HK Golfer - August 2019

HK GOLFER AUGUST 2019

SOPHIE’S CHOICE / THE ULTIMATE AUGUST / GARY PL AYER THE PRIDE OF THE MÉDOC / GOLF GURU / ARABIAN SIGHTS

LETTER FROM THE HKGA

A

s I move towards the end of my current tenure as President of the Hong Kong Golf Association, I am overwhelmingly delighted about the incredible performances of our Hong Kong players throughout the month of July.

Congratulations are due to many: Arianna Lau for finishing tied 2nd in the 11-12 girls age group at the FCG International Championship in San Diego; Charlene Chung and Joon Ho Kim for both finishing in the top 10 of their respective categories at the FCG Callaway Junior World Championship; Leo Wong and Jasmine Chee for both finishing first 1st in their age groups, and Alex Zhuo who made third place at the Zhang Lianwei Cup International Junior Golf Macau Open Championship In mid-July, the celebrations continued as our National Team player Taichi Kho finished in 5th place at the 72nd Singapore Open Amateur Championship.

Meanwhile, National Team member Leon D’Souza was named two-time NJCAA DII Men’s Golf All-American, two-time ACCAC Player of the Year, and the 2019 NJCAA Region I Player of the Year.

In the ladies’ game, Mimi Ho took the Championship title at the Vietnam Ladies Amateur Open in early July, whilst her compatriot Stephanie Ho beat a strong field of amateur golfers from Hong Kong and across the region to clinch the Esprit Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur Championship title at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club. Stephanie finished with a brilliant 69 and received an exemption from the Hong Kong Golf Club into next year’s EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open to take on the pros.

Last but not least, Sophie Han took home a bronze medal for Hong Kong at the 2nd China National Youth Games (see cover story).

My final note of gratitude must go to our coaches Ducky Tang and Tim Tang, Gary Gilchrist and his team, and CEO of the HKGA Danny Lai for all of their ongoing support and efforts in helping to make our players so successful.

I also extend my thanks to all members of the Executive Committee, the Sub-Committee and all of the staff at the HKGA office.

2 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

YOSHIHIRO NISHI President, HKGA

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

2

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

8

HKGA HAPPENINGS Stephanie Ho beat a strong field of amateur golfers from Hong Kong and across the region to clinch the Esprit Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur Championship title at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in July.

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THE 852: STILL FLYING THE BAUHINIA

HK Golfer talks to Hong Kong international player Mimi Ho, who recently won the Vietnam Ladies Amateur Open championship.

12

COACH TALK

Grant B alcke, Direc tor of Training at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, and an advisory to the Hong Kong National Team, shares his advice for players looking to improve their pitching skills.

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GLOBAL GLANCE: HUNGRY LIKE A WOLFF

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ON THE COVER: SOPHIE’S CHOICE At the 2nd China National Youth Games in late June, Sophie Han took home a bronze medal for the Hong Kong team. The 12 year-old continues to make waves as she continues on her quest for more victories.

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THE GOLF GURU Expert tips for The Senior Player, The High Handicapper, and The Pro.

ADVENTURE: ARABIAN SIGHTS Jordan, a land ensconced by some of the world’s most notorious boundaries. Alexandra Hamlyn ve nture s into th e co untr y ’s beautiful and varied terrain to explore the ancient city of Petra, Bedouin camps, the Red Sea and the sandy dunes of Wadi Rum’s desert wilderness.

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GEAR UP

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THE VIEW: THE PRIDE OF THE MÉDOC

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LIVE UNDER PAR: THE ULTIMATE AUGUST

It’s being billed as ‘Ultimate August’, with an eye-popping US$15 million awaiting the new FedExCup champion.

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THE TOUR: NEW NAME, SAME TRADITION No one in golf history persevered and worked his way up through the ranks quite like the iconic Ben Hogan, so his passion for the developmental tour that the PGA TOUR introduced in 1990 brought instant credibility.

The Golf du Médoc Resort is a must-visit destination combining golf, gastronomy, wine tasting and relaxation close to Bordeaux.

With two international golf courses ranked among the 10 Best Golf Resorts in Continental Europe and Best Golf Courses in France, these two competition courses also regularly host international tournaments.

HK Golfer talks to Gary Player, golf’s most successful Major winnerturned-businessman.

THE TABLE: A TASTE OF MID-AUTUMN Mooncakes have long been a much-loved highlight of Hong Kong’s Mid- Autumn Fes tival celebrations, with many connoisseurs agreeing there is no substitute for those conjured up by The Peninsula’s Michelin-starred, Cantonese fine-dining restaurant Spring Moon,

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EARTH MATTERS: A PLANETARY MISSION

RECOVERY: APPEALING HEALING

LEGEND TALK: HAIL THE BLACK KNIGHT

ASIA ACTION: DASHING DEBUTANTS

64

52

30

14

4 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

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Whilst hours spent on the green can do a world of good for your handicap, it can also come with some less positive effects… like golfer’s elbow, back and shoulder pain, and wrist tendonitis, to name just a few of the most common golfing injuries. HK Golfer rounds up five of the best treatments available in Hong Kong to get you back to peak fitness.

For Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, the world was like a living laboratory. Beginning in the 1930s, he sent his watches to some of the most extreme locations on the planet, on the wrists of explorers who ventured into the unknown.

But the world has changed. As the 21st century continues to unfold, exploration for pure discovery has given way to exploration as a means to preserve the natural world.

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THE NINETEENTH: STOP TOUCHING MY BALLS!

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

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!

Chuah Choo Chiang

Calvin Koh

Timothy Low

Jason Kwok

Jim McCabe

Calvin heads the press operations and media partnership for the Asian Tour and has over a decade of experience in sports PR and communications.

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

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.

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6 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

HKGA

HAPPENINGS

by Louie Chan / Images: Wun Suen . iD8 Works

Stephanie Ho, the top amateur golfer turned pop singer, beat a strong field of amateur golfers from Hong Kong and across the region to clinch the Esprit Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur Championship title at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in July.

The Esprit Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur Championship saw Mimi Ho, fresh from her victory at the Vietnam Ladies Amateur Open Championship a week earlier, sharing the lead with Stephanie Ho after the first two rounds. Both players had the same score (73-72) at a total of 145. The weather and course conditions during the first round presented significant challenges for the whole f ield with heav y showers and thunderstorm in the afternoon.

The co-leaders started the final round with a 5-stroke cushion over Vanessa Bouvet from France and Hong Kong’s Queenie Lai. Stephanie Ho finished with a brilliant 69 under the hot and humid condition to claim the title, her second trophy after winning the Hong Kong Ladies Close Amateur Championship at the beginning of 2018. Bouvet’s 68 was the best score of the final round, and she finished second overall with a total of 218. Mimi Ho unfortunately lost her touch and finished third with a final round 76.

Stephanie Ho topped an international field that included more than 77 amateur golfers from 7 different countries. By winning the national Ladies Open Amateur Championship, Ho will receive an exemption from the Hong Kong Golf Club into next year’s EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open to take on the pros.

Ho also won the Open Mid-Amateur Championship Division 1 title for players aged over 25, while Hong Kong’s Nammy Dun was the Division 2 Champion.

Leading final scores (Open): 214 – Stephanie Ho (HKG) 73 72 69; 218 – Vanessa Bouvet (FRA) 78 72 68; 221 – Mimi Ho (HKG) 73 72 76; 222 – Queenie Lai 75 75 72; 222 – Jasmine Chee (HKG) 78 76 75; 229 8 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

Leading final scores (Mid Amateur Division I): 214 – Stephanie Ho (HKG) 73 72 69; 240 – Felica Louey (HKG) 79 78 83; 245 – Teng Xia (CHI) 89 79 77; 245 Leading final scores (Mid Amateur Division II): 235 – Nammy Dun (HKG) 81 77 77; 240 – Chia Siang Pio (SG) 79 80 81; 242 – Cora Tsang (HKG) 81 77 84; 242 Meanwhile, Hong Kong national team member Leon D’Souza was named two-time NJCAA DII Men’s Golf All-American, two-time ACCAC Player of the Year, and the 2019 NJCAA Region I Player of the Year. D’Souza captured four individual ACCAC titles throughout his time at South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, U.S. D’Souza, a 2019 graduate from South Mountain with an Associate Degree in Business, became the first individual backto-back NJCAA DII Men’s Golf Champion since 1993 and led his team to charge to the national title in 2019.

“I am honoured to receive this prestigious award in my final year as a junior college player,” stated D’Souza. “This award means a great deal to me as it is a culmination of all the hard work that has been put in by myself, coach Puetz, and the rest of the guys on the SMCC Men’s golf team. To come in as an international student and to have been given the opportunity to win such an award has been great, but to actually win the award is truly unbelievable. It has been three semesters of college golf that I will always remember and cherish.”

Stephanie Ho

THE 852

STILL

FLYING THE

BAUHINIA

by Louie Chan / Image: Duy Duong - Golfnews.vn

HK Golfer talks to Hong Kong international player Mimi Ho, who recently won the Vietnam Ladies Amateur Open championship.

HK Golfer: Congratulations on your win. Can you summarise your performance?

Mimi Ho: I had such an enjoyable experience playing the tournament, and especially bringing some hardware home after a fun week! I was extremely pleased with my performance in Vietnam, as it has been a while since I have won a tournament, and an overseas tournament at that. I came out of the gate a little lacking, shooting 75 (+3), three behind the leader. With some solid reflection after the 1st round, I was able to muster up a 67 in the 2nd round, leading by four into the final round. On the final day, I shot two-under on the front nine, dropped one shot on the back nine, but was able to make my up-and-down on the last hole to remain at one-under.

I am thrilled that I still have it in me to produce an under-par score, especially playing among very talented and younger players.

What I take away from this event is the camaraderie, fantastic sportsmanship and competitiveness that was displayed during the week in Vietnam. Moments and experiences like these make me fall even more in love with the game.

I also learned a lot from my fellow competitors during the tournament, and I was thankful that I had such good company and

10 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

support from my Hong Kong teammates (Stephanie Ho, Jasmine Chee, Humphrey Wong, Christopher Cheng, Stuart McKinnon and Leonard Ho).

HKG: KN Golf Links, the hosting venue, is an excellent links course designed by Greg Norman. What was your overall impression of the course and how was it set up for the tournament?

MH: The course was in spectacular shape, the links design and gusting winds made the playing experience very interesting. I haven’t had much experience playing links courses, but I was well prepared for the windy conditions after playing at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Golf Championship in Japan back in April.

KN Golf Links is a course that you learn to keep the ball low and be smart with where you want the ball to end up on the green.

The course is undulating and so are the greens, so it is essential to not short-side yourself when attacking the greens. It’s also best to sharpen those distances within 120 yards, as the shorter holes are just begging for you to score a low number. I love how the course was set up for the Championship - there were some longer holes and interesting pin positions that required some strategising, but overall, it was fair and scorable for most holes.

Mimi Ho with the Vietnam Ladies Amateur Open Championship trophy

HKG: You have become the Assistant Coach for the California State University women’s golf team after a successful playing career. Is this a common path for an NCAA female golfer?

MH: I wouldn’t necessarily say that the path I have chosen is common. I have always wanted to pursue a career in education.

I have completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development and I took on the opportunity of the optional practical training (OPT) year in the hope of staying in California the year after graduating to gain more experience in my field study.

But before I started to look for job opportunities relating to education, just days after my graduation, I received a call from my Head Coach at Fresno State. She was looking for an assistant for the upcoming season, and I jumped on that opportunity immediately.

I had such respect for her during my years playing for her. I suppose I am still living up to my dream of being an educator, although I deal with young adults now instead of primary school kids.

HKG: Your current job allows you to maintain your amateur status and play for the Hong Kong National team. How do you plan to balance working in the States and playing for Hong Kong?

MH: For the past year, I have been able to maintain that balance,

partly due to the fact that I have a supportive and understanding boss. With smart scheduling, I can still be away from the golf team briefly even during the season. For example, I was able to represent Hong Kong in the 2019 Queen Sirikit Cup held in Glenelg, Australia back in March, but I had to fly back to the States immediately afterwards to join my team for a collegiate competition in Arizona. To keep my game sharp, I finish my workdays at Fresno practising on the course, after assisting daily team practices. I have now learned the importance of quality practice as I no longer have the luxury of the time I had during my four years as a student athlete.

HKG: What’s your plan for the rest of 2019? How many more tournaments will you play both in Hong Kong and overseas?

MH: I will be continuing my role as the assistant coach to the Fresno State golf team and begin my pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration. It is such an honour to represent Hong Kong, and I hope to play as many events as I possibly can.

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 11

COACH TALK

PITCH WITH

PURPOSE

by Grant Balcke / Images: Paula Vega

12 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

Grant Balcke, Director of Training at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, and an advisory to the Hong Kong National Team, shares his advice for players looking to improve their pitching skills.

I

mproving your pitching is all about practicing with a purpose and having a he i g ht e ne d u nd e r s t a nd i n g of controlling the distance of the flight and roll of the ball. In order to do this, we must ensure that we are not aimlessly working on the same shot over and over this would be blocked practice.

In order to ma ke the fastest improvements and manage expectations we must randomise the practice to gain a full understanding on changing the length and speed of the swing or changing clubs to change the distance in the flight, roll and total distance of the shot.

1 Place piles of 5 balls in increments of 5 yards from the front of the green (5 yards, 10 yards, 15 yards, 20 yards, 25 yards).

2 H it shots starting at 5 yards and working back 5 yards each shot with full routine.

3 Once all 25 balls are complete - assess your strongest yardage (possible lay up) a nd wea kest (a rea of needed improvement) and create your practice and game plan around this.

Starting at 5 yards from the green with 5 balls. Hit 1 ball and then move back 5 yards.

Using a similar technique to adjust the length and speed of the swing to match the distance, ensure that your rehearsal swing matches the length of the shot at hand.

Hit each shot with full routine and the same intensity that you would face in tournament conditions.

Complete all 25 balls, work out the strengths and weaknesses, and create a plan for improvement!

ABOUT GRANT BALCKE Grant joined the GGGA team in the fall of 2013, bringing a great deal of knowledge and experience to the Academy and Elite Junior Development Business. He started his professional coaching career at the acclaimed National Golf Club in Melbourne as a part of the Australian PGA Education system. After two years, he moved to South East Asia to become the Junior Development Manager and eventually the owner of the Asian Golf Institute based at the Keppel Club in Singapore, remaining there for six years coaching players of all levels. Gilchrist, Balcke and a team of coaches now works closely w it h t he Hon g K on g Nat ion a l Tea m to implement a system of training specifically developed for the environment in Hong Kong that will be the foundation for player development for decades to come.

Prior to turning professiona l, Grant enjoyed a successful junior and amateur career and played NCA A DI golf at the University of Southern Mississippi.

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 13

ASIA ACTION DASHING DEBUTANTS Five A sian Tour members made their Major debuts in The 148th Open at the Royal Portrush. A merica n Kurt Kitayama, Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, Australia’s Jake McLeod, Korea’s Doyeob Mun and Japan’s Asaji Yosuke were part of the world-class field vying for one of golf ’s most iconic trophies - The Claret Jug. K itayama f irst broke into the scene on the Asian Tour by finishing tied-third at Qualifying School to earn his Asian Tour card in his very first attempt last year and has since seen his fortunes soar. He received a special Invitation to the PGA Championship in May where he made the weekend cut to finish tied64th. “I got to play my first Major this year at Bethpage and playing another one is awesome,” said Kitayama.

Asian Tour 14 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

Kurt Kitayama

GLOBAL GLANCE HUNGRY LIKE A WOLFF Matthew Wolff, a 20 yearold with a wacky swing, wasn’t even around for Tiger Woods’ first Major win. He won the 3M Open, a real, full-field PGA Tour event just three weeks after turning pro. It’s an exception, but it might become a trend.

There’s no question that Wolff’s almost instant win is extremely rare in the modern era of the sport. Over the last 80 years, only Jordan Spieth has won a PGA Tour event at a younger age, but Spieth’s win came several months into his first season on The Tour. Wolff ’s easy to root for, fun, insanely skilled and far from a one-trick wonder.

He i s u nque st ion ably a complete player with the pedigree and the potential to win multiple Majors.

Getty Images 16 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

Matthew Wolff at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, Minnesota

ON THE COVER

SOPHIE’S

CHOICE

by Ann Tsang

At the 2nd China National Youth Games held at Nanshan Golf Club in Shandong in late June, Sophie Han took home a bronze medal for the Hong Kong team. The 12 year-old continues to make waves as she continues on her quest for more victories.

Image: Courtesy of Annika Invitational at Mission Hills 18 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

MY DRIVE IS STRONG, MENTALLY, I AM VERY FOCUSED, AND I AM ABLE TO HANDLE PRESSURE.

It’s a late July evening in Miami, and like most other kids of her age, Sophie Han is still up and about. The difference is that this is not a summer vacation. The 12 year-old who won a bronze medal for Hong Kong at the 2nd China National Youth Games back in late-June is preparing to play at the Optimist Junior Golf Championship, one of the largest and well-renowned junior golf tournaments in the world.

As I write this article on July 21, the concluding day of the Optimist Championship, I’m surfing from leaderboard to leaderboard, as this weekend as we all know, most interest is focused on what’s happening at Royal Portrush, but now I must conclude this article later today as Han is sitting in 1st place after two rounds at 4-under with first and second round scores of 68 and 72, six strokes ahead of Thai Chutimon Rujiranan.

Hang on dear readers, as this mother of an athlete herself, bites her nails, and as they say in Hong Kong, Sophie “adds oil”…

Sophie Han learned to ride a bike (without stabilisers) and to roller-skate (unassisted) at the tender age of two. Not so long afterwards, she started to play badminton, tennis and basketball. “She has always shown talent in sports,” says her father Benny. “Having played golf myself for 19 years myself, I took her along to the course one day when she was six, and since then she hasn’t looked back, although I did leave it up to her as to which sport she might want to pursue.”

And so golf became Sophie’s choice. Why? I ask her. “I didn’t find team sports challenging enough. I was attracted by the different situations that golf as an individual sport presented – the varying weather conditions, the vastly diverse nature of each course, and knowing that it is only you who is in control of your game.” Rather mature words for a pre-teen.

With scores of 77-71-7I at the 2nd China Youth Games, which earned her the bronze medal, Han admits to suffering from nerves on the first day. “I really didn’t play that well on day one, but over the following two days, I overcame that and played to win. Even though I didn’t win, to take home the bronze (medal) made me very happy, both for myself, and for Hong Kong.”

20 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

Asked what she feels is the strongest part of her game, Han speaks confidently. “My drive is strong, mentally, I am very focused, and I am able to handle pressure.”

Now playing an average of 20 tournaments a year, Han appears to be in it for the long run, although one must bear in mind that potential body changes are imminent and the hormonal issues that accompany that could potentially come into effect – let’s face it, biology waits for no man or woman, as particularly evident in the sport of gymnastics, where sports careers are curtailed early.

Related to the aforementioned subject, I enquire about her diet. “I don’t really need to care about that too much at the moment, but I do realise that as I grow, I need to focus on building up my muscle strength, which obviously requires more protein intake,” says Han. “As far as my fitness is concerned, I do go to the gym twice a week, but I don’t lift weights: I spend most of the time stretching in order to improve my overall flexibility.”

My next question is a very obvious one, and the answer is equally as predictable.

“Who is your idol, the golfer you look up to the most?”

Answer: “Tiger Woods.” It’s the prevailing response of most young golfers.

We move on to the subject of Han’s long-term ambition, even though she is still only 12. Next semester, she will begin grade 7 at an international school in Guangzhou, which will enable her to continue her education and pursue her golf career side-by-side.

“Of course, my biggest dream is to turn professional,” says the youngster. “But education is also important, so I will work hard to obtain a golf scholarship for either Stanford or Duke University.”

Now back to the course in Miami, and an impressive final round score of a 7-under 69 took young Sophie to a Championship victory, trouncing both Rujiranan and third placed American Alexis Faieta. Now definitely one to watch, it appears that Sophie’s choice was indeed a solid one.

WHAT’S IN MY BAG: SOPHIE HAN DRIVER: Ping G410 Loft 10.5 Degrees, Shaft Tensei Shaft Type Orange 60 R 5 FAIRWAY WOOD: Ping G410 Loft 17.5 Degree, Shaft Tensei Shaft Type Orange 70 R 4-6 IRON: 4-6 Titleist AP2 7-PW IRONS: Titleist MB, Shaft Steel NS pro 950R WEDGES: 52°, 56°, 60°, Titleist SM7 Shaft NS pro 950R PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Model Newport 2 BALLS: Titleist Pro V1

Image: Courtesy of GD Junior Golf Tour

LIVE UNDER PAR

Tiger Woods has won the FedEx Cup twice in 2007 and 2009 22 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

THE

ULTIMATE

AUGUST

by Chuah Choo Chiang / Images: Getty Images

It’s being billed as ‘Ultimate August’, with an eye-popping US$15 million awaiting the new FedExCup champion. Strike it hot and hit top form over the next four weeks and the bounty could well swell to a staggering US$18 million.

W

elcome to the conclusion of PGA TOUR’s 201819 Season where every stroke matters and every missed shot could mean disaster. The stars of the game know they have everything to play for as one of the richest prizes and accolades in sports await the FedExCup champion.

Four tournaments remain out of the 46 which have seen the Tour’s bandwagon traversing the United States, Latin America, and all the way to Asia over the past 11 months before the curtain comes down on another epic season which has celebrated new stars and heralded milestone moments.

First up, the Wyndham Championship will help conclude the Regular Season in the first week of August and the player who finishes on top of the Points List will pocket US$2 million as part of a new US$10 million bonus scheme introduced via the Wyndham Rewards Top 10.

The top 125 golfers will then qualify for The Northern Trust, the first event of the FedExcup playoffs, 70 will get through to the BMW Championship and the Playoffs Finale, and the TOUR Championship will feature the best 30 and use a stroke-based system (see below) to decide the 2019 FedExCup champion.

Amazingly, this season’s payout will be US$5 million more than what England’s Justin Rose picked up a s t he 2018 FedExCup winner, thanks to a cash boost from FedEx who topped up the overall bonus pool by US$25 million to US$60 million.

Golf, as we know it, is a game of inches, and with every shot counting as the season heads to its climax, someone like World No. 1 Brooks Koepka may end up laughing all the way to the bank when the dust settles.

At the time of writing, Koepka sits in second place in the Wyndham Rewards and FedExCup points list and he is also

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 23

OBVIOUSLY THERE’S A LOT TO PLAY FOR. EVERY YEAR, THE FEDEXCUP GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER, AND IT’S MORE OF A TARGET ON ALL THE GUYS’ RADARS. THERE’S A LOT TO PLAY FOR IN AUGUST. RORY MCILROY

in the hunt for another US$1 million to be awarded to the winner of the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, another new and innovative competition that highlights golf ’s best strategic decision-makers. He currently ties first in this season-long competition.

Koepka, a two-time winner following wins at The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges in South Korea and the PGA Championship this season, is geared up for a strong push in the Playoffs. “All that stuff is what you strive for,” he said. “That’s what we play for.”

Other glory hunters like Matt Kuchar, who has led the FedExCup points list for much of 2019 following triumphs at the Mayakoba Classic and the Sony Open in Hawaii, knows he can strike a big pay day should he maintain his rich vein of form. His strategy will be to stick to the proverbial “one shot at a time” routine.

“I do my best not to look and pay attention. I think I do a pretty good job of just trying to be as much in the moment as possible,” said the veteran.

W hy August has become the ultimate month in professional golf has very much been due to the vision of PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, who has advocated strategic changes to the Tour schedule and pushed for greater rewards to capture and expand the imagination of players, fans, TV and mobile viewers.

As previous FedExCup Champions include current greats such as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Vijay Singh, winning the seasonlong competition has grown into a priority for the new generation of golfers. In short, the FedExCup is now woven as part of the modern game fabric.

24 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

25 year-old Xander Schauffele encapsulates the importance of the Playoffs.

T he reigning WGC -HSBC Cha mpions a nd Sentr y Tournament of Champions winner said: “We have so much to play for - the Wyndham Rewards and FedExCup. Everything’s on the table. It’s just as big as a major championship. I’ll go to sleep thinking about those things.”

Rose, the first Englishman to taste FedExCup glory last year, added: “Obviously the Playoffs are all about volatility and bringing your game when you really, really need it. We’ve all bought in and love that concept.”

History will be made if McIlroy joins Woods as the only two-time winner of the FedExCup. He won The Players Championship and RBC Canadian Open this season and his big game temperament is set up well for the Playoffs.

“Obviously there’s a lot to play for. Every year, the FedExCup gets bigger and bigger, and it’s more of a target on all the guys’ radars. There’s a lot to play for in August,” he said.

Asia will have keen interest in the Playoffs with Korean rookie Sungjae Im currently being the highest ranked Asian on the Points List in 23rd position, followed by countryman Sung Kang two rungs below and Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama in 27th place.

Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan sits in 31st position, another Korean Si Woo Kim is 47th while Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat lies 67th.

Pan, who broke through for his first PGA Tour win in April, is determined to finally make it to the Tour Championship where Woods is defending his title. “It has been my goal for the past three years; it’s all I’m trying to do, get into the Tour Championship,” notes Pan. For many, getting into the Tour Championship could also mean winning the FedExCup.

Justin Rose with his FedEx Cup trophy in 2018

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 25

THE TOUR

NEW NAME

SAME TRADITION

by Jim McCabe / Images: Getty Images

You could quantify the financial backing of his company. But when his support was reinforced with a personal message, Ben Hogan’s words were considered by PGA TOUR officials to be priceless.

N

o one in golf histor y had persevered and worked his way up through the ranks quite like the iconic Ben Hogan, so his passion for this developmental tour that the PGA TOUR was introducing in 1990 brought instant credibility. “ S ome w he r e out t he r e to d ay i s a young man like I was, battling to stay in competition long enough to get a break,” said Hogan. “I want to help him.”

Those words were spoken nearly 30 years ago, but they resonate loudly and profoundly today and sit at the heart of Korn Ferry’s decision to sign a 10-year agreement to become umbrella sponsor of the PGA TOUR’s developmental tour.

“We’re excited to partner with the PGA Tour,” said Gary Burnison, CEO of Korn Ferry, a Los Angeles-based global organisational consulting firm.

“Our organisations are both all about talent - getting players and people to that next level and advancing their careers. People will never discover their full potential until they are provided with an abundance of opportunity. Korn Ferry and the Korn Ferry

Tour provide that opportunity.”

Surely, Hogan felt similarly when he gave his blessing to his equipment company to become the first umbrella sponsor. The Ben Hogan Tour debuted in February 1990, and if Hogan’s goals were to provide opportunity and help, you could say he succeeded to levels that even he may never have envisioned.

“It was kind of cool, very organised, nothing like the minitours,” said Mike Springer, a former University of Arizona standout who had status on the Ben Hogan Tour in 1990 and is notable for winning its first tournament. With rounds of 68-70-71 for 7-under 209, Springer earned US$20,000 in winning the Ben Hogan Bakersfield Open in early February of that year, beating notable competitors who would be future PGA Tour names such as David Toms, Olin Browne, Brandel Chamblee, Marco Dawson and Dennis Paulson.

Hogan surely approved of the Tour’s success, which was substantial. Before his death in late July 1997, Hogan had already been afforded a glimpse of why this PGA Tour concept had quickly come to fruition.

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 27

Mike Springer

Between 1991 and July 1997, 23 different graduates of the developmental tour had won a total of 36 PGA Tour tournaments, including five major Championships (John Daly, the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 Open Championship; Ernie Els the 1994 and 1997 U.S. Opens; and Tom Lehman the 1996 Open Championship as well as the 1996 Tour Championship).

An immediate hit as a proving ground when launched 30 years ago, the Ben Hogan Tour - which later transitioned into the Nike Tour, then the Buy.com Tour, the Nationwide Tour, and the Web.com Tour before Korn Ferry became the umbrella sponsor - can be considered where good golfers go to blossom into great talents, a pathway that impressed Hogan, a man not easily swayed.

“I wish there had been a similar opportunity when I was starting out,” Hogan told reporters. “Maybe my career would have gotten off to a faster start.”

Years later, world-class players can commiserate with the hard road Hogan travelled. Tony Finau, for instance.

A PGA Tour winner who went into this summer’s Open Championship ranked 16th in the world, Finau doesn’t hesitate to remind folks that he “played seven years on the minitours; I know what it’s like trying to make it.”

Which is why, when he finally landed on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2014, Finau embraced the opportunity. He knew he had a chance to hone his game, to learn how to travel, 28 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

to engrain into his practice routine a ritual that could help him graduate seamlessly to the PGA Tour. With a Korn Ferry Tour win and four other Top 10 finishes in 2014, Finau earned rookieyear status on the PGA Tour for 2014-15.

Five years and much success on the PGA Tour have not spoiled Finau’s lofty perspective. He cherishes the opportunity that the Korn Ferry Tour provided him, and he is invested through his own foundation to support a tournament in his native Utah. Like Hogan, Finau feels there is a crucial need for a developmental tour, and he applauds Korn Ferry for aligning behind it.

“It really is impressive, this 10-year deal,” said Finau.

Peter Malnati is another who owes his PGA Tour career to the Korn Ferry Tour - with three different graduations, in fact after experiencing the turbulent and unsettled world of minitour golf. “For four-and-a-half years, I had no membership, no status anywhere,” said Malnati, “so it was always my goal every year to get to the (Korn Ferry) Tour.”

Across parts of seven seasons that included 50 Korn Ferry Tour tournaments, Malnati won twice and concedes he got plenty of time to learn where his game needed improvements.

“I always thought the (Korn Ferry Tour) was a stepping stone,” he said. “Now, to know that that stepping stone has security for 10 years and continues to grow and drive new players is great for people who want to do this for a living.”

From a vantage point that stretches all the way to that debut

PGA Tour star Tony Finau cherishes the opportunity that the Korn Ferry Tour provided him

season of 1990, Springer offers great praise for an idea that surely flourished. He remembers how you made it onto the PGA Tour pre-1990 - through an annual Qualifying Tournament that was built around three stages and a final challenge of six rounds.

“Trouble is,” said Springer, “you had to be playing well in October and November. You needed all the pieces together at the time, or else you were gone, and you’d have nowhere to play.”

That was Springer in the fall of 1988, and he doesn’t mince words. “I was devastated,” he said.

He was also left to search for whatever minitour he could find and to travel the country in search of tournaments such as the Bogey Hills Invitational at Bogey Hills CC in St. Charles, Missouri. (Springer was T4, good for US$9,000 in 1989).

Hardly a glamorous lifestyle, but Springer said that the Ben Hogan Tour in 1990 offered an option that aspiring pros loved. “You had all year to prove yourself, 25 to 30 weeks,” said Springer, who was one of five players from that first class of Ben Hogan Tour players to earn PGA Tour cards for 1991. The others were Jeff Maggert, Jim McGovern, Ed Humenik and Dick Mast.

If you feel a sense of pride in Springer’s voice, it’s for good reason. He rode off that developmental tour and had a productive 10-year career on the PGA Tour, the highlight being a pair of wins in 1994. Maggert (three) and McGovern (one) also won the PGA Tour, while Humenik (six full seasons) and Mast (350 starts) were on the landscape for quite a while.

Then, pointing to a few of the names who were involved in the early years of the Korn Ferry Tour - Lehman, Daly, Els, Steve Lowery, Tim Herron, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Bruce Fleisher, Mike Heinen, and Willie Wood - Springer turns the spotlight on the PGA Tour.

“I feel they’ve done an excellent job developing the (Korn Ferry) Tour. It’s a great thing for young players.”

30 years in and the testament to the staying power and value of the Korn Ferry Tour is overwhelming. PGA Tour tournaments won by players who honed their game on the Korn Ferry Tour number an astounding 530, the roll call being a virtual Who’s Who of world-class names: Bubba Watson, Jason Day, Gary Woodland, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Billy Horschel, Patrick Cantlay, Marc Leishman, Bryson DeChambeau, Jimmy Walker, Jason Dufner and Kevin Kisner.

Likely, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan had names like those in mind when he praised Korn Ferry for “collaborating with a Tour that has proven to identify the next generation of PGA Tour talent over the last 30 years.”

It was, added the commissioner, “a significant day for the long-term health of the PGA Tour.”

“We welcome Korn Ferry to the PGA Tour family,” he said.

“Our thanks to Gary Burnison and his team for a partnership that will promote Korn Ferry’s mission of helping people and organisations to exceed their potential.”

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 29

LEGEND TALK FEATURE

HAIL THE

BLACK KNIGHT

by Louie Chan

HK Golfer talked to Gary Player, golf’s most successful Major winnerturned-businessman, when the Berenberg Gary Player Invitational took place at Wentworth, England in late July.

HK Golfer: The Player Foundation has raised an incredible amount of money for charity, more than US$64 million over the years. Can you tell us about how this money makes a difference in the lives of young people?

Gary Player: Well it has been interesting and very enjoyable for me. It’s not easy at my age in the latter part of my life to travel to all these countries and raise that amount of money, but we are helping young people that are not as fortunate as we are with a number of projects. The Berenberg Bank sponsorship has been just unbelievable. In London, it has helped us to build the Depaul home for young people experiencing homelessness, who are turning their lives around, becoming doctors and lawyers after sleeping on the streets; it’s quite remarkable. In South Africa, we’ve built two schools which is really rewarding to see; people without the opportunity to have had an education are now going out into the world and excelling. The support we have provided has given people a place in the sun. Having been very poor as a young person, it gives you an even deeper appreciation. Few people in the world have 30 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

the same luxuries that we do, and we often tend to easily to forget that.

HKG: In turn The Berenberg Gary Player Invitational has been supported by male and female golfers from around the world.

What does that support mean to you?

GP: I think golfers are very interested in helping charities. Most of the golfers have a charity of their own. And, if I may say, this started in 1965 when I won the U.S. Open.

I was the first golfer at that time to give my entire winnings back to cancer research as my mother died of cancer, and also to junior golf. Since then, it has been a continuous thing that’s being done by all golfers and I’m very proud of the way that they have really helped people along the way. Golf is a magnificent sport and it’s a great catalyst for raising money because the average man can play golf with pros, but he can’t go out and play rugby with pros, for example.

HKG: Do you think you have inspired other golfers to look at the charitable impact they could make? And what do you think golfers could do more of to help?

GP: I don’t want to take too much credit.

Gary Player gave his entire winnings back to cancer research after winning the U.S. Open in 1965

Gary Player still swings his golf club as good as any other pro at the ripe old age of 84

32 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

WHEN I WAS PLAYING IN A TOURNAMENT, I NEVER EVER GAVE UP BECAUSE I FELT THAT WASN’T THE RIGHT THING TO DO. EVEN IF I WAS GOING TO FINISH LAST, I’D RATHER TRY AND FINISH SECOND LAST.

Obviously, it’s their enthusiasm that makes them do it and they realise that they have a debt to society. And I think that it’s going to continue even more so into the future. The young people, they’re making so much money. When I think back to my first Open win at Muirfield, I won a thousand pounds, but that was in 1959. I don’t know what that would be today, but certainly a substantial amount of money, and these youngsters are making so much more.

HKG: What does the support of Berenberg mean to you?

GP: Well, without Berenberg, we wouldn’t really have had the success that we have had. They have been a very outstanding sponsor of this event. As has Rolex, which has probably done more than any other company that I can think of for golf and sport.

Between those two sponsors, we have been very fortunate because if you don’t have sponsors today you simply cannot reach the heights that you would like to.

HKG: Can you briefly summarise up what The Berenberg Gary Player Invitational means to you?

GP: Changing the lives of people, contributing to society, and camaraderie.

HKG: Following very closely behind your event is the Women’s British Open. As a massive advocate of women’s golf, would you support calls for equal pay for the women’s game?

GP: Yes, I would. I admire the example of tennis. It’s marvellous to see that they have reached equal pay status. I watched the Netherlands playing Sweden in the Women’s World Cup; those ladies played so well and, if you look at the galleries, the attendance, and the coverage, that clearly shows that the demand is there. These young ladies train hard and they travel around the world. They also have big expenses and they are providing such a strong example for young people everywhere. They deserve it.

HKG: There’s a trend of golfers becoming more health-conscious, but particularly more muscular. Do you think they’ve gone overboard?

GP: I think they have under done it, if anything. I’ve been ridiculed about doing weight training. Even today, I still push 300 pounds with my legs. I run the treadmill at max. And I used to do thousands of sit-ups, planks and crunches a week. That’s why even at 84, I can still beat my age by 10 or 12 shots every time I play. It’s living proof. Rory McIlroy deadlifts 250 pounds or more. Look at what Koepka is doing with heavy weight training and we can see evidence of that in his form. We’ve heard continuously from the media that weight training is bad for golf. But let’s take Tiger Woods as another example. When he played his very best, he was extremely pumped up. These guys are real athletes now and they have realised that they have to do weight training and stretching and also eat properly.

HKG: How have you managed that longevity that no one else really has?

GP: Well, as I already said, you’ve got to eat well. The other thing is that you have to sleep. I’m also blessed that I have a great marriage; I’ve been married for 62 years and I’ve been with my wife for 70 years. We have a large family: six children, 22 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. So, there are a lot of things that contribute to longevity. You also need to work on your mind. If you look at the real superstars - Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Ben Hogan - they all had something that was different. In their mind, something was different. What is that thing? It’s called ‘It’. No psychiatrist or psychologist can tell you what that is. It’s God-given. It’s not even given, it’s actually on loan to you, and not on a permanent basis.

You take a guy like Tom Weiskopf, who was a better golfer than Nicklaus, but he only won one Major on the regular Tour and one on the Senior Tour. It’s not simply about swinging a club.

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 33

The Berenberg Gary Player Invitational has been supported by male and female golfers from around the world

HKG: How have you seen the business of golf change over your long career?

GP: Well the business of golf has changed, but one of the big mistakes that professional athletes make is thinking that they have a business acumen of sorts. If I had my life over again, I would really have studied and taken business to some degree. I think it’s very important for young professional athletes to understand that. The prize money in golf has also changed dramatically; the sponsorships, the charities, the crowds. Take The Open for example. This is the first time at the oldest of all the Major Championships where they sold out 45,000 tickets a day without even selling at the gates. This is just unheard of. So, everything has changed dramatically, but as Winston Churchill once said: “Change is the price of survival.”

HKG: So, you support change?

GP: Yes of course I support change. You can’t live in the past, you have to embrace the present.

HKG: Is there any one factor you think has been the key to your success?

GP: I think the faith that I have. It tells you when you’re doing things wrong. It tells you when you’re doing things right. It helps

34 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

you. Everybody has problems. I don’t know anybody on this planet that doesn’t have a problem. And if he doesn’t have it now, he’ll have it later on in life. But when you have faith, it helps you to adjust to everything. I know when I was playing in a tournament, I never ever gave up because I felt that wasn’t the right thing to do. Even if I was going to finish last, I’d rather try and finish second last. So, I think my faith has helped me and has been the great strength of my life, with my marriage, with my family, with my business. Faith and remembering that a great man is judged not by how he treats the higher echelon, but how he treats a lady who’s sweeping an airport or somebody in the street that doesn’t have anything.

HKG: What is your opinion on the government’s decision to take back some of the golf course at the Hong Kong Golf Club?

GP: It is so terribly sad when the world has so much pollution.

The issue is not so much a case of the golf course being taken away, which is sad because it plays a big ambassadorial role for Hong Kong with visitors from all over the world. Tourism is a massively important thing. But the world is becoming imbalanced between the factors that cause global warming and the nature which helps to reign it in. Here you have a golf course full of the most beautiful trees you have ever seen that are helping to fight pollution. Why take that away when it’s one of the greatest gifts to nature?

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© 2019 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. © 2019 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.

HONG KONG AND MACAU SOLE DISTRIBUTOR:

RC GOLF TRADING GROUP LIMITED

ADDRESS: FLAT A, 16/F, MAI WAH INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, 1-7 WAH SING STREET, KWAI CHUNG, NEW TERRITORIES, HONG KONG E-MAIL: INFO@RCGOLFTRADING.COM OFFICE: 2728-8708 FAX: 2728-8781

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GOLF GURU | PRO TIPS

HOW TO SET UP

A PROPER PRACTICE STATION

by Brad Schadewitz

A

i m a nd ba l l posit ion a re two critical components of setting up for a golf shot.

Early in my career I was very lucky to spend a lot of time with Ha ll of Fame instructor Jim Flick, who was one of my teaching mentors.

Jim always made a point to see a new student perform on the course to make an initial assessment. Barring that, he would have them hit a variety of shots at different targets. He did this to see if there was a correlation between a student’s aim and his swing flaws. Jim told me that the majority of his righthanded students aimed too far to the right (and vice versa for lefties). Poor aim was a major cause of countless swing problems and compensations.

The main culprit of incorrect aim is what is known as visual parallax.

Using a practice station is critical in overcoming visual parallax Visua l para lla x happens because when you are in your address position your eyes are now looking from the side of the ball instead of behind the ball and it distorts where your brain p erc eive s t he t a r g e t l i ne . A g re at way to train your brain to get more comfortable visua lising the correct target line is to use a practice station with an intermediate target out in front.

36 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

PRACTICE STATION FACE ON VIEW This is an image of the practice station that I like to use. There’s an alignment stick for my feet parallel with the target line, and another for my ball position. You can also see an alignment stick in front of the ball on the target line, representing my intermediate target.

PRACTICE STATION DOWN THE LINE VIEW My eyes are now focused behind the ball, instead of to the side of it, Focusing on the side causes visual parallax, which leads to incorrect aim.

WHY YOU NEED A PRACTICE STATION As you can see, I’m falling back and f lipping my hands over because I’ve aimed to far to the right. The fix could be a simple as the regular use of a practice station.

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 37

GOLF GURU | SENIOR PLAYERS

LEARN

TO MAKE YOUR

BEST SWING (NOT DUSTIN’S OR JUSTIN’S!)

38 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

by Jason Kwok

W

e are all amazed at the flexibility and power of the longest hitting players on the PGA Tour, but I see too many golf instructors and academies claiming that they can model your swing on one of these golfers.

In all my years of teaching, I’ve only had three students who could swing like a PGA Tour player. One was very athletic and came to me in his thirties, the other two started at seven and eleven years-old respectively, and have excellent tournament resumes. So my suggestion for the senior player is to learn a swing that your body can handle.

The key to making a powerful swing within your ability is having a steady head balance and good shoulder rotation. It’s best to first train your body motion in the gym, and then take it to the range and the course.

In the top image sequence, I am practicing my body motion with my hips against the wall (image 1). In order to maintain a steady head on the backswing, I feel my right buttock sliding to the left while my shoulders turn right (image 2).

As I start my downswing, my hips roll left without sliding (image 3). When my left buttock hits the wall, I push up to extend to finish (image 4).

In the bottom swing sequence, I try to make my body action very similar to my gym motion. With the help of a good instructor, find your best motion to create a powerful, consistent swing in the gym and take that to the practice tee and finally the course. Don’t try to copy athletes who are many years your junior and who spend the bulk of their time practicing and training. You’ll perform much better if your instructor can focus on getting the most out of your physical abilities and limitations instead of trying to mimic the positions of an elite athlete in his prime.

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 39

GOLF GURU | HIGH HANDICAPPERS

CROSS

HANDED CHIPPING

by James Stewart

C

hipping on tight grainy and sandy lies can be challenging at t i me s , I ’ve s e en m a ny players over the years struggle with their confidence around the greens.

I firmly believe this is because of the

40 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

type of lies we encounter in Asia. If you struggle (and I don’t like to call it the yips, more lack of confidence), then I would highly recommend that you try cross-handed chipping. Some of the top players including Vijay Singh and Peter

Senior often chip cross-handed when the lies are tight.

The concept is very much like crosshanded putting, so the key is to keep the left wrist from breaking down and causing a flinch. In the pictures below,

you will see that I address the ball more towards my back foot; the majority of my weight is on my left foot and I have a slight forward press. Then from here, like a normal chip, I rock my shoulders and hit down on the ball, with the cross-

handed grip. My left wrist doesn’t break down at impact, resulting in a much cleaner and more consistent strike. I’ve used this technique now for five years and it has really helped me around the greens, especially on those tight lies into

the grain. If you struggle with chipping, I would highly recommend trying this.

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 41

GEAR UP

RAIN PROOF

A champion at saving weight and space, KJUS’ Dextra rain gear for women is the lightest in its category on the market and can be folded down into its own pocket.

A hooded lifestyle version is also available for rainy adventures off the golf course.

D

extra for female golfers by KJUS is truly a champion at saving weight and space. With its ultra-lightweight and ultra-compact design that allows it to be folded down into its own pocket, Dextra raingear is perfect for female golfers to stow in their golf bag to ensure they never get caught out by a sudden downpour again.

This ultra-stretchable jacket is designed for maximum freedom of movement through the golf swing, while its 100% waterproof and breathable membrane, sealed seams and water repellent zippers keep the body climate comfortable even when activity levels rise.

The Dextra jackets come in a range of different golf-ready styles as well as a hooded lifestyle version. Available in solid and printed designs, golfers can opt for a low-key muted tone or choose to add a pop of colour to the fairways this season with ‘jalapeno red’. For those who want to take it up a notch in the style stakes, there is also a fresh floral print available that will brighten up any rainy day on the course.

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 43

THE VIEW

44 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

THE

PRIDE OF

THE MÉDOC

by Ann Tsang / Images courtesy of Golf du Médoc Resort

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 45

The Golf du Médoc Resort is a must-visit destination combining golf, gastronomy, wine tasting and relaxation close to Bordeaux. With two international golf courses ranked among the 10 Best Golf Resorts in Continental Europe and Best Golf Courses in France, these two competition courses, Les Châteaux and Les Vignes, also regularly host international tournaments.

C

reated in 1989 among the vineyards of the Médoc between Bordeaux and the spectacular beaches of the Atlantic coast, the Golf du Médoc Resort offers two remarkable 18-hole courses, aptly named Les Châteaux and Les Vignes respectively. Together, the courses boast 3.8 hectares of greens which are perfectly maintained throughout the course of the year.

Designed by prominent course architect, Bill Coore, the 7,192 yard, par-71 Châteaux Course paved the way in 1989 and was Coore’s third and most prominent solo design and his first and only European project.

Voted Best Golf Course in France for four consecutive years, from 2014 to 2018 by the World Golf Awards, and ranked among the 100 best golf courses in Continental Europe, the Châteaux course adheres to the purest tradition of the Scottish links courses - the wide fairways bordered by heather, gorse 46 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

and broom, carrying players through pure, unspoiled nature.

The quality of the greens, the effect of ocean winds and the technical richness of the course design combine to make this championship course a golfing challenge of the highest order.

1991 then saw the creation of the 6,820 yard, par-71 Vignes Course designed by Canadian Rod Whitman, who has designed and constructed highly acclaimed and nationally ranked golf courses in the United States, Europe, Asia and Canada, including the revered Cabot Links in Inverness, Nova Scotia.

The Vignes Course is embedded in a landscape typical of the Médoc region, where the aesthetics of the heath and the maritime pines fully enrich the architect’s design. The long pars punctuated by elaborate greens and judiciously placed obstacles demand thought and precision from the player. The great diversity of situations of play, the quality of the course

and the charm of its setting will unquestionably satisfy the needs of even the most demanding of golfers.

At the heart of the Golf du Médoc Resort sits the Training Centre, where Dominique Larretche and his team offer training courses and golf lessons in a space equipped with video rooms, short game zones, course layout practice areas, and a club fitting room, making for what is arguably one of the best facilities of its kind in France.

The four-star MGallery by Sofitel Hotel & Spa at the Resort opens onto the golf courses and offers exceptional views from both the private bedroom terraces and the restaurant.

All 79 rooms (25m²) and suites (50m²) feature contemporary décor, the coveted Sofitel ‘MyBed’ bed, and a bathroom with shower. Complimentary Wi-Fi and access to the Spa are included in the room and suite rates.

Nestled between two verdant patios, the Spa Con Mondes

& Wellness Centre facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool, a steam room, a cardio fitness room, and Medyjet massage.

The signature ‘Birdie’ massage is a speciality of the Spa and is performed using hot oil and golf balls, highly effective for relieving muscle tension and boosting energy.

In between rounds of golf, spa treatments and a relaxing night’s sleep, L e Club restaura nt of fers a selection of quality regional products accompanied by the best wines of the Médoc at generous prices, making your 19th hole a truly enjoyable local experience.

Given that we are in this specific part of the world, a visit is incomplete without visiting one of the 3,000 wine estates in the greater Bordeaux area.

Among its recommendations of ‘The Best Châteaux to Visit in Bordeaux’, winerist.com names the following as some of the most outstanding.

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 47

50 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

CHÂTEAU PAPE CLÉMENT Named after the 1299 Archbishop of Bordeaux, this Château is a Pessac estate celebrated for both its red and white wines. One of the oldest documented wine-producing estates in Bordeaux, the estate today celebrates its visitors with tours, unique workshop offerings and more.

CHÂTEAU LYNCH BAGES A 5th Growth estate, Lynch Bages is nonetheless one of the most widely known Medoc estates. Producing wines with richness and a powerfully spicy nose, these wines have become a perennial favourite. The small village of Bages boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant, a lovely bistro, an artisan bakery and quaint shops.

CHÂTEAU BEYCHEVELLE Beychevelle is every bit as gorgeous as you would expect a château in the heart of the St. Julien area of Bordeaux to be. The expansive gardens are reminiscent of those of Versailles, and the château itself houses a variety of delights for the wine connoisseur.

In addition, the Resort has no less that 36 Châteaux partners, each of them giving their name to a hole on one of the courses.

All in all, Golf du Médoc’s 36-hole Resort offers access to some of the finest golf and wine tours in the country. Only 20 minutes from the Bordeaux Merignac international airport, a visit to this golfers’ paradise on the wine road of South West of France is one to put on your bucket list...

Chemin de Courmateau - 33290 Le Pian Médoc T: +33 (0)5 56 70 31 31 E:contact@golfdumedocresort.com

AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 51

52 HK GOLFER | JUL AUG2019 2019

RECOVERY

APPEALING

HEALING

by Kate Farr and Rachel Read

Whilst hours spent on the green can do a world of good for your handicap, it can also come with some less positive effects… like golfer’s elbow, back and shoulder pain, and wrist tendonitis, to name just a few of the most common golfing injuries. Thankfully, these aches and pains can usually be swiftly alleviated with some professional help – so we’ve rounded up five of the best treatments available in Hong Kong to get you back to peak fitness.

SPORTS MASSAGE When deciding how to treat golf-related injuries, sports massage is probably the most obvious place to start. The Spa at Four Seasons Hong Kong’s Sports Recovery Massage promises to release deepseated tension in the body caused from playing sports, using a personalised combination of massage techniques to ease stiff muscles, stimulate circulation and restore flexibility.

“On ly senior t herapist s who have been t ra ined by physiotherapists for at least three years perform this treatment – they’re trained to target people’s specific aches and pains, so the treatment is always highly customised to our guests’ needs,” says Shoshana Weinberg, Four Seasons’ Senior Director of Spa AsiaPacific. The 90- or 120-minute massage is performed whilst lying on a special Biomat, which uses infrared heat and negative ions to further ease muscle and joint pain.

“The surface of the mat is covered in amethyst crystals, which naturally produce healthy Far Infrared Rays. These penetrate sixto-eight inches into the innermost recesses of the body, reducing stress and fatigue,” Weinberg explains. She recommends having the treatment before and after sporting activity, as it can help prevent the aches and pains that occur from using the same muscles repeatedly – whilst also relieving the stresses and anxieties that comes from everyday life.

8 Finance Street, Central +852 3196 8900 fourseasons.com/hongkong/spa AUG 2019 | HK GOLFER 53

CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Gillian Tsang – registered chiropractor at Central multidisciplinary clinic, Up!health – believes that caring for your spine is the key to sporting success. “Chiropractors assess and treat painful complaints arising from loss of normal movement and joint function of the spine. Adjustments to the spine stimulate the nervous system, restoring movement and function to the joints – ultimately relieving pain.”

Dr. Tsang agrees that golfing injuries often arise due to the sport’s repetitive nature, explaining that chiropractic is an effective way to treat spinal conditions without drugs or surgery. “The majority of golf injuries are due to overuse.

Lower back pain is a common complaint, as the swing phase involves forceful and repetitive spinal rotation, putting stress on the lumbar region. A flexed stance, along with bending and twisting, also exerts compressive force on the spine.” She continues, “Through adjusting the spine, any imbalances and compensations can be resolved.”

Dr. Tsang also recommends proactively supporting your recovery. “Sports massage works well when combined with chiropractic adjustments, and if you’re serious about golf, adding some strength and conditioning will help your performance.

Pilates is great for strengthening core muscles, and thus protecting the lumbar spine.”

11/F Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central +852 2110 1674 uphealth.com.hk ACUPUNCTURE According to Gianna Buonocore, registered Chinese Medicine practitioner at Central’s Integrated Medicine Institute, the traditional practice of acupuncture can be especially effective in treating sporting injuries. “Most golfing injuries are due to overuse of muscles, and repeated movements of the wrists, shoulders, and neck. Acupuncture helps repair torn and inflamed muscles and tendons, and reduces congestion, tightness and restriction in the body”.

So how exactly does the process work? “Underpinning Traditional Chinese Medicine [TCM] is the concept of a smooth flow of blood, energy and fluids,” explains Buonocore.

“Acupuncture’s principal action is to re-establish that flow, alleviating pain, tension and stiffness. It also releases pain-relieving endorphins, triggering the release of anti-inflammatory chemicals in the body that modify the experience of pain – this immediate release helps promote a rapid healing response.”

And there’s more to acupuncture than simply healing our aching muscles; studies show that it can be used to reduce stress, and improve sleep, focus and concentration. “We often overlook the importance of a strong mind when playing competitive sports,” Buonocore continues. “According to TCM, the body and mind are one unit, and so a serious sportsperson should not only work on their physical strength, but also on their mind.”

13/F & 17/F Kailey Tower, 16 Stanley Street, Central +852 2523 7121 imi.com.hk

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FLOAT THERAPY Ciaran Hussey, of Mid-Levels floatation centre Float On, believes that float therapy can be an important tool in any sportsperson’s recovery. “The mineral magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical activities, yet it’s estimated that 75-80% of people in Hong Kong have a magnesium deficiency.” Hussey continues, “Floating in magnesium-rich water – our float pods contain up to 500 kilogrammes of Epsom salts – reduces high blood pressure and inflammation, offering pain relief for golfers after a long day on the course.”

The water is kept at a constant 35°C – skin temperature – which, along with the buoyancy created by the salts, ensures that it’s virtually impossible to distinguish parts of the body in contact with the water from those that aren’t. This enables you to experience almost total weightlessness once inside the pod. Hussey also believes that there are significant psychological benefits to floating, particularly for those who lead fast-paced lives. “Many top sportspeople use this time [in the float pod] to visualise, meditate or sleep. A single hour floating is equivalent to around four hours of sleep.”

Hussey recommends supplementing your float with a targeted audio programme. “We have a specific track called ‘Dreamscapes Golfing Mind’, based upon the same science underlying the bestselling mind-golf programme available today. This enables both amateurs and pros to learn to take strokes off their score as they relax.”

89 Caine Road, Central, +852 2548 2844 floatonhk.com

CRYOTHERAPY Cryotherapy is essentially a high-tech version of the humble ice pack, which has long been recommended by doctors as a quick and effective treatment for sports injuries. “Cryogenically cooled air – cooled to a temperature of below 30°C – penetrates deep into the body’s tissue layers to improve circulation,” explains Jane Wang, Cluster Director of Spa & Wellness at The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong.

This increased circulation stimulates cell renewal thereby accelerating the healing process, with The Ritz-Carlton Spa’s Cryotherapy Massage combining the use of a machine that cools targeted areas of the body with deep-tissue massage techniques for “the ultimate rejuvenation”. “Cryotherapy targets specific areas to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and speed up recovery from injuries,” Wang continues, mentioning that it’s frequently used to treat muscle soreness, stiff joints and even migraines. Cryotherapy also releases endorphins, which have a powerful analgesic effect.

The treatment is further enhanced with products from highperformance skincare line 111Skin – developed by Harley Street cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides to improve his patients’ rehabilitation time – including its antioxidant-rich Dramatic Healing Serum and Oil, which both boast potent antiinflammatory benefits.

International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, +852 2263 2040 ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/china/hong-kong/spa

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ADVENTURE

ARABIAN

SIGHTS

by Alexandra Hamlyn Images Courtesy of the Jordanian Tourism Authority and Eric Chang

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Jordan, a land ensconced by some of the world’s most notorious boundaries.

Not to be missed, Alexandra Hamlyn ventures into the country’s beautiful and varied terrain to explore the ancient city of Petra, camps with Bedouins, the Red Sea and the sandy dunes of Wadi Rum’s desert wilderness.

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ordan seems to be one of those places that everyone yearns to visit, and yet rarely do. Perhaps because it is somewhat off the beaten track, it is fast becoming part of the tourism route that has bombarded Egypt and Israel for years.

Jordan’s greatest asset is its size, and it is possible to drive down its entire length in just a single day. But months are insufficient to explore its varied and wondrous landscape, for Jordan’s hidden wonders lie in the unexpected, and the sense of self-discovery that accompanies the spirit of discovery in a land that encompasses the tranquil waters of the Red and Dead Seas, Bedouin deserts, lush mountains and verdant valleys.

Although for many people, the main allure of Jordan remains the beautiful ancient city of Petra, with its “Rose Red” walls and awesome facades, there is so much more to see, and Jordan is a place of boundless natural wonders, hallowed biblical sites, coralfilled seas, and of course its people. Arabic hospitality, much overlooked these days, is plentiful and hard to avoid, from sipping sweet mint tea in the desert with Bedouin tribesmen, to the endless cups and heady aromas of cardamom roasted coffee that waft out of every storefront on every alleyway throughout the country.

The larger cities have their own distinctive character teeming with busy bazaars and activity bustling through stalls touting steaming falafels and beautiful handicrafts, all accompanied by the unmistakable beat of Arabic pop. But these will soon lose their novelty value the more time that is spent in the coffee shops where nargileh, the Jordanian water pipe that is smoked as a pastime, as you overhear the tales of yonder, and away into the unknown you go. Although you may arrive in Amman, Jordan’s capital city, with a well-constructed itinerary and desired route of travel, it is well advised to bring a bit of flexibility with you on your journey, for anything can divert your attentions and lure you away from the rigid organisation that we are all so preoccupied with in our daily lives.

With a highly comprehensive, but not always well signposted, set of maintained highways splicing vertically through the country, there is no better way to see everything than by car. Whether you desire to hire a driver or brave the highways solo, it is the best way to absorb the breathtaking scenery and soak up the rich landscape as you will literally traverse wildly steep ravines, mountains and vast desert plains. It all sounds more treacherous than it really is, for the most admirable thing about braving the wild outdoors, is what good condition all the linking roads are in. There is a particular phrase in Arabic which really encapsulates the free spirit that effervesces out of Jordan, “Insha’Allah”, which literally means “God Willing”, and it is interchangeably used to communicate things loosely pertaining to maybe, yes and often disconcertingly, hopefully. “Insha’Allah”, in all its nuances, sums up the Jordanian experience, and as you explore the Hashemite Kingdom, you will really begin to vibe with this laissez-faire, go with the flow mentality, as stringent and ambitious a traveller you may be in other locales, Jordan will entrance you with its magical natural mysteries and beautiful sites of historical interest.

A great starting point for your journey is Mount Nebo, the site where Moses is reputed to have first sighted the Promised Land, after 40 years of leading his people through the wilderness. It is also where Moses is said to have died at the grand old age of 120.

Perched at the top of the summit, an exquisite church is situated in the perfect location for panoramic views across vast desert, lush valleys, the Dead Sea and the Jordan River into Jericho and Jerusalem in Israel, just 46 kilometres away. The Moses Memorial Church is fronted by a huge bronze cross and serpent, to symbolise the death and suffering of Jesus Christ, as well as the serpent that Moses “lifted up” in the desert. There is also an impressive selection of mosaics and historical artefacts dating back to AD 597, comprising of old baptistery sites and a basilica where monks and

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FORMIDABLE VIEWS AND AN UNDENIABLE SENSATION THAT THIS LOCATION HAS SEEN GREAT HAPPENINGS MAKE KARAK A SITE NOT TO BE MISSED

priests still hold services as they have done for hundreds of years.

Another memorable site of interest is Karak, the oldest and most famous crusade stronghold, it is a forbidding fort. Again, formidable views and an undeniable sensation that this location has seen great happenings make Karak a site not to be missed. Its walls ooze with history, its massive chambers suggest by their very size that people from all walks of lives and religious affiliation at one time communed in the huge vaults that comprise this impressive outpost. It is easy to feel like you have been transported back in time when this triangular plateau was a place of holy triumph for Judaism, Islam and Christianity, at some time or another during its complicated history since AD1140.

Making Petra the central focal point of your journey is inevitable, for its expansive domain can certainly dominate your attention for a few days. Forever immortalised in film by Steven Spielberg’s ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’, who can forget those moments when a young Harrison Ford takes on the treacherous unknown as he enters the secret temple that holds the answer to immortal youth. Petra is a sight to behold, and after winding your way through the siq (shaft) which was formed by dramatic tectonic movements, 1.2 kilometres down this enchanting stretch of natural rock stratifications, you can really begin to imagine how this place was once verdant, with sophisticated irrigation systems running as pipelines down the entire stretch of this alley and swarming with mercantile tradesmen.

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Opening out before you, the Treasury reveals itself, absolutely astounding in size and grandeur; it is 43 metres high and 30 metres wide. This façade is beautifully preserved, protected from the elements in its location, and indeed from the outside world until 1812. The Nabateans, Petra’s original inhabitants, were an ancient trading people who occupied this land, profiting from high levies and taxes that they imposed along the busy trade route between Arabia and Syria, and it once comprised a population in excess of 20,000. Various mausoleums of differing size and ornament, 13th Century shrines, obelisks, temples, sacrificial altars and colonnaded streets, and high above, overlooking the valley an impressive Monastery which is only accessibly by foot, or by “taxi”(what we would call a mule), up 800 unevenly and at times steeply cut and poorly maintained rock steps there are endless nooks and crannies that steal your attention. Measuring a whopping 50 metres wide and 45 metres high, topped by a magnificent urn the Treasury is arguably the most spectacular example of how the Nabateans carved this city straight into the rock demonstrating incredible technical know-how and staggering architectural imagination, and ability.

An unexpected surprise for many is the magic that Wadi Rum’s red desert beholds. Offering you an alternative and immediate context where you can directly commune with nature, the hospitality of the Bedouin people who live here will overcome you with warmth and tradition. The pink dusky sands that unfold into the boundlessness of the desert landscape looks ever more fantastic

at dusk and dawn. This is not the usual type of camping, and accommodation is largely in permanent camps, many of which have hot water, shower facilities and even flushing toilets. At night your guide will provide you with musical entertainment as well as a sumptuous Bedouin meal of sand-baked chicken or lamb for dinner – a Jordanian specialty. Day excursions exploring the seemingly endless realm that comprises Wadi Rum, T.E. Lawrence, or “Lawrence of Arabia”, navigated and inhabited the very sands that trickle across the plains in the wind at the turn of the 20th Century. There are various sites to be seen and explored, if not just to take in the unmistakable scenery of David Lean’s much-loved film version of Lawrence’s epic legacy.

It is highly recommended and a reason to visit Jordan in and of itself just to dive in the Red Sea at Aqaba, where some of the world’s best underwater delights await you. The temperate climate and gentle water currents are ideal, and have created an exquisite underwater dreamland teeming with colourful sealife and coral reefs. And if this coastal exploration

didn’t satisfy your aquatic urges, make your way over to the newly developed luxury resort wonderland along the length of Jordan’s side of the Dead Sea. World class spas are mushrooming all along this salty coastline, and for good reason too. The best hotels in the country are to be found here, each vying for the coveted position of number one. Compared to Israel’s established and populated seafront, Jordan offers an uncrowded alternative. The incredibly salty waters of the Dead Sea, rich in bromine and other healing minerals, are what many attribute the healing qualities of the mud and water.

Until 2017, Jordan could only offer nine golf holes at the 5,266-yard Bisharat Golf Club, a short drive from Amman. But now, as reviewed in the May 2019 issue of HK Golfer, the Kingdom now has its own Greg Norman-designed championship course – Ayla Golf Club – located on the northern extremity of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Attracting young and old, healthy and infirmed, Jordan is a place that will ignite the spirit of adventure and boundless discovery in everyone.

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THE TABLE

A

TASTE OF

MID-AUTUMN

by Ann Tsang / Images courtesy of The Peninsula Hong Kong

Mooncakes have long been a much-loved highlight of Hong Kong’s Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, with many connoisseurs agreeing there is no substitute for those conjured up by The Peninsula’s Michelin-starred, Cantonese fine-dining restaurant Spring Moon, The highly coveted, limited-edition mini egg custard mooncakes have become so popular that every year, they sell out months in advance of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

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he economic boom of the 1980s brought with it the opening of The Peninsula Hong Kong hotel’s first dedicated Cantonese restaurant, Spring Moon, in 1986, originally headed by now-veteran Chef Tang Chi-Keung, who set a precedent by cooking and presenting Chinese cuisine at its absolute finest. Chef Tang’s signature home-style, authentic Cantonese cuisine rapidly earned him a stellar reputation and fiercely loyal diners.

Since its establishment, Spring Moon has placed The Peninsula on the map for its devotion to Chinese culinary excellence, world-class hospitality, and an outstanding showcase of 1920s charm and vintage opulence.

The unabashed decadence of the 1980s was all-pervasive, and dining out was highly ref lective of this. Expense accounts were seemingly bottomless, and wheelers, dealers and entrepreneurs, vying to woo new business, brought luxury to the Chinese dining table like there was to be no tomorrow, and the ultimate symbol of success was the appearance of at least one bottle of XO cognac. The term ‘XO’ – standing for ‘Extra Old’ - was created more than half a century ago by Hennessy to describe its oldest cognacs, which usually meant those with an average age of around 25 years.

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At Spring Moon, ‘XO’ also describes the restaurant’s unique dipping sauce, made to a secret recipe. The only thing known about this treasured sauce is its basic ingredients: dried scallops, dried shrimps and Yunnan ham, all of which are considered to be delicacies. The signature X.O. sauce was initially served as a complimentary appetiser, but following great demand, it was made available for purchase by the jar in 1987.

During its first year of operation, Spring Moon also gave birth to what would become a Hong Kong culinary phenomenon - its pioneering mini egg custard mooncakes, which made history by becoming one of the most popular flavours in the world, with its Western-inspired filling. These mooncakes have become so popular that every year they sell out months in advance of the MidAutumn Festival.

From their introduction at a single retail location, The Peninsula mooncakes are now available at more than 30 retail outlets worldwide and are a consistent sell out.

This year, the Michelin-starred Spring Moon culinary team and Chef Tang Chi Keung, now Chinese Culinary Advisor for The Peninsula Hotels, have joined hands to once again craft this legendary traditional treat.

As part of The Peninsula Hong Kong’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, Spring Moon will also introduce an incentive campaign with The Peninsula Boutique to encourage recycling of empty mooncake boxes.

Spring Moon has also designed a Deluxe Gourmet Hamper, which contains a selection of the finest delicacies for the season - a box of limited edition mini egg custard mooncakes, Middle East dried abalone, fish maw, dried mushrooms and other delicacies, including the aforementioned coveted X.O. sauce, making an ideal gift for relatives and business associates – or simply for your own enjoyment.

The Spring Moon limited-edition mini egg custard mooncakes are now available for purchase online only and exclusively at mooncake.peninsula.com. The site goes live at 8:00 am daily, and will continue to operate while stocks last. A maximum number of 20 boxes can be purchased per order.

Mooncake vouchers can also be collected at the Hankow Room on the 6th floor of The Peninsula Hong Kong, from 12 August to 13 September 2019.

EARTH MATTERS

A PLANETARY

MISSION

by Bernard Cegane / Images: Courtesy of Rolex

Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbing Mount Everest in 1953

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For Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, the world was like a living laboratory. Beginning in the 1930s, he sent his watches to some of the most extreme locations on the planet, on the wrists of explorers who ventured into the unknown. But the world has changed. As the 21st century continues to unfold, exploration for pure discovery has given way to exploration as a means to preserve the natural world. Rolex continues the legacy of its founder, supporting the explorers of today on their new mission: to make the planet perpetual.

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his year marks the launch of a new Rolex campaign entitled Perpetual Planet, in partnership with the National Geographic Society to study the impacts of climate change, and with Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue initiative to safeguard the oceans through a network of marine protected ‘Hope Spots’. The campaign also encompasses the Rolex Awards for Enterprise that recognise individuals steering projects that advance knowledge and protect human wellbeing and the environment.

Rolex’s partnership with National Geographic began in 1954, in the wake of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953

by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, whose expedition was equipped with Oyster Perpetual chronometers.

In 2017, the brand enhanced its long-standing partnership with National Geographic to promote exploration and conservation.

The two organisations have come together to plan a series of three innovative expeditions with the aim of answering critical questions about the impacts of climate change on extreme environments. The partnership will harness world-renowned scientific expertise and cutting-edge technology to reveal new insights about the impacts of climate change on the systems that are vital to life on Earth: mountains as the world’s water towers, rainforests as the planet’s lungs, and the ocean as its cooling system.

The first expedition supported by this partnership was to Mount Everest from April to June 2019. The Everest expedition team, led

by National Geographic and Tribhuvan University, sought to better understand the effects of climate change on the glaciers of the Hindu Kush-Himalaya that provide critical water resources to one billion people downstream. This information, coupled with additional data sets on water supply and demand in the region, will form the basis of a new index to track the health of the Himalayan water system and inform decisions to help protect it.

Sylvia Earle, a Rolex Testimonee since 1982, has been a pioneer of ocean exploration for nearly 50 years. In 1970, she participated in one of the most ambitious underwater habitat programmes. As a member of Tektite II, an all-female mission, she lived and worked alongside other scientists in a pair of metal silos anchored on the seabed in the US Virgin Islands, carrying out extensive research.

Since 2010, through her Mission Blue initiative, Earle has inspired communities and governments to shield marine life that is at risk from human pressures through Marine Protected

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Areas (MPAs), which she refers to as “Hope Spots”. These are areas of the oceans designated as being vital to the preservation of species, from the range of diversity a particular site displays or its significance as a home to endemic, rare or endangered species, or places where local communities rely on a healthy marine environment for their survival.

With the support of Rolex since 2014, the number of Hope Spots has increased from 50 to 112 over the past five years, and Earle aims to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030. Currently, eight per cent are protected.

Some Hope Spots have been created in existing MPAs. In situations where there is no existing protection, once applications for Hope Spot status are approved by the Mission Blue council – in partnership with the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) – work on a conservation plan begins in conjunction with local populations, environmental organisations and governments.

Palau, a group of islands in Micronesia, is a Hope Spot. “Eighty per cent is now a safe haven for wildlife and 20 per cent is managed so that the local population can continue to draw on the ocean for their livelihood,” reports Earle.

In 1976, Rolex launched a programme that took the brand into the forefront of corporate social responsibility. Since then, the biennial Rolex Awards for Enterprise has assisted 140 outstanding individuals who have initiated a new or ongoing project anywhere in the world, deserving support for its capacity to improve lives or to protect the world’s natural and cultural heritage. In June of this year, five new Award Winners were announced.

On June 14 in Washington D.C., the 2019 Laureates were celebrated at a special ceremony. João Campos-Silva, Grégoire Courtine, Brian Gitta, Krithi Karanth and Miranda Wang have demonstrated that with the right amount of passion and commitment, real change can be brought about.

For nearly a century, Rolex has supported pioneering explorers, pushing back the boundaries of human endeavour.

With the Perpetual Planet campaign, Rolex is committed for the long term to support the explorers in their quest to protect the environment. To start with, this commitment focuses on the Rolex Awards for Enterprise and partnerships with the National Geographic Society and Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue initiative.

But this is just the beginning.

In 2010, ‘Deep Sea Under The Pole by Rolex’ reported on the world beneath the arctic ice caps

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Hilaree O'Neill steps across a bridge of aluminium ladders lashed together above a crevasse in the Khumbu Icefall (Andy Bardon/ National Geographic) 70 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

Sylvia Earle, photographed by fellow Rolex Testimonee David Doubilet

EXPLORERS LINKED TO ROLEX From the early 1980s through to the early years of the new millennium, many explorers, including mountaineers, divers and scientists, became associated with Rolex or became brand Testimonees, breaking records and testing their endurance while equipped with Oyster Perpetual watches. Rolex timepieces have been constant companions and key tools in their work. This group includes: GERMAN-BORN American conser vationist George Schaller, who has been instrumental in preventing the destruction of environments; he has helped establish more than 20 wildlife reserves around the world and protect some of the most endangered animals, including mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and snow leopards in Mongolia.

PALEOANTHROPOLOGIST and conservationist Richard Leakey, renowned for his fossil finds related to human evolution and his campaigning for responsible environmental management in East Africa.

AMERICAN mountaineer Ed Viesturs, who scaled all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks without supplemental oxygen during his Endeavor 8000 project, which he completed in 2005.

JUNKO Tabei, the Japanese mountaineer and first woman to reach the summit of Everest in 1975. Later she became a powerful advocate for the protection of the mountain environment, quantifying the impact of human waste on the mountains in her postgraduate degree in environmental science.

BELGIAN polar explorer and mountaineer Alain Hubert, who in 2002 created the International Polar Foundation (IPF) to support polar science as a key to understanding climate change. The IPF raised funds to build a new international research station in Antarctica, designed to operate on renewable energies. Hubert believes these ventures can be formidable vehicles of communication about our planet.

SWISS-CANADIAN mountaineer Jean Troillet, who climbed Everest in 1986, and in 1997 became the first man to descend the North Face on a snowboard. Troillet holds the record for the fastest ascent of Everest’s North Face and has climbed 10 of the 8,000-metre peaks, all without supplemental oxygen.

NORWEGIAN Rune Gjeldnes, who in 2006 became the only person to cross the three big ice sheets – Greenland, the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica – on skis, unaided.

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THE NINETEENTH

STOP

TOUCHING MY BALLS!

by Timothy Low / Image: Getty Images

Darren Clarke throws his ball into the crowd after finishing his second round of The 147th Open

I

may be a professional golfer, but I don’t necessarily hit it very straight most of the time. I prefer to take a considerably more scenic route when playing a hole. Sometimes it’s intentional, most of the time it’s not.

And that’s where the problem begins. The case of the missing ball. I’m talking about the shot that sails onto a neighbouring fairway. You moan and groan, but you look up to see your ball still in play and perched nicely on the mown surface (not your own, but it’s playable nonetheless). But when you arrive at the location in question suddenly your ball is no more! You search high and low but alas, it has vanished! Or has it?

There’s one constant in these situations...there’s always a flight somewhere along the fairway you’ve just borrowed. You then approach the group and ask politely if they passed your badlybehaved orb on their way up.

How many times has one of the players in the group raised his 72 HK GOLFER | AUG 2019

hand and said, “Yes we saw a ball! This one?” as he reaches into his bag, retrieving your missing ball and lobbing it towards you.

Here’s the thing - isn’t it a basic rule of golf that the only ball you handle throughout the course of a round is your own? Why then, in the name of all that’s holy…would you see a ball lying in the middle of a crowded golf course (that’s not yours), pick it up (confirming it’s not yours) and instead of putting it back down (because it’s not yours), put it into your golf bag and drive off (with the ball that’s not yours)?

Imagine this - someone lives on a narrow street and his neighbour is throwing a party. There isn’t enough room for all his guests’ cars, so one of them parks it outside your driveway. Who in their right mind comes home to think, “That’s not my car, but because it’s outside my house I’ll keep it!”

So, someday soon when you’re golfing, and you stumble across a ball on a fairway that isn’t yours, spare a thought for me and just leave it be. I can’t stand it when strangers touch my balls.

HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION

THE NORTHERN TRUST

BMW CHAMPIONSHIP

C H E C K Y O U R L O C A L L I S T I N G S F O R T U N E I N I N F O R M AT I O N ©2019 PGA TOUR, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PLAYER APPEARANCE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP