPENINGS

by Louie Chan / Image: Junior Golf Tour of Asia

The 2019 Hong Kong Junior Classic at Clearwater Bay was one for the history books.

T

he Junior Golf Tour of Asia (JGTA) headed to the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club for Hong Kong’s first-ever AJGA PBE Status tournament in late February 2019. The field featured top-ranked juniors from over 10 countries across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, including multiple AJGA Champions and top-200 players on the Rolex AJGA Rankings.

Local star Chloe Chan took home the trophy in the Girls’ Division. She fired scores of 69-71 for an even-par tournament total of 140. With her win, Chan is the first ever JGTA Champion from Hong Kong.

“I managed to roll some putts in on the back nine, and it built up my confidence. I am really glad that I was able to win, especially in Hong Kong; it was absolutely perfect,” said Chan.

“There are so many people I need to thank - the JGTA for making this tournament possible, Clearwater Bay for hosting us and my friends and family. My friends cheered me on and they were the main reason that I felt relaxed through both rounds.”

Taking 2nd place for the Girl’s Division was Vanderbilt University commit Virginie Ding with scores of 72-71 for a tournament total of 3-over-par 143. This event was Ding’s return to the JGTA playing field after debuting in the inaugural Bintan Lagoon Junior Championship, where she took 6th place - ending the season T14 on last year’s Junior Order of Merit.

Pongsapak Laopakdee of Rayong, Thailand took home the Boys’ Division trophy after draining a 15-foot putt for a birdie on the 18th hole. Laopakdee shot 69-70 for a tournament total of 1-under-par 139. In a come-from-behind 2nd place finish with a final round score of 69 in the Boys’ Division was Hong Kong local Lincoln Lau, playing in his first ever JGTA event.

Every year, the JGTA challenges the athletic performance of its members, naming a select number of exceptional players to its All-Asia Team, the Tour’s highest honour for performance on the

10 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

golf course. The JGTA All-Asia Team denotes its members as the top-ranked players on the JGTA and Asia’s leading prospects for U.S. College golf. The top-10 boys and top-10 girls that make up the JGTA All-Asia Team are also eligible to receive exclusive playing opportunities and invitations from outside tours.

In addition to the All-Asia Team awards, the JGTA aims to highlight the importance of scholastic preparation in the recruiting process, and therefore it names a select few of its junior members to the JGTA Scholastic All-Asia Team, for their yearround display of academic excellence.

It is for these reasons, and with great pleasure, that we congratulate Selina Li from the HKGA squad as the JGTA’s very first Scholastic All-Asia Team member.

THE 41ST QUEEN SIRIKIT CUP The 41st Queen Sirikit Cup, officially known as the Amateur Ladies Asia-Pacific Invitational Golf Team Championship, was held in early March at Adelaide’s Glenelg Golf Club. Athletes from 14 countries across the Asia-Pacific region competed in the women’s team championship.

Michelle Cheung, Mimi Ho and Vivian Lee were selected by the HKGA to represent Hong Kong, and they finished 11th in the team championship.

“I had a good time in Adelaide at the Queen Sirikit Cup. The course was in really good shape, and the place was really nice!

The first day was quite windy, so I was happy with my first-round score. However, I struggled hard on the second day, especially on the par 3s, and I was 6 over on the first nine holes, so I was happy to hold the round together finishing +5. I didn’t manage to hit many greens on the last day. So, I didn’t get as many scoring opportunities as I would have liked, but I was happy with my short game in the last round,” said Cheung, who finished tied 26th in the individual championship, ranking highest among all of the Hong Kong players.

Chloe Chan wins the Girls’ Division trophy at 2019 Hong Kong Junior Classic and becomes the first ever JGTA Champion from Hong Kong

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 11

THE 852

COACHING FOR

CONFIDENCE

by Louie Chan / Image: Louie Chan

The HKGA’s Team Coach Gary Gilchrist was in town recently and HK Golfer sat down with the world-renowned golf coach at Fanling and talked about how to take Hong Kong golf to the next level.

HK Golfer: This is the second time you have come to Hong Kong. What was the goal and purpose of this trip?

Gary Gilchrist: Every time I come here, the purpose is to support the training regime with both the coaches and the students. We as a team will grow stronger and stronger with a good foundation.

An exciting sign I saw on this trip is that all the students have the talent and ability to play and to also enjoy the game.

Education is obviously a huge thing in Hong Kong. I have always loved the concept of “student-athlete”, whereby it’s not just about golf, but also being a good student. The main purposes of our current junior development programme are to prepare the kids for getting into college, participating in tournament golf, and delivering a high level of performance. It’s our goal to develop a high-performance programme that will help in taking their game to the next level.

I speak with Danny Lai (CEO of the HKGA), Tim Tang (High-Performance Coach), Ducky Tang (HKGA Squad Coach), and other coaches every week. Each student has their own personal development programme, and on this visit I did some more specialised training - both on-course and one-on-one coaching.

HKG: What specifically does on-course training involve?

GG: We put the students into competition mode and observe what they do. Junior golfers are half-caddie/half-player. We want to see how well they carry their bag, and if they can make solid 12 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

on-course decisions. Actually playing on the course pins down specific weaknesses. Usually, the boys have better short game techniques, but they hit the ball everywhere. Girls can hit it straight but struggle more around the greens. On-course training and observation help us to understand what we need to do to assist each student. We also gather them all together at the range after 18 holes to debrief and reflect on their performances. Additionally, we spend time as a group discussing specific issues. You have some of the toughest greens to putt on at Fanling, so we discuss things like how to control your putting speed through practice.

HKG: What is your vision in terms of taking Hong Kong golf to another level?

GG: It’s all about having the right foundation. Instead of having 10 outstanding players, you need to have 30, 40 or even 50. Danny (Lai) and the HKGA have a vision for building such a situation.

You can bring in any number of top coaches in the world, but each of them probably thinks differently, so that situation would just create confusion.

We want to train every kid to the next level.

I don’t just teach swing, I get to know each player and build a solid relationship with them so that they will trust me and listen to me. We are trying to establish a system that will help the students to be more self-motivated and self-disciplined, so that ultimately they can practice by themselves with quality. Elite golfers don’t just

Gary Gilchrist teaches many of the game's best professionals including Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, Feng Shanshan and Yani Tseng APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 13

WE ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP THE STUDENTS TO BE MORE SELF-MOTIVATED AND SELF-DISCIPLINED, SO THAT ULTIMATELY THEY CAN PRACTICE BY THEMSELVES WITH QUALITY.

rely on coaches. Instead of practicing hour after hour, the kids can use our system and spend just 10 minutes on fixing their swing issues. This is how players build confidence.

In such a short time here, I have seen some girls play differently and hitting better shots. It’s like giving a person a key to get into his/her room; we are going to help everyone to find their personal key that will encourage them to be the best golfer they can be.

HKG: Do you have more specific goals for the HKGA squad players?

GG: Of course. Goal number one is to develop a customised practice plan for every single kid.

Number two is to prepare them how to play - many people think they are ready to play before getting on the course, which is not true. How to play against the wind? How to play facing an uphill slope? How about short bunker shots? Long bunker shots?

Number three is to be prepared to win. It’s not specifically about winning, but developing a winning MINDSET and having the belief that they can do something they have never done before.

Every student has different goals. Some of them are looking to break 90s, 80s or even 70s. What we want to achieve is to make them be proud of themselves. If a student comes to me and says, “Coach, I know what to do now to get better. I trust what I am doing, and I have what it takes in place.” Building confidence is key for junior golfers - helping them to have trust in themselves, exhibit good body language, and speak positive self-talk.

HKG: Can you tell us more about one-on-one training, taking Arianna Lau as an example?

GG: Arianna is very confident for her age. She’s so advanced as an 11 year-old. She has a good short game, she’s a good caddie, and is able to make all the good on-course decisions. She just needs time, 14 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

and she will gain more experience as she grows. She’s not negative, so I don’t need to teach her to be positive. I am good at identifying problems, and I won’t bring anything up if I don’t see one. I think a big part of Arianna’s self-confidence comes from her excellent relationship with her mom. You can tell by observing how they interact with each other.

HKG: What’s your take on the Government’s decision to take back eight holes from Fanling? Will there be an impact on local junior golf development?

GG: I have been here twice, and this is one of the best golf courses I have ever visited. You have everything here to help students to improve their game – great greens, tough rough to chip, good driving ranges and short game practice areas. The Hong Kong Golf Club members are very welcoming, which warms my heart.

This is truly a place where you can come and learn to play golf.

I am sure that all the members and staff here are very disappointed. It’s like you telling me that I’m going to lose my right leg, which is nothing to be happy about. That being said, this club will still play an essential role in golf in this part of the world.

You have one of the biggest tournaments in the region and the pros love coming here to play.

Obviously, local junior golf development will be affected.

They need more golf courses to play regularly here; it’s as simple as that. I think many people always forget that young people are the future, and nurturing them equates to building future leaders.

What I have seen on this visit is that more and more juniors are practising here every day.

You may see a six year-old kid today, but in a blink, he’s 16 already, and with another blink, he’s 36. If you don’t develop the game, it will suffer, like what happened with tennis in America.

We need to encourage generation after generation of golfers!

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ASIA ACTION THE ADAPTABLE AUSTRALIAN It is ne ver ea s y ad apt ing to a different competitive environment, but if you are a s immensely ta lented a s Australian Zach Murray, then turning professional is simply a walk in the proverbial park.

In fact, Murray not only adapted well but he has also excelled. The 21 year-old bested a talented field to win the 100th edition of the storied New Zealand Open. He exhibited his outstanding skills by opening with a flawless eight-under-par 63 as well as showing his steady composure by pulling away from a fast-chasing pack in the final round to win by two shots.

Murray managed the tournament like a seasoned veteran, so it may come as a surprise to some that he joined the play-forpay ranks less than six months ago. The victory in Queenstown came after only his third start on Asia’s premier circuit.

PhotosportNZ 16 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

Australian Zach Murray lifts his Asian Tour maiden trophy at the New Zealand Open

GLOBAL GLANCE RORY REIGNS SUPREME Despite a wild final round that saw a host of players take their shots at the The Players St a d iu m C ou r s e at T P C Sawgrass, it was Rory McIlroy who stood tall at the end. He carded a closing, 2-under 70 to finish at 16-under overall, one shot better than local favourite Jim Furyk. It was his 15th career PGA Tour win and his first since the Arnold Palmer Invitational exactly one year ago.

McIlroy missed the cut in each of his first three career starts at TPC Sawgrass and failed to card a sub-70 round until breaking through with a tie for eighth in 2013. He has for the most part mastered Pete Dye’s creation ever since, carding a tie for sixth, another tie for eighth and a tie for 12th before this year’s win.

“It’s not just a win, it’s a massive win,” McIlroy said, gazing lovingly at his new 24 k gold Player s t rophy.

Getty Images 18 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

Rory McIlroy shows how the soles of his shoes match the winner's trophy of The Players Championship

ON THE COVER FEATURE

WILL

DJ BE ON SONG?

by Mike Wilson / Images: Courtesy of TaylorMade

Having regained World Number One status following his victory at the WGC Mexico tournament, Dustin Johnson is now the odds-on favourite to win this month’s Masters.

W

ith a patchy record at Augusta National and only one Major tit le to his na me to date, question marks hang over Dustin Johnson’s ability to seal the deal on the biggest stage of all. Some pundits have been asking if his all-action, long-distance game has the subtlety to unlock the complexities of the famed Augusta course.

The 34 year-old recently regained the top spot on the Official World Golf Ranking having won the inaugural Saudi International, followed shortly afterwards by the WGC Mexico, his sixth World Golf Championship crown, comparing favourably to his solitary Major title, the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

One win from 38 Major starts suggests that he’s not at his most comfortable in the biggest events of all, including Johnson himself. Nobody would forget his implosion going down the stretch at the 2011 Open Championship, carving a regulation mid-iron out of bounds to lose the lead and open the door for eventual winner Darren Clarke.

20 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

However, insists the South Carolinian, “I know what it takes to get it done in a Major, and it’s never easy.”

The bookmaker’s favourite for this year’s Masters, Johnson may be a credible, if not compelling candidate, with a mixed record at Augusta. With top-10 finishes in his last three appearances there, he tied 10th last year. However, there are those who believe that the big hitter’s game lacks the nuance and patience to navigate the iconic 7,475, Par-72 Augusta National course.

“The more you play [there], the more comfortable you get around this course.

You know the tee shots and where to hit it and the flag [positions] and how to attack the course, so that plays a big part in it,” says DJ, who will be making his 10th Masters appearance.

With his early season victories in Saudi Arabia and Mexico, Johnson says, “This gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year,” but, although he’ll be going all-out to claim a first Green Jacket, his preparation for the rigours of Augusta National will be fairly routine.

“I’ll probably spend a little bit more

Dustin Johnson is the bookmaker’s favourite for this year’s Masters

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 21

Dustin Johnson overpowers not only the opposition but also the golf course 22 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

LENGTH IS AN ADVANTAGE ON ANY COURSE, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO HIT IT STRAIGHT.

time chipping and putting from off the greens around there than most weeks at normal tournaments [but] that’s probably about it,” says the man who was born and raised less than 80 miles from the hallowed cloisters accessed by Magnolia Drive, a place he now knows quite well.

“Growing up so close, I came here as a kid. Then watching it on TV, and in college, we got to come out here and walk around a few times. So, it’s always been special to me, and it will be forever,” he reflects. “As a kid on the putting green, against your friends or if you’re out there by yourself, it’s always a putt to win the Masters.”

He recalls, “The first time I ever walked [the course], it was a lot hillier than it looks on television for sure, a lot more undulation on the fairways and on the greens than it appears on the TV screen.”

Asked about being favourite to win what would be his first Green Jacket and the US$1.84m (approx. HK$14.4m) prize, DJ says, “Everything has got to be working, just like with any Major.

If you want to win, you’re going to have to drive it well, hit your irons well, and putt well, so that’s what it takes to win [against] the best golfers in the world; you’ve got to bring your best stuff.”

Johnson, who appears to have shaken off the bad boy, accidentprone images of his early career, missed the 2012 Masters when he took a break to confront his so-called ‘demons’. Forced to withdraw in 2017 after falling down the stairs at his rental house close to the Augusta National course – now he appears confident, but far from arrogant ahead of his 10th Masters campaign.

At 6’4” with enormous levers unleashing raw power and unparalleled distance, DJ hits the ball a mile, often 30 to 40 yards further off the tee than many of his fellow PGA Tour pros. He always overpowers not only the opposition but also the golf course.

However, traditionally, Augusta National is not a course prone to being dominated by distance.

“Length is an advantage on any course, but you still have to hit it straight. If you hit it far and you’re in the trees, it doesn’t really

matter, but, yeah, driving it well and straight, it’s going to be an advantage, just like it is pretty much everywhere you play,” notes the current World Number One. “You’re playing the same holes every year, which is definitely nice; it’s the only Major that we do that in,” says the pretournament favourite. The Amen Corner, named by journalist Herbert Warren Wind in a 1958 issue of Sports Illustrated, is a three-hole stretch early on the back-nine. It comprises the 11th (White Dogwood), a challenging 505-yard par-4, the 12th, (Golden Bell) a devilishly difficult 155-yard par-3 and one of golf’s most famous holes and the 13th (Azalea), a real risk-and-reward 510 yards par-5. It’s where many Masters are won and lost, where subtlety, strategy and nerve, as opposed to Johnson’s naked turbocharged power and unrivalled distance are the watchwords.

“It’s a great part of the golf course, a lot of fun, and it’s always very interesting,” he insists. “The 11th is just a tough hole. The 12th is always one of the more difficult 145-yard par 3s that we play; tough to get the wind correct there. And the 13th is a birdie opportunity and you are just glad to get through the Amen Corner intact.”

Johnson claims not to feel any additional pressure to win a maiden Masters or add to what is currently a modest Majors record for a man with such unquestionable talent. “I feel like I’m pretty laid back, and I’m always excited to come back and play [at Augusta]. “I feel like my game is in really good shape and I have a lot of confidence as the week approaches.”

Johnson cautiously underlines his credentials by saying, “I think that as a golfer getting better throughout the whole game, having more confidence, hitting it better, driving it better, doing everything a little bit better, always helps around [Augusta National] and hopefully, I’m coming on the back nine this year with a chance of winning.”

The U.S. Masters will be held on 11th-14th April at Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia. www.masters.com APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 23

LIVE UNDER PAR

DRAGONS RISING

by Chuah Choo Chiang Images: Rolex / Chris Turvey & Getty Images

When Zhang Lianwei lifted his first Asian Tour title in 1996 to deliver China’s first significant victory in golf, Li Haotong was just a year-old, while Dou Zecheng wasn’t even born yet.

F

or almost two decades, Zhang Lianwei, now 53, has singlehandedly blazed a trail on the international front for Chinese golf with his accomplishments, including becoming the first player from the Middle K ingdom to win a Europea n Tour tournament.

Zhang’s only setback was not getting onto the PGA Tour, the pinnacle of the professional game, but his swashbuckling style of golf and inspiring back story certainly paved the way for the generation after him to not only follow in his footsteps, but to shoot for the stars.

“I want to bring Chinese golf to the world,” said Zhang previously. “A lot of people don’t know about Chinese golfers, so I want to play in tournaments around the world to promote our cause.”

These days, the likes of Li Haotong (23), and Dou Zecheng (22), are carrying China’s torch proudly around the world along with several other young guns emerging onto the scene. As products of the PGA Tour Series-China, the dynamic two are slowly but surely establishing

24 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

themselves with eye-catching performances to underscore their prospects, which Zhang would mightily approve of.

T he tenaciou s Dou, a long w it h Zhang Xinjun, became the first two Chinese golfers to qualify and play on the PGA Tour in 2018, thanks largely to a pathway created by the PGA Tour Series-China and the Web.com Tour. Li, the inaugural PGA Tour Series-China Order of Merit winner in 2014, has since won twice on the European Tour and hopes to become the third Chinese to find his way onto the PGA Tour, albeit via a different route.

There is a Chinese proverb which calls on those in the present to “Consider the past, and you shall know the future”, which the new generation of golfers like Li and Dou have fully embraced as they seek to drive Chinese golf forward with their tenacity and talent.

Admittedly, Dou, the PGA Tour Series-China No. 1 in 2016 following four victories, and Zhang, struggled in their PGA Tour rookie season in 2017, but both have quickly enhanced their

Li Haotong tees off at the 2018 British Open

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 25

Zhang Lianwei has singlehandedly blazed a trail on the international front for Chinese golf 26 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

WE ARE ONLY SEEING THE BEGINNING OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN CHINA AND ASIA; I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS. I KNOW THAT WHEN I BUILT THE GOLF COURSE IN CHINA, THAT WAS IT. ARNOLD PALMER

prospects of a quick return with flying starts on the Web.com Tour this season.

At the first event of the year, Dou brilliantly sank three closing birdies, including a clutch 50-foot monster at the last hole at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, to claim his second career victory on the Web.com Tour and put himself in prime position for another promotion onto the PGA Tour in 2020. Zhang, meanwhile, finished runner-up at the Panama Championship to signal his intent.

Dou conceded that he took his PGA Tour privilege lightly.

“After I got my card, I started to let myself go,” said the young Chinese player, who missed the cut or withdrew in 19 of his 23 starts on the Tour in 2018.

“From my time on the PGA Tour Series-China and winning the Order of Merit and getting my card in my first year on the Web.com Tour, I thought I was good. After losing my (PGA Tour) card, I lost myself; I got to the point where I wondered if golf was for me any more.”

Dou’s work with new swing coach Cameron McCormick, the man behind Jordan Spieth’s rise in the game, and a renewed fitness regime have seen him bear early-season fruit. At the end of last year, he also underwent corrective laser eye surgery, which he says improved his ability to read putting lines better, especially the longer putts like the one he holed in the Bahamas. Dou is convinced he can excel at a second crack on the PGA Tour. “I’m going to be better prepared. On the first outing, you don’t have much time to make improvements; we don’t live here, and we need to figure out a lot of things,” he said.

Li, ranked 38th in the world (as of March 11, 2019), is eyeing a PGA Tour card through the FedExCup Season Points List for NonMembers. He finished T19 at the World Golf Championships Mexico Championship in February and with a T11 at the WGCHSBC Champions on home soil also counting towards the ranking, he is determined to make the most of his opportunities.

“It’s a huge difference. On the PGA Tour, you feel like a king playing golf. It’s massive and exciting. It’s so organised and run so well. The European Tour is also run well, but it’s more like home like family. They’re both really good but just different,” said Li. Li’s credentials will be further tested when he returns for a second Masters Tournament appearance in April. He finished T32 in his debut a year ago where an opening 69 at Augusta National put him in T4 position and ensured that he caught the attention of the golfing world, including Tiger Woods. “Li is now up there, and I think it’s only a matter of time before we have more professional players from China playing in this event,” said Woods, an 80-time PGA Tour winner.

Li, who started learning the game due to his father’s influence, said: “I don’t want to waste any chances or any opportunity to get my PGA Tour status; I just want to play solid and prepare for the next stage.”

Unlike the pioneering Zhang, who was a javelin thrower before learning to play golf through his own choice in his early 20s, the likes of Li and Dou now have the necessary support and technology to ensure that they can succeed on golf’s biggest stage.

The late Arnold Palmer, who designed and launched China’s first modern day golf course at the Zhongshan Hotspring Golf Club, said in 2008 that “the mushrooming of golf courses across China would positively contribute towards the emergence of new Chinese golf stars.”

“We are only seeing the beginning of what is going to happen in China and Asia; I think it is going to be tremendous. I know that when I built the golf course in China, that was it. Now there are hundreds of golf courses all over the country, and that means millions of people there will have the opportunity to play,” said Palmer.

With three other Chinese golfers, Carl Yuan, Andy Zhang and Motin Yeung, holding Web.com Tour playing rights, the future for China golf looks mighty positive.

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 27

Rory McIlroy manages to seal the deal at The Players Championship in his 10th attempt 28 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

THE TOUR

MCILROY

MASTERS THE MIND

by Chris Cox / Images: Getty Images

Maturity and control finally came through for Rory McIlroy at The Players Championship in mid-March, where he once again arrived for the final round within striking distance of a win. This time, he managed to seal the deal.

F

or all of the distraction, doubt and ridicule he has endured throughout the pa st severa l months, Rory McIlroy always stayed true to himself.

But that wasn’t always the case. For far too long, the 29 year-old often let his poor play on the course define the round that followed. And, perhaps worse, he let it negatively impact his demeanor away from the game as he lived his day-to-day life.

“It’s maturity, I think,” he says. “It’s been having a focus over the last six or seven months on my attitude, especially my attitude to golf, and not letting golf define who I am as a person; trying to keep the two things very separate. Because one thing that I used to do in the past is let what I shot that day influence who I was or my mood,”adds McIlroy. “To try to keep those two things very separate is something I’ve worked hard on because who I am as a person isn’t who I am as a golfer, and it has taken me a while to get to the point where I realised who those two people were.”

Of course, any avid follower of the game understands that has probably been difficult of late, as golf statisticians and commentators have pointed out sometimes rather gleefully - that the Northern Irishman was on a stretch of nine straight defeats in which he started in the fourth round’s final pairing. Three of those instances came since the calendar turned to 2019, though it would be hard to blame McIlroy too much for any of those failures.

First came the Sentry Tournament of Champions, where he opened with three consecutive rounds in the 60s, only to drop into a tie for fourth with a final round 72.

It just so happened that Xander Schauffele dominated the field with a course record, 11-under 62 to capture the victory.

Then came the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, where even though he appeared in the final group, he was never in any legitimate contention as Dustin Johnson breezed to a five-shot triumph. McIlroy finished runner-up.

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 29

I CAME ON TOUR, AND ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS KEEP MY CARD, AND FROM THERE, YOU GROW, YOU LEARN, YOU BECOME A BETTER PLAYER, AND YOU REALISE THAT THERE’S A LOT MORE THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE.

Finally, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy appeared primed to successfully defend his title only to shoot a closing 72, good for a tie for sixth with three others. Francesco Molinari ended up winning with an 8-under 64, four shots clear of the 2018 Champion.

“I came here as a 19 year-old in 2009, missing the cut, and getting kicked out of bars in Jax (Jacksonville) Beach for being underage, so I’ve come a long way in those 10 years,” says McIlroy. “To think about that guy to where I’m at now, it’s beyond my wildest dreams that I’d be sitting up here with 24 worldwide wins and four majors and five Ryder Cups played.

Previously I didn’t know what to expect. I came on Tour, and all I wanted to do was keep my card, and from there, you grow, you learn, you become a better player, and you realise that there’s a lot more that you can achieve.”

As for McIlroy’s recent mental approach, he insists that he has remained disciplined in terms of not reading any press clippings about himself - either good or bad - which has allowed him to leave each tournament pleased with his performance. When he has reflected on the 72 holes each week - rather than the final two, for instance - he has been content with his effort.

McIlroy would require every bit of that newfound patience over the final 18 holes at The Players, an event that annually features the deepest and best field in golf. He entered one shot behind Jon Rahm to start the day, and the Spaniard quickly conceded that lead with three bogeys over his first three holes.

But McIlroy failed to capitalise, approaching the par-4 fourth at even-par, only to see his approach shot go in the water. He settled for double bogey on the hole, paving the way for a flurry of players to try their hand at the lead.

Eddie Pepperell and Jhonattan Vegas, each backed by birdie putts beyond 50 feet on the notorious island-green 17th, both carded 66s to take the clubhouse lead at 14-under. The latter missed a chance at the solo lead when he couldn’t connect on an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th, leaving the door ajar for McIlroy.

30 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

Instead, it was Furyk who exploited the miss, firing his approach shot at the last to three feet and eventually taking the lead among those finished, at 15 under, with a closing 67. It broke what had briefly been a five-way tie at the top.

“I think the toughest part is seeing yourself up there and seeing 10 or 11 guys with a chance,” McIlroy says. “There have been a few times where I’ve been in positions like that, and I’ve taken the tournament by the scruff of the neck. I drew on those experiences and those over the past few weeks and stayed patient and in the right frame of mind, especially being 2-over through 4,” he adds.

“I guess that was the hardest thing, just getting myself to the point mentally where you say, ‘Well, why not me? This is my tournament; I’m going to finish it off.’”

Troubles and all, McIlroy never folded, the pressures of previous misses not factoring in this time around. He matched Furyk at 15-under, with a birdie at the par-4 15th, then took the lead for good on the ensuing hole with a two-putt birdie on the par-5.

McIlroy called his second shot at the 15th by far his best of the day. Using a 6-iron, he stuck his approach shot from 180 yards to 13 feet, ensuring himself a birdie. It quickly erased the sting of bogeying the previous hole and set him up for the clinching birdie at the par-5 16th.

McIlroy then two-putted on the treacherous two closing holes to claim The Players, one of the elusive titles that has evaded him for so long. The win made him one of just three players to win the FedExCup, a Major, a World Golf Championships event, and The Players. The others? Tiger Woods and Henrik Stenson.

McIlroy has grown so much since those early teenage struggles at TPC Sawgrass. He plans on savouring this win for as long as he can, especially considering the negative whispers that surrounded him leading up to it.

“It’s a win at a tournament I’ve never won before on a golf course that I’ve had mixed results on, so I feel like I’m going to take even more from that. I had to grind it out down the stretch, which I have taken a lot from.”

Meet the new Rory, mental strength and all.

Rory McIlroy and caddie Harry Diamond celebrate on the 18th after his maiden win at The Players Championship

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 31

INSIDE THE ROPE FEATURE

SUNDAY

PRESSURE Everyone wants to be in their Sunday best. After all, it’s a day on which the scent of glory beckons for the genuine contenders.

by Calvin Koh / Image: Asian Tour

E

ighteen holes are usually what set apart the contenders and pretenders on pressure Sunday.

The room for error has shrunk, and there’s always drama that lies ahead after the first tee shot is hit. A sparkling run of birdies, several bogeys to mar the card from nowhere, the ball finds the water.

Anything can happen…

Pressure does not care about form and can be very cruel.

Mention it to the likes of Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung, Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva and India’s Khalin Joshi, and they will tell you how tough it can be to calm those nerves on a Sunday. The trembles in their fingers when faced with a three-foot putt to win and complete the job in front of the staring television cameras show palpable pressure.

A victory would mean the world to all of them, having seen triumph almost slip from their grasp on numerous occasions before they finally make peace with pressure and win.

As Fung once said before his breakthrough at the Queen’s Cup: “I’ve been too nervous going into the final day whenever I’m in contention; thinking too much and wanting it too badly, but I’ve learned how to deal with it now.”

When the going gets tough, it comes down to a constant word that they usually recite quietly in their minds - focus.

Da Silva knew how important it was for him to “stay

32 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

patient and play one shot at a time” before he lifted his maiden title at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, eight long years after he first played on the Asian Tour.

He was not suffocated by the crowded leaderboard where the top players were only separated by a single shot then.

Every single one of them, like Da Silva, would be thinking it was going to be their day.

However, there was only one trophy on Sunday, and that was the one that the Brazilian would finally lay his hands on at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club after telling himself “not to worry about other people’s scores and just focus shot by shot.”

No player can escape the truth of the leaderboard.

The scores don’t lie and etching their names against the numbers at the top is always vital.

Despite having played numerous tournaments at the Delhi Golf Club since his junior days, Joshi has never tasted success there. Having the opportunity to stake his claim again, he said: “I’m playing well, and it’s just a matter of time.”

Self-belief usually gives a golfing Sunday new meaning.

The Indian had something to prove, and his words would eventually be prophetic. “You know it was just believing in myself and playing aggressive golf,” said Joshi.

And his time finally came on that fateful day at the Delhi Golf Club on a Sunday.

Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva lifts his Asian Tour maiden trophy at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 33

LEGEND TALK FEATURE

A

SPECIAL LANE

by Louie Chan / Images: Paul Severn

Barry Lane has 17 professional victories to his name, including five European Tour titles and six Staysure Tour wins. He also represented Europe in the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry. A big supporter of innovation in golf, the 58 year-old is thrilled to be playing in the first Jordan Mixed Open in early April, which will make history by bringing together 40 players from each of the Ladies European Tour, the Challenge Tour and the Staysure Tour.

HK Golfer: Do you recall anything like this tournament (the Jordan Mixed Open) at the pro or amateur level?

Barry Lane: Nothing. Probably the closest thing we have had was the girls playing next door to us in Morocco. I mean I’ve played with Laura Davies... if that counts.

But other than that, no.

HKG: What’s the fairest way to set the course up?

BL: The fairest way would be to have The Challenge Tour tee off far back and have us seniors play with the ladies [laughs]!

There are a few absolute bombers on the Challenge Tour. If 15 guys hit 330 off the tee, then it could be a little bit difficult because you know they’re hitting it a lot further than many of the average guys. It’s going to be a challenge for everybody - the

34 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

organisation, the players, the greenkeepers at Ayla Golf Club...You know, it all looks great on paper, but we’ll just have to see how it goes. If we see on the first day that something isn’t quite right, it can be rectified for the second and third days.

HKG: There will be one prize fund. Why do you think it has taken so long to get to this point in the game?

BL: There has been a lot of publicity recently about equality and equal prize money, the same as in tennis. Golf is a little bit behind in that respect. It’s down to the sponsors and what they want. If they don’t want to put money into ladies’ golf, they don’t. They don’t want to put it in the Challenge Tour, and they don’t want to put it in the seniors. But I think a lot of it is about exposure, to be honest.

Barry Lane is thrilled to be playing in the first Jordan Mixed Open at Ayla Golf Club

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 35

Barry Lane hits a ball in Petra, one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the Modern World’

36 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

HKG: How do the competitors see the event?

BL: I think a lot of them just see it as another event that they are involved in as professional golfers. I don’t know what the youngsters think, but I know that most of the seniors are really looking forward to it because it’s something special, you know, with 60 year-olds playing guys at 20.

We’re in the same profession, and it will be interesting for us to see how the game has evolved, and the youngsters can see how the game used to be played by us. I think the seniors are really looking forward to competing with them. I am looking forward to seeing how we play the game, and also to seeing how the girls play. They swing the club nicely but obviously with not quite as much power.

HKG: For whom is it most significant for this event to succeed?

BL: I think it’s significant for all of the tours. The seniors have got nothing to lose really. We’ve done what we’ve done, so they’re not expecting us to do well, but I know that a senior player has the ability to win this tournament. I mean a great scenario would be 20 of each making the cut and, one of each tour contending. But whatever happens, it’s just going to be a great tournament.

HKG: Do you think the event could be perceived negatively based on the course set-up?

BL: I don’t think so. It is so different.

People realise that it’s not easy to set the course up right for three different tours. I think it’s tough to predict, but we will find out straight away on day one. We will see whether we’ve got the whole thing right or we’ve got 15 holes right and three wrong, or we’ve got nine holes right and nine holes wrong. I don’t think it’s going to be negative, whatever happens, to be honest,

because it’s bringing three tours together.

It’s showcasing European golf at its best.

The only thing missing is the main tour, but they’d have to be another 40 yards behind everybody else!

HKG: Who will finish in the Top 10?

BL: Three Challenge Tour players, three ladies and four seniors!

HKG: Do you think golf has slipped behind other sports in popularity and viewership because those sports get more exposure?

BL: Well, it’s often easier to produce TV coverage for other sports, as it is more costeffective. In darts, you might need three cameras and a studio, and that’s it. But golf is a massive operation; you have cameras on towers moving around; and with at least eight cameraman and 15 cameras in the trucks, it’s expensive.

HKG: What can the sport do in terms of participation to allow more people to pick up the game?

BL: The number of guys that play golf games on apps is phenomenal, but they would never even dream about going out on the golf course. If it was made a little more accessible and the perception that it’s a bit of an elitist game, it may be different.

I know that in certain countries you have to get a special card to even get onto a golf course, or you first have to learn through proper tuition. For example, in Sweden, you have to get a card, you have to have at least six lessons from a pro, and then he has to sign a card before you can even join a golf club. Do you have to do that with tennis? Do you have to do that cricket or football? No. That’s the way it should be for golf. Why can’t people just come along and hit balls and simply enjoy themselves?

That’s the best way to start. My father took my brother and me to a field to hit, and as a result we got hooked. What more can I say?

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 37

GOLF GURU | PRO TIPS

DRIVE

IT LONGER

by Jason Kwok

P

l a y e r s o n t h e P G A To u r today are driving incredible d i s t a n c e s . B a c k i n 19 8 0 , the average driving distance on the Tour was 256.89 yards, but in 2018, it wa s 295.29 ya rd s! T he technological advances in golf club design and manufacturing, going from driver heads made of persimmon to steel to titanium to multi-materia l composites, shafts made from stainless

38 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

steel to aerospace materials, along with advances in golf ball development has a lot to do with the gains in distance.

More focus on physical training has also created many more athletic golfers on tour. The governing bodies of the sport, the USGA and the R&A, have put upper limits on many of the speedproducing characteristics of clubs and balls. However, that shouldn’t stop you from finding the best technique and

equipment setup for maximising your distance off the tee.

When you are buying a driver these days, most major manufacturers will offer clubs that produce close to the maximum ball speed within the rules, relative to your swing speed. However, to optimise your driving distance, it’s best to hit the ball with an ascending blow of about 5 deg ree s a nd w it h optimum backspin. I have attached a

DRIVER DISTANCE OPTIMIZATION

CLUBHEAD SPEED (mph)

80

90

100

110

ATTACK ANGLE (deg)

BALL SPEED (mph)

-5

115

0

RATE (rpm)

CARRY DISTANCE (yds)

TOTAL DISTANCE (yds)

10.1

3078

154

188

117

12.1

2494

163

199

5

118

14.8

2005

156

209

-5

131

8.5

3122

185

231

0

132

10.8

2517

196

245

5

134

13.8

2021

207

259

-5

144

9.6

3118

222

244

0

146

12.1

2570

235

258

5

148

14.9

1887

247

272

-5

160

7

3005

252

275

0

162

9.8

2471

266

291

5

163

13.7

1716

279

305

table with the distance data for different attack angles with varying clubhead speeds (above).

As you can see, for most golfers, a 5-degree upward attack angle will produce the longest drive. One of the best ways to hit your driver 'on the up' is to take a slightly wide stance, your upper body leaning slightly away from the target and the ball in front of your lef t foot (below lef t). To eliminate

LAUNCH ANGLE (deg)

SPIN

excessive backspin, you should bow your left wrist coming into impact (below) then fully release through for maximum clubhead speed.

Many drivers on the market offer some adjustability. My suggestion is to work with your instructor using an accurate launch monitor, such as Foresight GCQuad or Trackman to find the best swing and equipment setup to hit your longest drives. In many cases, a

slight tweak in your golf swing, a bit of adjustment with your driver or a change of shaft, can add 10 to 30 yards to your average drive.

In add ition, work ing up a good sweat with a golf specialist physical trainer, who will be able to help you increase muscle strength and flexibility, will also definitely help add power and consistency to your golf swing.

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 39

GOLF GURU | SENIOR PLAYERS

LOCK

DOWN PUTTING MAKING MORE SHORT PUTTS

Counteract the anxiety and tension of short putts by locking down your set-up over the ball. Preset about 80% of your weight on your left side at address and keep it there throughout the stroke.

by Brad Schadewitz

SET-UP

• 80% of your weight on your left side.

• Ball position closer to the left foot.

• Left eye on top of the ball.

NEUTRAL SET UP

• With pressure and tension levels high, it is easy to sway away with the stroke.

40 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

BACKSWING & IMPACT

• Keep the putter low to the ground to avoid becoming steep into impact.

• Make sure the weight stays on the left foot.

• Keep the head over the ball.

TAKE AWAY

• The dreaded sway away from the ball.

FOLLOW THROUGH

• Keep your weight on your left side.

• Check your putter face and hold your finish.

FOLLOW THROUGH

• Body hangs back, shoulders and clubface twist left.

• Eyes peak early.

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 41

GOLF GURU | HIGH HANDICAPPERS

KNOW

YOUR YARDAGES

by Jason Kwok

T

a ke the guesswork out of club selection. I find that generally inexperienced golfers lose many strokes by picking the wrong club for the shot at hand. There are two critical issues to deal with when choosing the correct club for each shot.

First of all, you should be aware of the actual average distance that you hit with each club in your bag. Secondly, and just as significant, is how the course and weather conditions will affect your shot. The key point to remember is that you should select a club based on your average distance for that club and not your absolute best hit.

As a rule, your best hit should always go past the flag.

To f ind your average yardages, it is helpful to have a session with your professional in a studio which gives specific measurements for the distances you hit with each club. Equipped with the Foresight GCQuad, our studio is arguably the most accurate indoor unit on the market.

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Opposite is a table of a studio session for one of my students checking his 7 iron carry and total yardages. I had him hit 10 shots with each club and eliminate the best and the worst, then the software will calculate the average.

I see too many golfers just grab a 7 iron whenever they are facing a 150-yard shot even if they are playing in 15° Celsius weather with the wind against and the green uphill. In those situations, they might need a hybrid for the yardage that would generally be a 7 iron. My suggestion would be to learn to add and subtract from the actual yardage depending on the ambient temperature, wind strength and direction, course conditions, and the elevation of the hole in relation to your ball.

Now when we apply what we learned from our test session for playing a hole, we can see that for a 176-yard par 3, my student was able to hit two good shots into the green one with a 7 iron (above left) and the other with a 6 iron (above right). Since the

yardage of the hole is in between his average distance for the two clubs, he will choose the one that is the safest, in this case, with the water hazard in front, his 6 iron will usually produce the best score.

My final thought on club selection for high handicappers is that you should never think you are in between clubs. As opposed to long hitting student in the test, who averages about 12 yards between his 6 and 7 Iron. The yardage gap from club to club for the average player is rarely more than 10 yards, so I would suggest always hitting each shot around 80 percent and a well-struck shot will rarely be more than a few yards long or short. So picking either the shorter or longer club based on whether it is safer in front of the flag or behind it, and then committing to the swing will invariably produce the best results.

Improving your swing takes time and practice. However, improving your club selection should take less time and effort but will lower your scores dramatically!

CLUB BALL SPEED LAUNCH SIDE BACKSPIN SIDESPIN DESCENT OFFLINE ANGLE ANGLE ANGLE

PEAK

CARRY

MPH

RPM

RPM

YDS

FT

YDS YDS

7 IRON

117.5

18.6°

1.7°R

6717

175R

48.3°

7.4R 99 164 167 11’6”

7 IRON

117.8

17.4°

1.5°R

6239

54L

46.8°

3.9R 93 166 170 24’11”

7 IRON

120.8

17.2°

0.2°R

5762

514L

46.6°

8.0L 97 173 181 24y

7 IRON

119.2

17.9°

0.8°R

6100

245L

47.4°

0.5L 98 169 173 13y

7 IRON

120.4

18.6°

0.3°L 6414 67L

48.6°

1.0L 104 169 173 13y

7 IRON

120.3

14.6°

2.1°L

5590

815L

43.1°

19.9L 81 171 181 33y

7 IRON

116.5

18.4°

1.4°R

6459

33R

47.6°

5.1R

7 IRON

117.1

18.5°

0.3°R

6496

215R

48.0°

4.2R 98 164 168 22’3”

7 IRON

118.6

15.7°

2.0°L

6484

45R

45.3°

4.7L 87 166 170 16y

7 IRON

122.0

17.6°

0.1°R

5758

362L

47.4°

5.5L

96

101

TOTAL

163

175

167

179

TO PIN

DISABLE

20’2” x

20y

x

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 43

THE VIEW

SATISFACTION

GUARANTEED The Thai Country Club has been open for more than two decades and remains as a haven for an excellent golfing experience.

by Louie Chan / Images: Antonio Saba / Courtesy of the Thai Country Club

T

ucked away on the outskirts of Bangkok, and managed under the auspices of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH), the Thai Country Club delivers exquisite service, star quality food and world-class facilities.

There is full satisfaction guaranteed for golfers of all levels.

The Club, a joint venture between the Phataraprasit Group and HSH, has earned a reputation for being one of Thailand’s premier golfing venues and is a founding member of The Finest Golf Clubs of the World. Its golf course, designed by Denis Griffiths, former President of the world-renowned American Society of Golf Course Architects, under USPGA international standards, has consistently

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attracted the attention of serious golfers who have been greatly impressed with the course layout and unique range of challenges from all tees.

The venue for the 1997 Asian Honda Classic, won by Tiger Woods, and the second leg of the 1998 Johnnie Walker Super Tour, won by Vijay Singh, the course utilises weather-resistant paspalum grass from Hawaii. This demanding terrain, with both water and sand hazards, is a true test of golf proficiency at all levels. The design of the 7,157-yard course adapts to everyday member use and presents a tough challenge for major international tournaments featuring the finest players in the world.

The high-tech computer designed greens make for many interesting pin placements and the entire course features immaculate conditions, a neo-classic design and variety from hole to hole. Off the course, the friendliest staff of professionals in the Thailand is committed to making every individual’s golf experience a memorable one.

The Thai Country Club is held in high esteem within the golfing world, helped largely by continued televised tournaments, but also by an acquired reputation as a smooth running perfect golfing machine. The club makes an invaluable contribution to the game of golf in the Kingdom of Siam.

Thailand is fortunate to have so many wonderful courses for aficionados to play in their golfing lifetime, and it would be a crying shame not to experience the Thai Country Club. It is impossible to generalise about Thai golf courses, but what is certain is that the Thai Country Club is green, consistent, and fair, because those are the things that all members and guests demand.

Strategically, almost every hole presents a variety of options and like all great courses, it has excellent short holes and epitomises the old golf course architects belief that a course, where possible, should be arranged in two loops of nine holes and that there should be a large proportion of good par 4s, and at least four par 3s. There is little walking distance between the greens and the tees; the greens and fairways are sufficiently undulating, there is no hill climbing involved, every hole is different in character, and there is a minimum of blindness

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for approach shots. So, whether you play from the tees for 7,157 yards, or prefer a more leisurely round at 6,105 yards, or somewhere in between, the Thai Country Club offers all options.

Voted Best Course in Thailand (2001-2007), Best Par-Three in Asia (2001-2003) and Best Clubhouse in Asia (2000-2007)

by Asian Golf Monthly Magazine, the Thai Country Club has an impressive 4,000 square metre Clubhouse to complement the highly-acclaimed course.

The award-winning club is regularly voted one of the top clubs in Asia, and was recognised with four major awards at the 2016 Asian Golf Awards Ceremony, namely: Best Managed Golf Club in Asia Pacific, Best Food and Beverage Experience in Asia Pacific, Best Food & Beverage Manager of The Year (Jintana Zinn), and First Runner Up Best Locker Room (Male & Female) in Asia Pacific.

All in all, the Thai Country Club is a golfer’s paradise, and a round on one of Asia’s favourite courses is a must in this lifetime.

The Peninsula Bangkok also has a special “Golf for High Flyers” offer for the hotel guests. You will depart by private transfer to the Thai Country Club to enjoy a round of golf. You can return to the hotel by private helicopter to glimpse the last rays of the day, before the sun sets in a kaleidoscope of colours over the City of Angels. For reservations, please call The Peninsula Bangkok at +66 (2) 020 2888 or email conciergePBK@peninsula.com.

88 Thambon Pimpa Tambon Hom Sin, Amphoe Bang Pakong, Chang Wat Chachoengsao 24180, Thailand. thaicountryclub.com

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 47

RETROSPECTIVE

CLASSIC CLUBBERS III Images: Courtesy of Globe Photos Inc.

In the third of an ongoing series, HK Golfer brings you a selection of still images of some classic golfing moments.

Fine art prints are available for purchase by HK Golfer readers in the following sizes and editions:

16” x 20”, edition size 125, numbered with holographic seals and matching COA’s normal price US$595, HK Golfer price US$535.50 + free shipping

20” x 24”, edition size 75, numbered with holographic seals and matching COA’s normal price US$995, HK Golfer price US$895.50 + free shipping Please email sales@globephotos.com Use promo code HKG03

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Frank Sinatra plays golf in Miami Beach on the set of the film ‘The Lady In Cement’ (1968) Image: Terry O’Neill

Arnold Palmer, The King of Golf in the 1960s takes a swing as the crowd looks on. Image: Fred Bauman

Ben Hogan in full swing, circa 1960s

Dean Martin in full golf fashion mode, circa 1960s

Jack Nicklaus eyes up a putt, circa 1960s

WATCH IT

REMEMBERING

APOLLO XI

by Bernard Cegane / Images: Courtesy of Omega

It is now 50 years since mankind took its first daring steps onto the moon – a moment that changed history, and the limits of possibility, forever. On the golden anniversary of this momentous event, Omega is celebrating the occasion with the launch of a brand new Speedmaster that has an extremely special connection to the astronauts and the legacy of the Apollo 11 mission.

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Buzz Aldrin (right) with President and CEO of Omega, Raynald Aeschlimann

N

eil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first astronauts to walk on the lunar surface on July 21st, 1969. Their moonwalk lasted just two-anda-half hours, but their achievements left a defining footprint on the history of space exploration.

The Omega Speedma ster Professiona l wa s the f irst watch to be worn on the moon, and the Apollo 11 mission is undoubtedly the most defining moment in the brand’s considerable space heritage. But the journey to reach that point began more than a decade earlier, in 1957, when the very first Omega Speedmaster was unveiled.

Thanks to its robust, reliable and easy-to-read design, the Speedmaster became known as the “pilots’ choice” and was adopted by the leading pilots in the U.S Air Force. Many of those aces went on to become Mercury astronauts in NASA’s first manned space programme and, in 1963, one of them, Walter Schirra, took his own Speedmaster CK2998 on the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission. Orbiting the Earth six times, his privately-owned model became the first Omega watch to be worn in space.

By 1964, NASA’s space programme was accelerating rapidly and it officially went in search of one watch that it could rely

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on for all of its manned missions. Flight Crew Operations Director, Deke Slayton, issued a request for wristworn chronographs from a number of watch manufacturers around the world, and several brands, including Omega, submitted their timepieces to undergo a series of punishing tests – such as thermal, shock, vibration and vacuum examinations, amongst others. Only the Omega Speedmaster survived these tests and, as a result, it was declared “Flight Qualified for all Manned Space Missions” on March 1st, 1965.

From that moment on, Omega was the only supplier of watches for NASA’s Human Space Flight Program. It was trusted throughout the following Gemini Program, and, of course, the Apollo Program – which had its sights set on the moon. James Ragan, the NASA engineer who qualified the Speedmaster in 1965 has spoken about the importance of Omega by saying, “The watch was a backup. If the astronauts lost the capability of talking to the ground, or the capability of their digital timers on the lunar surface, then the only thing they had to rely on was the Omega watch they had on their wrist. It needed to be there for them if they had a problem.”

With the eyes of the world on Apollo 11 in 1969, every piece of technology and kit had to be just right. There was no room

for error, and that is why it is such an important honour for Omega to look back and know that its watches were implicitly trusted by everyone involved in the mission.

The success of Apollo 11 was fervently celebrated around the world in 1969. On November 25th of that year, a special ‘Astronaut Appreciation Dinner’ was held in Houston, Texas, in a fitting tribute to the moon landing heroes.

The dinner was especially notable for a certain Omega Speedmaster that was presented to the astronauts in NASA’s space programme. The watch, the Speedmaster BA145.022, was crafted from 18K yellow gold and included a rare burgundy bezel, as well as an inscription on the caseback that read: “To mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time.”

This gold Speedmaster housed the calibre 861and was Omega’s very first commemorative numbered edition, with only 1,014 models being produced between 1969 and 1973.

The first of these was created for then US President, Richard Nixon, with number two allocated to Vice President Spiro Agnew. These watches, however, were later returned due to the US government’s strict gifting protocol.

Model numbers 3 through 28 were presented to the NASA

astronauts, including 19 of those who were present at the gala dinner in Houston. These also included three models that were awarded posthumously to the three crew members who died during Apollo 1 – Virgil Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee. Watches 29 to 32 were offered to Swiss watch industry leaders and politicians, without any engraved number, whilst the public was given the opportunity to purchase model numbers 33 through 1000. Although these models had a different caseback inscription, reading “Omega Speedmaster”, “Apollo XI 1969” and “Ω The First Watch Worn On The Moon”, they remained highly sought-after due to their rarity and connection to space. The unique timepieces also came in an exclusive moon crater presentation box, which itself is a prized collectors’ item today. Model numbers 1001 – 1008 were later presented to the astronauts of Apollo 14 and 17, while models 1009 – 1014 were reserved for other personalities.

For true Speedmaster fans, the BA145.022 is one of the great highlights in this chronograph’s iconic history. Not only is it an exquisite watch to look at, with its blend of gold and burgundy, but it also pays the highest tribute to the NASA astronauts who made history through their successful journey to the moon.

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 57

THE TICKET

BACK ON THE

MAP

by Ann Tsang / Images: Morgan Ommer

Prior to the 1959 revolution, Cuba was unquestionably the hottest spot in the Caribbean, famed for its glittering casinos, the finest rum, tropical weather, rich musical culture, cigars and classic cars. It was also the adopted home of author Ernest Hemingway, who resided there for 21 years. In fact, the island nation played such an influential role in his life that he wrote seven books there, including ‘The Old Man and The Sea’ and ‘A Moveable Feast’. Even today, the Cuban people consider Hemingway an important part of their own history.

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T

oday, almost everything that made the beautiful island of Cuba America’s dream playground more than half a century ago is still there, albeit somewhat worse for wear. However, just 90 miles off the Florida coast, it is becoming increasingly clear that the tides may be turning, bringing promises of a brighter future and a potentially triumphant resurgence from the ashes of time.

For long a rare sight, Americans are now swarming Old Havana’s colonial squares and narrow streets along with Europeans and Canadians.

Old Havana is the central area of the original city. In addition to having the largest concentration of colonial architecture in the Western hemisphere, the capital is also home to the largest collection of Spanish colonial military architecture. Old Havana and its fortifications were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

Row upon row of brightly coloured crumbling facades cannot fail to enchant even the most jaded traveller, their equally intriguing doors offering a peek inside the lives of the dwellers within. Baroque churches still reign majestically over squares embraced by the former palaces of Cuba’s ruling gentry and cobbled streets that may once again become paved with gold.

From dawn until late night, the sound of Cuban music is omnipresent – a potent element that fortunately will never change, even with new times ahead. Some of the best places to fully immerse yourself in the country’s musical culture include Don Cangrejo (Avenida 1ra between Calles 16 & 18) where advance reservations are a must; La Cecilia (5ta Avenida, No. 11010, entre 110 y 112) which regularly presents some of Cuba’s best salsa bands; Las Piedras (1ra y 43, Playa) for a more intimate setting; and Casa de La Musica Miramar (Calle 20, esquina 35, Playa), a mainstay for the very best salsa bands housed in a beautiful old mansion.

As far as dining is concerned, the food scene in Havana has changed significantly for the better in recent years. With the birth of the paladar (privately-owned restaurant) several years ago, there are more options than ever before, although securing a reservation can often be slightly challenging.

Unquestionably one of the best paladars in the city is one of Havana´s few family-owned restaurants, ‘La Cocina de Lilliam’ (Calle 48 No 1311 entre 13 y 15, Almendares), a culinary gem and a true reflection of owner Lilliam Dominguez Palenzuela´s lifelong passions. Exquisitely composed and pleasantly presented, each recipe has been honed, tested and retested until perfection.

Lilliam began cooking as a teenager, learning from her mother and a neighbour who shared her kitchen and culinary knowledge.

15 years ago, the Cuban government allowed, for the first time, the opening of small private businesses and Lilliam took the opportunity to leave her then-career as fashion designer and open her own restaurant, bringing with her an eye for detail and visual appeal. Today she happily cooks alongside her daughter Cleo and brother Carlos, while her sons and her husband helps keep the restaurant running smoothly. Every visit is a new experience, as Lilliam continuously changes the menu, furnishings, plants and atmosphere to meet her evolving vision of perfection.

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 61

Another excellent dining venue is ‘Ivan Chef Justo’ (Aguacate #9, esq. Chacón, Old Havana). The Mediterranean-style restaurant is located on the second and third floors of a building that is more than 200 years old. The food is nothing short of spectacular, with dishes including an excellent salmon salad, gazpacho and lamb soup as appetizers and a mouth watering rack of baby lamb ribs as a main course.

Cuba of course would not be Cuba, without its approximately 250,000 pre-revolutionary vintage cars, of which about one-third date back to the 1920s and 30s, with the rest being 50s classics, a decade when Havana actually bought more Cadillacs than any other city in the world.

In his award-winning coffee-table book, ‘Cuba Classics: A Celebration of Vintage American Automobiles’, author Christopher Baker writes: “High-finned, voluptuous dowagers from the heyday of Detroit are everywhere: chrome-laden DeSotos, corpulent Buicks, stylish Plymouth Furies and other relics of ‘50s ostentation, when American cars reflected the Hollywood Zeitgeist for excessive wealth, fantasy and gaudiness with which Havana was at that time synonymous. The tail fins of chrome-polished ‘57 Packards glint beneath the floodlit mango trees of nightclubs such as the Tropicana, the open-air extravaganza - now in its sixth decade of stiletto-heeled paganism. Nearby, perhaps, sits a 1958 Studebaker Silver Hawk, a ‘57 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, or an Oldsmobile 88 Golden Rocket from the same year inviting foreigners to admire the dashboard or run their fingers along a tail fin. Even the humble station wagons are there: the Chevy Nomads and Pontiac Safaris, and the woodie wagons.”

A somewhat lesser known phenomenon (but not for long), is the re-emergence of Cuban art, predicted by many to be the next big thing in the art world of today, with art enthusiasts already flocking to the country in droves.

With its strong art schools, such as the ISA (Universidad de las Artes), and its inexpensive studio space, artists tend enjoy elevated social status and can travel more freely than other Cuban citizens.

Although visual art has long been exempted from the embargo, the new rules enable collectors to travel to Cuba more easily.

“There were always serious collectors who went to Cuba with museum groups, but now you are getting a second group - Chelsea collectors,” said Alberto Magnan, the Cuban-born co-founder of Magnan Metz Gallery in New York in an interview with the New York Times. “I’m having trouble getting hotel rooms.”

Late in 2014, artist Kadir López was casually at work in his studio when he received a surprise visit from a rather famous collector – actor Will Smith - accompanied by his wife, Jada, who an hour later left with an artwork with an estimated value of US$45,000. “Where else in the world does Will Smith turn up on an artist’s doorstep?” said Lopez after the event.

Lopez has exhibited his work consistently since 1990 in over 120 solo and group shows in North and South America, Europe, China, and the Caribbean. He has also participated in several of the art world’s prominent international art fairs. Among his many outstanding solo exhibitions, his ‘Signs’ series, brought him critical attention and he was named one of the top 10 artists in the world to watch out for in 2011 by The Huffington Post.

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And finally, accommodation. When you plan your trip please note that hotels book out well in advance. It is strongly suggested that you stay in one of the top hotels, although there are great private homes available through the Cuban equivalent of AirBnB that work well if you are travelling with friends or family.

As it is, foreigners face extreme difficulties booking hotels and rental cars. Industry experts worry that the island will be unable to absorb an even greater expected surge when scheduled U.S. commercial airline and ferry services are in full effect. The tourism infrastructure, with just 63,000 hotel rooms nationwide, is still largely a function of the state and has languished under decades of economic sanctions and underdevelopment.

Nevertheless, there is a handful of excellent options.

First up is Hotel Saratoga, situated on Paseo del Prado and Dragones Street, a privileged intersection in Old Havana. The location allows for the exploration of the irresistible vitality of the city and is close to the nation’s Capitol Building and Fraternity Park, the famous Partagás Cigar Factory and Cuba’s most important opera and ballet house, the Gran Teatro. When the sun is setting stroll down Paseo del Prado to Havana’s seawall, the malecón. The Hotel Saratoga is perfect for guests who wish to combine visits to places of historical-cultural interest and the city’s nightlife.

Meanwhile, the Hotel Parque Central occupies the whole block of Neptune Street between the intersections of Padro and Zulueta.

The structure combines the elegance of Spanish colonial style with facilities and modern services. Since the opening of this hotel more than a decade ago, it has consistently been ranked number one, and with good reason. The service is top-flight and the cosmopolitan, elegant, and comfortable atmosphere unsurpassed. A travel representative, who assists clients daily at Parque Central reveals one

of the secrets to the hotel’s success. “The lobby. It’s Havana’s nicest place to chill out, work on your laptop and enjoy a coffee or cocktail.”

A third, somewhat more quirky option is the Hotel Los Frailes (9 Calle Teniente Rey No. 8 e/ Mercaderes y Oficios), which literally means ‘The hotel of the monks’. Steps from the Plaza Vieja and just two blocks from the Plaza de San Francisco de Asis (two of Havana’s most beautiful squares), the Hotel Los Frailes exudes contemplative serenity.

The staff pads along the hushed corridors in grey friar robes, their cheerful, expressive faces making it clear they do not belong to a religious order. Everything here radiates serenity, spirituality and devotion, but squarely within a touristic context.

The inner mezzanine gallery is bright and appealing, with lush hanging plants and attractive decorations. The original water cistern was rediscovered during the renovation, providing interesting historical detail; art objects from different eras provide context. The cozy seating areas are as inviting for reading as for sharing a cocktail, served by a merry, costumed friar.

When morning has broken, guests cross the street to restaurant ‘La Marina’, where breakfast is served. Blue and white chequered tablecloths create a surprisingly Mediterranean setting after the serenity of Hotel Los Frailes.

On a final note, when arriving in Havana, it is recommended that you pay the CUC 29 (US$30) to access the VIP lounge upon arrival. They will take care of retrieving your baggage and walking you through customs. On departure the VIP lounge only costs CUC 15. A staff member will walk you to the gate so you can preboard. The small Duty Free shop at the airport sells cigars and a wide selection of Havana Club rum.

Welcome to the land of sensory overload and a whole lot of fun!

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 65

BESPOKE

TAKING TO THE

WATER

by Mike D’Orlean / Images Courtesy of the Singapore Yacht Show

The Singapore Yacht Show, Asia’s premier boating and luxury lifestyle event returns from 11 – 14 April 2019 for its ninth year at the prestigious ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove. HK Golfer previews the latest models on display.

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H

eralded as the region’s must-see event for nautical lifestyle enthusiasts, the four-day Singapore Yacht Show gives visitors an unrivalled opportunity to discover more yachts than displayed anywhere else in the region. The Show brings together superyacht builders, product manufacturers and a whole raft of luxury lifestyle brands showing off their latest innovations, design concepts and product launches.

The Show will continue to impress with a stellar range of yachts making their maiden voyages into Asia, offering something for everyone from seasoned sailors to aspiring boaters.

Princess Yachts together with local dealer Boat Lagoon Yachting, will present a fleet featuring three regional debuts including the Princess F45, the latest addition to the Princess flybridge range.

The Ferretti Group also returns to with local dealer Hong Seh Marine to display some show-stopping models, including the FY920 maxi flybridge making her Asian debut in Singapore.

Sunseeker will present two yachts, including the stunning new Sunseeker 76 which will also be making her Asian premiere.

Marine Italia, the Singapore-based dealer for Azimut Yachts, will be showcasing the 2018 semi-custom model, the Azimut Grande 25.

Specialist multihull builder Fountaine Pajot unveils three catamarans, two of which will be making their regional premieres – the new MY40 motoryacht and the Alegria 67 that redefines luxurious comfort.

In addition to these global showcases, the Singapore Yacht Show also promises to deliver a truly immersive experience for those looking to discover the yachting lifestyle through a series of high-octane events and activities.

Adrenaline junkies will find their place at the Floating Leisure Hub, which will be located in the middle of the marina and will house a 10 metre-long floating swimming pool and live demonstrations of the latest personal watercraft including jet skis, submersibles, inflatables, day boats, fishing equipment and drones.

“The fact that so many world-leading boating brands have once again chosen the Singapore Yacht Show 2019 as the platform from which to launch their latest models into the Asian market is extremely gratifying,” says Andy Treadwell, CEO of Verventia Pte Ltd, the organiser of the Show. “It’s actually an indictment of the runaway success of last year’s SYS, at which all of our biggest exhibitors made record sales.”

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 67

HK GOLFER’S TOP FIVE PICKS SUNSEEKER 76 The 76 Yacht hits the sweet spot in terms of size, space and superyacht feel whilst being extremely manageable for those looking to self-crew. Clever design maximises social and entertaining spaces, whilst the innovative use of glass enhances natural light, making this a bright and airy boat in which to relax and unwind with family and friends.

The optional retractable glass skylight over the lower helm affords an open boat experience, allowing light to flood into the helm area and is complemented by a large companion seating area to port.

Natural light also flows into the main deck through extended window lines and unique full-height glazing on the port side, making the dining area a spectacular place to entertain with incredible views over the water.

T he e x ter ior dec k s prov ide u nprecedented levels of space and flexibility that can be adapted to suit any needs, whether relaxing, entertaining or both.

The vast flybridge is another exceptional feature of the 76, and the impressive layout can be further enhanced by the addition of an optional spa-tub and cocktail bar to further complement the ‘superyacht’ feel.

The light and space continues below deck, where there are four sumptuous cabins and four bathrooms, including an impressive full beam master suite with ensuite and dressing area. The spacious crew cabin can accommodate up to three people in an open-plan layout or can be specified with an enclosed double berth cabin.

This exceptional new yacht is without doubt predicted to set a new benchmark for her class.

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FERRETTI 920 The fruit of a collaboration between the Ferretti Group’s Project Strategy C om m it tee a nd it s Engineering Department, working alongside the Studio Zuccon International Project, this massive new Ferretti yacht has a hull measuring 23.98 metres, which means it can be registered as a recreational craft.

The Ferretti 920 has a dynamic, irrepressible profile, thanks to the same design features that have completely modernised the brand’s models launched in recent years and ensured their international success.

The exterior spaces offer an impressive amount of space for relaxation as well as luxurious furnishings, both built-in and free-standing. The space located forward, in particular, is the largest ever on a Ferretti vessel of this size. The sun pad on the bridge house leads into a dinette fitted with two forward-facing sofas - divided by a passageway - and a pair of sofas with adjustable backrests along the bulwark.

This creates a large lounge, complete with coffee tables, which can be protected and shaded by sun canopies upon request.

The interiors of the 920 rival the stunning versions in higher category models.

The lounge, with its anthracite-grey parquet f looring, is panelled almost ent irely i n e xqu isite wa l nut wood with chocolate tones, alternating with enamelled accents in different colours.

The built-in furniture, upholstered in stone-grey leather, serves to complement the lounge’s furnishings as a whole, all of which are by Minotti, from the fabricupholstered Powell sofa and coordinated Creed armchair in nubuck leather, to the Duchamp and Calder coffee tables.

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AZIMUT GRANDE 25 METRI Midway between charm and technology, the Azimut Grande 25 Metri has a Carbon Tech superstructure, roll-bar, hard top and transom. The large volumes of an important yacht, with a garage for the tender and a totally separate crew circuit to offer the owner maximum privacy, don’t affect the boat’s contours, which are light, sleek and almost sensual.

Another surprising aspect is the interior design, which gives an original twist to the living area: the typical separation of sofa and dining areas makes way for one big refined setting.

So, when no-one is dining inside, there’s much more space to enjoy in two comfy living areas.

The galley and helm station can be separated from the other settings by sliding doors and switchable frosted glass panels, allowing the crew to get on with their business without interfering with the lives of the owner and guests.

The four cabins are in the lower deck and three of them have double beds, while the crew has a cabin for the captain, Riva 76 Perseo 70 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

a second cabin with bunk beds, and a crew mess that can be accessed from a stairway aft of the superstructure.

The engine room can host a pair of 1,650 hp Man engines or, optionally, two 1,800 hp Man engines, driving the yacht to a top speed of 29 knots and a cruising speed of 26 knots.

RIVA 76 PERSEO The 76’ Perseo has been conceived with a view to preserving the family feeling with the other models in the brand’s sporty range, and deservedly joins the other true masterpieces in Riva’s recent production This yacht immediately strikes for its sporty features and elegance, further enhanced by its colour shades. The first hull presents a new shade of metal silver - the already well-known‘Moon Grey’ - as the dominating colour, combined with Riva’s classical dark shade,‘Bright Black’. The yacht’s sporty look is further highlighted by over 40 square metres of glazed surfaces: the large hull glazing, on both sides, comprises two elliptical surfaces, connected by the Riva logo,

Azimut Grande 25 Metri

in polished stainless steel, one of the brand’s distinctive and traditional materials. The side glazing on the main deck, in turn, is ‘cut through’ by a handrail installed along the edge of the superstructure, which makes the yacht’s profile even more slender and extends the overall size of the glazing in the main salon, while ensuring the utmost safety along the outdoor passageways. The wide windshield comes in the largest possible size, in order to offer the captain the widest and most thorough visibility. The spacious sun deck perfectly harmonises with the yacht’s aerodynamic lines and ensures the utmost privacy and relaxation, besides allowing to pilot the craft from a privileged position.

SANLORENZO SD126 At 38 metres LOA, the Sanlorenzo SD126 is the flagship of its semi-displacement hull SD fleet. Constructed in composite, the four-deck motor yacht shares a family resemblance with its sisters but stands out with a few noteworthy updates. Take, for instance,

the main saloon terrace that opens up the interior to the sea below, while the 12-seater dining saloon can fully open to the aft deck, merging the outside and inside spaces.

There is also a new bow seating lounge, a larger flybridge, huge windows and a bigger swim platform. It seems everything on board the SD126 is about better connecting the owner and his guests with the sea and the world outside the yacht.

The SD126 accommodates 10 guests in a generous fivestateroom layout with a main-deck master, mirror VIP cabins and two twin staterooms. There is crew accommodation for six on the lower deck, plus a berth for the captain on the upper deck, so guests are well looked after with a ratio of six crew to 10 guests.

The interior can be customised to meet the owner’s exacting brief, whether they desire fine marbles, stainless steel, stitched leathers or any other eye-catching details.

APR 2019 | HK GOLFER 71

THE NINETEENTH

SHOW UP, KEEP UP,

SHUT UP!

by Timothy Low / Image: Getty Images

Jordan Spieth celebrates with caddie Michael Greller after chipping in for birdie from a bunker on the 18th green to win the 2017 Travelers Championship in a playoff.

T

hat old adage doesn’t exactly ring true in the modern professional game. Caddies have become an indispensable part of every professional golfer’s arsenal.

As I pen this piece on the way up to host the annual Asian Tour Caddy Awards dinner in Kuala Lumpur, I can’t help but remember a man who was a huge part of my short-lived professional career.

Anyone could loop a bag or rake a bunker; but a truly great caddy knows exactly how to get the best out of his man.

I had a fantastic caddy named Bob during my playing days. A heavyset gent of 100kg, good old Bob somehow managed to lug my 20kg bag around with consummate ease, often getting to my ball well before me. All the while smoking two packs of cigarettes a round.

A man of few words, Bob knew my golf game so well he’d give me an extra club when I was swinging like a drunkard in a pub brawl just so my yardages would match up. He’d line me

72 HK GOLFER | APR 2019

up for less break on left to right sliding putts when I was pulling everything in sight. Bob knew me better than I seemed to know myself.

He never grumbled about anything and never once did I blame him for a shot gone awry.

Strangely enough our biggest misses came when I’d unexpectedly hit one dead solid perfect when he’d given me an extra club expecting me to slap it like a mid-handicapper.

We’d just watch the ball sail over the green, throw each other an incredulous look and laugh it off.

“You too good boss,” he’d chuckle.

“I’m not this good often enough,” I’d retort.

Professional golf is a hard way to make an easy living. I’m just grateful I had someone to share the journey with, someone who kept me sane, kept me motivated, kept me going. So, this one goes out to all the caddies out there.

This one’s for my friend, my caddy, my Bob.

HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION

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