HK Golfer - February 2019

HK GOLFER FEBRUARY 2019

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

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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HKGA HAPPENINGS

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THE 852: A LEAP OF FAITH Linus Yip, a member of the HKGA National Squad, talks to HK Golfer about his humble experience competing in the recent Emirates Australian Open and his hunger to pursue a professional career.

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ASIA ACTION: FISHING FOR VICTORY Hosung Choi’s unconventional swing has been dubbed ‘ Th e F ish erman Sw in g’ by a photographer for his unusual contortions after impact.

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GLOBAL GLANCE Matt Kuchar turned 40 last June and is experiencing a career rebirth.

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ON THE COVER: ON THE FAST TRACK Mat thew Cheung has played amateur golf for Hong Kong for the last decade. The 23 year-old was on a fast track in the second half of last year - he took the top amateur honour at the Honma Hong Kong Open and then earned his PGA Tour of Australasia card through the Q-School. HK Golfer had a chat with Matthew before he headed Down Under to play his rookie professional season.

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LIVE UNDER PAR: THE ASIAN ONSLAUGHT It wasn’t long ago that Asian golfers would take delight at just being at a World Golf Championships event.

Rubbing shoulders with the game’s elite, watching their heroes up close and personal and competing alongside them were often a good enough experience to take home and cherish. Oh, how times have changed…

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THE TOUR: THE PROS WEIGH IN Starting from 2019, 37 new rules of golf take effect in an effort to simplify the game. Some PGA Tour pros have pored over them in great detail. Others, not so much.

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INSIDE THE ROPE: THE FLY THAI We’re two months into the 2019 Asian Tour season, and if events in the last quarter of 2018 are an indication of what’s to come, we are set for another enthralling season ahead.

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LEGEND TALK: THE VICTORIOUS VALENCIAN Sergio Garcia has won a Major, at the 2017 Masters, 15 European Tour titles, 10 PGA Tour titles, 34 pro wins in total, and he is the Ryder Cup’s all-time record points scorer. The Spaniard looks likely to go down in history as one of Europe’s alltime great golfers. He returned to Fanling in 2018 to play the Hong Kong Open for the second year, and took time out to chat to HK Golfer.

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THE GOLF GURU: IN FULL SWING Malcolm Young, Director of Golf at the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf at the Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy (HKGTA), talks about the fact that developing a personality plays an important role in nurturing talent.

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THE VIEW: AN APPLAUDABLE VENTURE Ani Villas, a collection of private resor t s that already includes estates in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Anguilla, recently debuted its latest property in the Dominican Republic, a secluded, 14-suite private resort that boasts its own dramatic peninsula and access to a Robert Trent Jones clifftop golf course reminiscent of Pebble Beach.

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SPOTLIGHT: FROM SCREEN TO GREEN For almost 30 years, Korean/ Eurasian Lorraine Hahn has been the darling of Asian broadcasting.

Possibly the most prolific female news presenter acros s the continent of her time, she has interviewed pretty much everyone who is anyone, from politicians to sporting icons and Hollywood stars to high profile movers and shakers in the international business world.

Also, an avid golf player, Hahn speaks to HK Golfer about her love of the sport, her career highlights, and holing out in one.

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WATCH IT: A TIMELY CONCLUSION 2018 marked the 13th year of operations for Maximilian Büsser & Friends (MB&F), the world’s f irst-ever horological concept laborator y. With 15 remarkable calibres forming the base of the critically acclaimed Horological and Legacy Machines, MB&F is continuing to follow Founder and Creative Director Maximilan Büsser’s vision of creating 3-D kinetic ar t by deconstructing traditional watchmaking.

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RETROSPECTIVE: CLASSIC CLUBBERS Golf has been swinging across Hollywood’s silver screens almost since the inception of film. In the first of an ongoing series, HK Golfer brings you a selection of some classic still images.

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THE TABLE: CULINARY EMINENCE Alain Ducasse is unquestionably one of the world’s most celebrated ch ef s , aw arde d o n m ultip l e occasions for his exquisite and incomparable cuisine and f amously becoming the f ir st chef to earn three Michelin stars for restaurants in three different cities: London, Monte Carlo and Paris. The 2019 Michelin Guide for Hong Kong saw Rech by Alain Ducasse at InterContinental Hong Kong awarded its second Michelin star, adding to the chef ’s already prestigious collection.

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THE NINETEENTH: JUST THREE SIR

Cover Image: Lakshmi Harilela. Styling: Ann Tsang Jacket and pants by Adidas; polo shirt by Y3 Yohji Yamamoto; cap by Titleist; shoes By FJ

FEB 2019 | HK GOLFER 1

LETTER FROM THE HKGA

W

elcome to the second edition of the newly revamped HK Golfer magazine. We hope you have enjoyed what you have seen so far and we do welcome your feedback in order to be able to continue to bring you what you want in terms of content.

As you know, golf is an extremely valuable sport for Hong Kong. Approximately 420,000 rounds of golf are played here every year, and the city has 140 registered professional coaches whose livelihood depends on the sport. We are also witnessing the emergence of a number of very promising young golfers on the international scene.

Golf is not only a beneficial, lifelong sport, but it is also one that fosters self-discipline, honesty and courtesy. Many parents have seen the benefits of children learning golf at a young age.

Golf has become more and more popular over the years and the HKGA has a membership of 15,000, of which 9,000 are not members of any golf clubs in Hong Kong. Each member has a valid and internationally recognised handicap, which can only be attained with on course results after at least 5 to 20 completed rounds are played.

According to the golf equipment industry, sales figures suggest that Hong Kong has a golfing population of no less than 100,000, of which there are at least 45,000 social golfers who are neither HKGA nor golf club members but simply enjoy playing the sport on a regular basis.

The HKGA continues to work to develop the sport and to groom our top players, and we provide golf training to more than 500 young students each year.

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In addition, golf clubs – the Hong Kong Golf Club in particular – have been most supportive along the way, offering our squad members full access to their facilities and hosting our tournaments.

Every year, our players represent us in more than 25 tournaments around the world, and Hong Kong itself hosts 36 major golf events. The Hong Kong Open, one of the world’s top annual tournaments, has been held at Fanling for the last 60 years.

But as we intensify our efforts, facilities and resources are being depleted - the sport has been adversely impacted by the closure of a number of driving ranges, and discussions about redeveloping the Hong Kong Golf Club’s Fanling site further cloud the sport’s future. As such, it is our hope that the government will consider identifying more sites for golf training and the hosting of both local and international tournaments for the continued sustainable development of the sport.

I wish you great golfing in the Year of The Pig.

YOSHIHIRO NISHI President, HKGA

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

Edwardo Delgado Barcena

A cl u b f i t t e r a n d t e a ch i n g profes sional with 16 year s of exp e r i e n ce. Ed w a r d o w a s a TaylorMade Golf Performance Lab Motion Analysis Expert and PGA Tour China Series Tour Rep. He is the current Managing Director of Golf Gears in Central, Hong Kong.

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

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

Chris Cox

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

Lakshmi Harilela

H a v i n g p i cke d up h e r f i r s t prof e s sional cam er a over 15 years ago, Lakshmi delights in photographing everything, and for this issue, she captures cover subject Tiffany Chan at Fanling.

Calvin Koh

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

Jason Kwok

Ja s o n i s a H o n g Ko n g P GA Professional, former Asian Tour player, and former Head Professional of the Discovery Bay Golf Club.

Timothy Low

T imothy is a f orm er touring professional golfer turned television presenter, golf commentator, event host and writer.

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

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HKGA

HAPPENINGS

by Louie Chan / Image: Hong Kong Golf Association

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he Hong Kong Ladies Close Amateur & Mid Amateur Close Championships kicked off the 2019 season in the first week of January. The tournament also ran smoothly under the new Rules of Golf that changed after the New Year. Two hole-in-ones were achieved during the week. Caroline Botsford, who finished tied second in the MidAmateur Division 2, nailed the 1st hole in round two, while Vivian Law also holed the 16th in round 3, making a fantastic opening for the 2019 season!

Virginie Ding claimed her first Hong Kong Ladies Close Amateur Championship title at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club. The West Island School student finished on 220 after 54 holes, just one stroke ahead of Michelle Cheung, who finished 2nd with 221. Ding was the clubhouse leader after two rounds and had a 2-stroke advantage. Although Cheung carded the lowest round at 71 on day three, her total score was still not good enough to catch Ding.

“Playing my second Hong Kong Ladies Close Amateur Championship, I still can’t believe I was able to win under the cold weather conditions. It’s such an honour to secure my spot in the professional Hong Kong Ladies Open! I am once again so grateful for another win, and the MVP goes to my caddies,” said Ding, who will be invited to play in the Hong Kong Ladies Open, a professional event, at the Hong Kong Golf Club in May.

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To help golfers in Hong Kong to understand and apply the new Golf Rules 2019 better, the HKGA has produced and published a Rules highlights booklet and 25 Rules highlights video clips, both are available in English and Cantonese. Please go to www.hkga.com/ eng/HighlightsfromtheRulesofGolf2019.aspx for additional details.

The HSBC Junior Tour Grand Final at the Hong Kong Golf Club’s Deep Water Bay course in mid-January was the climax of the 2018 HSBC Junior Tour and saw Michael Yuen take honours on the day with a 64 over two rounds of the 9-hole, par-56 course.

Yuen was also crowned the Boys 11-12 champion for 2018. A total of eight age-group winners were crowned HSBC Junior Tour Champions on a perfect sunny day, following their success over six 9-hole events last year.

Tiffany Chan, our January issue cover girl, also started her 2019 season with the Hitachi Ladies Classic organised by the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Taiwan, which was also her first official 18-holes in worldwide professional events. The Hong Kong golfing darling shot a 5-under 67 to become the co-leader with Thailand’s Nanthikam Raksachat in the first round. Tiffany’s 31 on the back nine was the lowest in tournament history. Even though a second-round 73 dropped her out of the top-10 on the leaderboard, she was able to card a 3-under 69 in the final round coming back to tie sixth to finish her season opener, marking an excellent performance in Taiwan by our top professional woman golfer.

Virginie Ding

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THE 852

A LEAP OF

FAITH

by Louie Chan / Images: Linus Yip

Linus Yip, a member of the HKGA National Squad, talks about his humble experience competing in the recent Emirates Australian Open and his hunger to pursue a professional career.

HK Golfer: How was your week at the recent Emirates Australian Open?

Linus Yip: I played the Monday Qualifier to earn my ticket to get into the Open. I played the 18 holes pretty well that day; sometimes all you need is 18 holes in golf. I was tied 3rd with another player at 3-under and we had to go to a playoff.

Thankfully, I was able to win on the first hole. It was the best week of my life playing the Australian Open; it’s the biggest stage on which I have ever played and I treasured every single moment of that week.

HKG: Was it a big confidence boost for you?

LY: Definitely. I told myself I didn’t want just to be filling a spot for the tournament; I wanted at least to be able to compete against the best players. I thought I played some good golf on Thursday and Friday. I made some mistakes here and there in the first round, which were expected for my first professional event. I came out on Friday and shot one-under-par, and ended up missing the cut by two strokes, but it was still a great step for my golf career. The biggest thing I took away was being able to watch other established

pros and their preparation processes. I played my practice round with Team Japan. Takumi Kanaya, one of the amateurs on their team, will play the Masters this year, and he also won the AsiaPacific Amateur title last year.

Just being inside the ropes was very humbling. I had all my family, close friends and coach come out to watch me and I told my caddie that I didn’t want this feeling to go away. The whole experience definitely made me a lot hungrier. Competing at a high level is something that I can see I would get addicted to - it gave me a taste of what I could do week in and week out, which has fired me up to practice harder.

HKG: Are you planning to turn professional sooner or later?

LY: I am planning to turn professional at the end of 2019 and play the PGA Tour of Australasia Q-School. In January of 2020, I want to go to the U.S. to try and qualify for the PGA Tour, and also the Asian Tour Q-School. However, in the meantime I will keep playing throughout 2019 as an amateur. I would also like to come back to Hong Kong to qualify for the Clearwater Bay Open and the Hong Kong Open. I will try to play more often in Asia in general this year.

FEB 2019 | HK GOLFER 9

COMPETING AT A HIGH LEVEL IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN SEE I WOULD GET ADDICTED TO - IT GAVE ME A TASTE OF WHAT I COULD DO WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT.

HKG: When did you start golfing and where?

LY: I came from a big golf family. I was around eight when I first picked up a club. My parents are both very active in sports, including golf, so they wanted my brother and I to play alongside them.

It was hard at the beginning, but once I had a few tips and pointers from my coach, who has been with me since the beginning, the game became a little bit easier. It’s probably easier to learn the techniques as a kid because your body is able to master the motor and co-ordination skills faster.

HKG: When did start you taking golf seriously?

LY: When I was 13, I was playing a handicap of 10 or 9. My golf club, Avondale, in Pymble on Sydney’s North Shore, didn’t have a big junior programme at the time. The members were like, “Wow, there’s a kid out there playing a 10-handicap”, which attracted a lot of attention. That was the moment when I realised that maybe I could really do something with this sport when I grew older.

When I look back now, I was too young to really make sense of what was happening. Had I been more aware, I would have probably become more nervous and overwhelmed.

HKG: So, you spent most of your junior golf years in Australia?

LY: 100 percent. I didn’t start playing competitive tournaments until 13 when I went through all the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation tournaments in Sydney. Then I progressed onto New South Wales state tournaments, and later the more significant events hosted by national organisations like Golf Australia, which is the Australian Men’s Amateur Championship.

When I was 15 or 16, I was runner-up at the New South Wales State Championship, which was one of the highlights of my junior days. I really treasure the connections and relationships that I have

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built with many incredible junior golfers in the process. That’s probably the one thing I would take away and remember more than the actual results; these connections can last for a lifetime.

I have many friends playing professional golf right now.

Harrison Endycott is one of the guys I am closest to because we grew up playing at Avondale together. We started at the same age and went through the junior programme at the same time. He has just finished his rookie year on the PGA Tour, both in the Americas and Australasia - he came second in the 2018 Victoria Open, which will become one of the biggest events in Australia and is sanctioned by the European Tour.

HKG: How did you get into the HKGA National Squad?

LY: Tiffany (Chan) reached out to me on Instagram in 2014 - I think she saw some of my social media posts about golf. She gave me Brad’s (the then national coach) contact, and I am extremely grateful to her for that connection.

The first tournament I played for Hong Kong was the Taiwan Amateur Championship in the summer when I was transferring to another university in America in 2016.

To cut a long story short, I spent my first two years studying and playing golf for the University of Arkansas. However, I didn’t see much improvement in my game, so I decided to look for other university options, which would better facilitate getting my game to the next level. I ended up transferring to Seton Hall University in New Jersey, which has excellent facilities and a wonderful team atmosphere. When I look back, it was definitely the right decision, and I really enjoyed my time there. That was the first time in my life that I had to make such a big decision without the influence of my parents, and it really helped me to grow as both a person and a golfer. Sometimes, lll you need to do is to take a leap of faith…

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ASIA ACTION FISHING FOR VICTORY Hosung Choi possesses one of golf ’s wackiest and unconventional swings, and the world has fallen so much in love with the Korean that there is even an online petition to get him an invitation to play at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, advertised as ‘The Greatest Show on Grass’.

Choi is certainly not a circus act, as his win at the Casio World Open in Japan showed last year. In early January, he received a sponsor invite to play in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this month where he will make his PGA Tour debut. The Korean’s unconventional swing has been dubbed ‘The Fisherman Swing’ by a photographer for his unusual contortions after impact and accentuated by his simultaneous demonstrative facial expressions.

Image courtesy of Asian Tour 12 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

GLOBAL GLANCE 40’S THE NEW 20 On the 18th green of the Wa i a l a e C o u n t r y C l u b , Matt Kuchar tried to quote a rapper: “I think it might have been Jay-Z that said 40 is the new 20.” Well, no, Jay-Z rapped that 30 was the new 20 in his song, 30 Something, but Kuchar’s point was well ta ken. He turned 40 la st June and is experiencing a career rebirth. He won the Sony Open in January for his second title in his past three PGA Tour starts. It’s just the second time in his career that he ha s won multiple events in the same season.

“It’s not like you hit 40 and you have to go away,” Kuchar said. Both of his wins came on tight, demanding tracks.

He’s a short-ball hitter on a circuit that doesn’t just favour the bomb-and-gouge style, but actua lly promotes it.

AFP/Getty Images 14 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

ON THE COVER FEATURE

ON THE

FAST TRACK

by Louie Chan / Images: Lakshmi Harilela

Matthew Cheung has played amateur golf for Hong Kong for the last decade. The 23 year-old was on a fast track in the second half of last year - he took the top amateur honour at the Honma Hong Kong Open and then earned his PGA Tour of Australasia card through the Q-School.

HK Golfer had a chat with Matthew before he headed Down Under to play his rookie professional season.

HK Golfer: Congratulations on finishing 3rd in the HKPGA Championship! How did it feel winning your first pay cheque?

Matthew Cheung: It was good. It’s nice to finally get paid for what you love doing. It was a great experience for me to play with Charlie Wi and Alan Hung in my first event as a pro, and I was pleased with the way I finished the week off. I feel like I’ve learned a lot, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.

HKG: Tell us about how you earned your card on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

MC: The Australasia PGA Tour has a Q-School at the end of every year in December. There are two stages, but I got an exemption for the first stage because I represented Hong Kong in the World Amateur Championship in 2018.

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I actually got to the final stage, which was held at the Moonah Links down on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne.

The top-40 would get a card there and I ended up coming tied 26th. I plan to go back this month to play a couple of tournaments there, then I will f ly to Guangzhou to play the PGA Tour SeriesChina Q-School.

HKG: You played some sublime golf at the Honma Hong Kong Open last December…

MC: I was hitting the ball very well and I think I hit nine fairways on the first day, and then 10 on the second day. I hit a lot of good shots in the first round. Overall, I feel like there are lots of positives that can be taken from the first two rounds. I made a really clutch birdie on the 17th of the second round and holed a 50-foot putt there.

JAN 2019 | HK GOLFER 17

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HKG: When did you start playing and where?

MC: My dad put a club in my hands at quite a young age; I actually have a photo of myself holding a plastic club when I was three, and I remember going to KSC for lessons during the school holidays. I really started to play regularly when I was eight when I moved to Brisbane with my mum and my brother. My mum signed me up for junior clinics at a local golf club, and I loved it! I haven’t stopped playing since.

HKG: When did you start taking golf seriously?

MC: I was in a private school when I started playing, then my mum asked me if I wanted to move to a public school with a golf programme. I had just finished year 9 at that time, so the transition was tough.

Golf was pretty much the subject, and we got to play four days a week. We would go to the Indooroopilly Golf Club, where I still have a membership. There were 11 to 12 of us in total and it was a great environment in which to develop your skills. I was lucky to start at the young age of 15 and I made the Queensland State team in my last year of high school.

I used to come back to Hong Kong to play the Mizuno Winter Close. I think I won and finished in the top three a couple of times. Brad, the then National Coach, contacted my mum and told me I was eligible to represent Hong Kong. My first tournament was the Putra Cup in the Philippines in 2013 and my teammates were Jason Hak, Ollie Roberts and Jackie Chan.

I finished 7th or 8th there. Following that I kept being selected for the national squad to play in big tournaments, and I was lucky enough to play five Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships, three Eisenhower Trophies, the Asian Games, and the China National Games. I played a lot of good international amateur tournaments and the HKGA was very supportive, especially in terms of funding my travel.

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HKG: What has been your best round?

MC: I shot my personal best 61 (-10) at the start of 2017 at the golf club where I practised at Oklahoma City University in the U.S. It was a qualifier within my university team, and I made 12 birdies and 2 bogeys. My best tournament round is 64 (-8) at one of my college tournaments in Las Vegas in 2014. It was the last round of the tournament, and I thought I would be able to catch the leaders, but my two teammates just beat me for the title.

OCU was the number one golf school for my division for at least three years, and our team won the 2017 NCAA Division I National Championship. It was a really special victory, and I came second in the tournament, which made it even better.

HKG: Do you have a favourite course?

MC: In Asia, my favourite golf course is definitely the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in Hong Kong. The views are breathtaking, and the course is very well designed. It isn’t long, but it can get quite difficult when the wind starts to blow. I have played a lot of great courses around the world, but I think my favourite is probably the composite golf course at Royal Melbourne.

HKG: What’s your goal for the rookie professional season?

MC: In golf, it’s always about momentum. I have the laidback Australian mentality, but I’m still very meticulous about golf. It requires a lot of focus, and looking at the smaller details. If you get one percent better across the board, that could be three or four shots per round. I keep all my stats, and I have the spreadsheets for all of my games since 2016. Right now I’m working on improving my mental toughness, and focusing on how to limit mistakes and errors.

I used to be aggressive on the pin, however, the last National Coach Jon (Wallett) really taught me how top pros play. He always said I should give myself some margin of error - a couple of metres of right/left or long – once you mis-hit, you should still give yourself a chance to get to the hole. You can be the best short gamer in the world, but the best up and down percentage on the PGA Tour last year was 69, and it’s the best in the world.

I have also been lucky enough to have received support from many people in Hong Kong - Ian Gardner, Dean Nelson and all the golf pros from the Hong Kong Golf Club. Peter Downie, Mark Chan and Grant Gibson from the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club have also been incredibly supportive of me after I decided to turn pro, so I’m determined to make them proud.

FEB 2019 | HK GOLFER 21

LIVE UNDER PAR

THE

ASIAN ONSLAUGHT

by Chuah Choo Chiang / Images: Getty Images

It wasn’t long ago that Asian golfers would take delight at just being at a World Golf Championships event. Rubbing shoulders with the game’s elite, watching their heroes up close and personal and competing alongside them were often a good enough experience to take home and cherish. Oh, how times have changed…

T

hese days, the new generation of young Asian stars such as Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, India’s Shubhankar Sharma, Li Haotong of China, Korea’s Si Woo Kim, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan of Chinese Taipei are in it to win it.

They don’t want to merely make up the numbers at the WGCs or on the PGA Tour, they now possess a burning desire to win at the highest level. Backed by armoury in their games and fearless attitudes, the young guns have high doses of confidence running through their veins to take dead aim at World Golf Championships titles.

T h i s m o n t h ’s W G C - M e x i c o Championship, which is offering a princely US$10.25 million purse in prize money

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at the Club de Golf Chapultepec from February 21-24, will present the region’s leading lights with their first shot at WGC glory in 2019.

12 mont h s a go, I nd ia’s Sh a r m a announced his arrival on the big stage by snatching the second- and third-round lead through some glorious golf before finishing T9. Arriving in Mexico on the back of two Asian Tour-European Tour co-sanctioned victories, the 22 year-old unleashed his growing credentials with a masterful display which he followed up later in the year by sharing the third-round lead at the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia before finishing T10.

American golf legend Phil Mickelson, who played alongside Sharma during the final round in Mexico, was effusive in

Kiradech Aphibarnrat

FEB 2019 | HK GOLFER 23

Shubhankar Sharma 24 HK GOLFER | FEB 2019

12 MONTHS AGO, INDIA’S SHARMA ANNOUNCED HIS ARRIVAL ON THE BIG STAGE BY SNATCHING THE SECOND AND THIRD-ROUND LEAD THROUGH SOME GLORIOUS GOLF BEFORE FINISHING T9 IN THE WGC-MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP.

his praise towards the young Indian, whom he had funnily enough brushed off on the practice putting green during the previous day after thinking Sharma was a journalist on the hunt for an interview.

“I saw how well he struck the ball. He hit a beautiful tee shot on one, and you can tell he can really play. I also saw some of the highlights with the putter and I could see that he’s a very talented player. I probably shouldn’t say that, he’s 26 years younger than me!” said Mickelson, who won the tournament after defeating 2017 FedExCup winner Justin Thomas in a playoff.

As the new 2018 Asian Tour Order of Merit Champion, Sharma has secured a quick return to the WGC-Mexico Championship and he is eager to reproduce his heroics at Chapultepec, well known for its narrow fairways and tricky greens.

“Those two events (WGC-Mexico Championship and CIMB Classic) were definitely the highlights of 2018,” says Sharma. “Obviously, I have special memories and feelings from Mexico. I couldn’t finish it off, but it was a turning point for me, and it showed that I could play against the best in the world. It was my career-first WGC and to have a chance to win at that stage, it gave me much self-belief. Hopefully, I’ll get more opportunities to win. Getting my card on the PGA Tour remains my goal in 2019 and getting into the Presidents Cup International Team is also right up there, so playing well in big events like Mexico will help.”

As it currently stands, Matsuyama, the ultra-talented and tenacious 26 year-old Japanese ace, is currently the lone Asian golfer with two victories registered at the 2016 WGC-HSBC Champions and 2017 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Kiradech, a grip it-and-rip it star, is keen to add his name to the exclusive winners’ club soon. Last year, the big-hitting Thai produced his first top-5 in a WGC in Mexico, which he credits for helping him become the first Thai to earn a PGA Tour card for the 2018-19 season. Kiradech also enjoyed top-5s at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and WGC-HSBC Champions in 2018.

“I can win one of these events,” declares Kiradech, holder of four European Tour titles. “I’m not far off from winning; I just keep knocking on the door. I had three top-5s in the WGCs, and when the moment comes again, I have to control myself better.

Winning one event on the PGA Tour is my goal in 2019; winning a WGC would be special.”

Another elite line-up of global golf stars will descend on Mexico City, with the likes of Mickelson, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Jordan Spieth all tipped to headline the prestigious tournament which offers 550 FedExCup points.

“They are very important tournaments; they bring together the best players in the world,” states Johnson, a 19-time PGA Tour winner, including five WGC titles.

So for this reason, the Asian brigade will go in guns blazing to challenge the world, starting with the WGC-Mexico

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THE TOUR

THE

PROS

WEIGH IN

by Chris Cox / Images AFP/Getty Images

Starting from 2019, 37 new rules of golf take effect in an effort to simplify the game. Some PGA Tour pros have pored over them in great detail. Others, not so much.

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T

hey are the new rules of golf, and they have captured the attention of PGA Tour pros both new and old. When the calendar flipped to January 2019, 37 new rules outlined by the USGA and R&A took effect, many effecting significant changes to the game.

“I’ve tried to spend a lot of time looking over them,” Justin Thomas, the 2017 FedExCup champion, said. “Especially a handful of them are quite a bit different, and I think you’ll see it across the field especially during these first couple of months.

Everybody’s going to be calling a rules official in as much possible.

“It’s tough, with anything, with change it’s always going to be different. But I’ve tried to study up, I told (caddie) Jimmy (Johnson) to look at them as much as he can. You would hate to get penalised just for making a mistake for something you’ve done your whole life. So, it will be different.”

Some of the changes are self-explanatory: A player’s ball must now be dropped straight down from knee height rather than from the shoulder. A time to search for a ball has been reduced to three minutes from five minutes.

Others will require a bit more study. Somewhere, Dustin Johnson’s brother and caddie, Austin, is probably off studying the new relief procedure for an embedded ball.

Starts right behind where the ball is embedded… dropped in the one club-length relief area, not nearer the hole… no requirement to announce your marker… a ball is not embedded if it’s below the level of the ground as a result of anything other than the player’s previous stroke…

No doubt, this might make one’s head spin.

“I actually just looked at it for like a minute upstairs before I came down,” Dustin Johnson said at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. “They’ve got a big poster in the locker room. I had one of the Tour officials do a printout that I’m going to give (Austin) to study later on today.”

And how will that go?

“Probably not very well,” he joked.

Joking aside, the rules changes are well-intentioned. In theory, they will simplify the game and improve the pace of play - two items always at the top of a player’s wish list. Whether it be fixing

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spike marks on a green or moving loose impediments in a bunker, the changes should aid Tour pros as they navigate some of the most difficult golf courses in the world.

“I think that they’re trying to simplify the rules, which I think is a great thing for the game,” commented Rory McIlroy.

“I’ve always said that the rules of golf are way too complicated, especially after the debacles and farces we have seen at the U.S. Opens and all sorts of stuff over the last few years. So, I’m happy that they made the decision to try and simplify them and make everything a little bit easier to understand.”

It may require time for the simplification to take hold. In the meantime, it hass sparked ample discussion over one big point.

Will a player putt with the flagstick in, which the rules now allow so long as he decides before making the stroke?

“It’s going to be weird because the flag’s going to be going in and out a lot,” said Dustin Johnson. “But it’s alright. I mean it’s not bad. If you got a real long putt or something, I might leave it instead of having the caddie stand there and tend it. So, I guess I will leave it in occasionally. Sometimes if you hit one up there, it’s always awkward trying to take the flag out. You can just tap it in.”

The most outspoken in favour of the rule has been Bryson DeChambeau, hardly a stranger to quirky strategies. The ‘mad scientist’ has already put the rule change to use on several occasions.

But not everyone agrees.

“If I have an 8-footer to win a golf tournament, I can’t - I mean no offense - I can’t really take myself seriously if I keep the pin in,” Thomas said. “I mean it just would be such a weird picture and on TV me celebrating and the pin is in and my ball’s up against it.”

The debate rages on. Regardless, whether that one rule gets put to use or not is mostly irrelevant.

It’s about improving the game, and on that point, most players seem to be on board.

“There are a lot of things that I think are going to make golf a little easier, and also easier to understand. But at the end of the day, we may not actually have to use too many of the rules,” noted Patrick Reed. “Hopefully all you have to do is fix some spike marks and the only thing you have to worry about is whether you want to leave the flag in or out.”

Dustin Johnson

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Poom Saksansin

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INSIDE THE ROPE

THE

FLY THAI

by Calvin Koh / Images: Asian Tour

We’re two months into the 2019 Asian Tour season, and if events in the last quarter of 2018 are an indication of what’s to come, we are set for another enthralling season ahead.

H

istory may favour the great, but mere mortals can also have their day in the sun.

Sporting events, after all, are a joy to watch.

We enjoy them because they are a way of measuring our competitive nature and show that everyone has an equal chance of winning.

On a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon in Jakarta last December, Thailand’s Poom Saksansin was prepared to write his name into the grand history of golf. Against his more illustrious rivals like Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson at the BNI Indonesian Masters, Poom dared to believe he could beat them.

One was a former world number one, while the other was a Major winner, and also Poom’s idol.

However, reputation does not intimidate the softspoken Thai so easily, and inferiority is not a word in his dictionary. Like all other top athletes, Poom also has an obsessive competitive spirit and is ready to spread the word that champions can rise, and sometimes from unlikely places.

Despite being ranked 239th in the world then, the Thai showed he would not be cowed into submission against two of the world’s highest ranked players and a host of Asian Tour champions who had assembled at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club that week.

He seized his moment and won the Asian Tour

season finale by three shots, underlining the fact there are no favours in competition, and no-one is entitled to victory. He worked hard for it and in that process, endeared himself to his army of fans, who are now drawn to his honesty and simplicity.

Poom loved the fairways for the purpose it gave him. Winning golf tournaments maybe his goal, but playing alongside his idols also holds a certain fascination. It was also there where he met and defeated Stenson, his golf hero at the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia last January.

He feels he is “good enough to be playing with Henrik Stenson”.

When asked what his biggest challenge upon his return to Jakarta for his title defence was in 2017, he sheepishly mustered only two but truthful words: “the weather”.

Poom did not ma na ge to defend his tit le successfully then, however, he came back stronger last year to recapture his title, having “understood the golf course very well”.

Some personalities and tournaments capture the imagination of fans.

So dubbed ‘The Assassin’ by none other than Stenson, Poom is one player you can expect to shoot down his rivals and light up the 2019 Asian Tour season.

FEB 2019 | HK GOLFER 31

CHAMPION TALK FEATURE

THE

VICTORIOUS VALENCIAN

by Louie Chan / Images: Russel Wong

Sergio Garcia has won a Major, at the 2017 Masters, 15 European Tour titles, 10 PGA Tour titles, 34 pro wins in total, and he is the Ryder Cup’s all-time record points scorer. The Spaniard looks likely to go down in history as one of Europe’s all-time great golfers. He returned to Fanling in 2018 to play the Hong Kong Open for the second year, and took time out to chat to HK Golfer.

S

ergio Garcia was at his fluid best to card a 6-under 64 in the third round of the recent Hong Kong Open, which included an eagle on the 10th where he drove the green and rolled in a putt from six feet. It was Garcia’s best round at the Hong Kong Golf Club, two shots better than the 66 he shot in the third round of his debut Open.

“It’s a lovely golf course, not long but difficult. The fairway is narrow, and the green is good, but very fast downhill. You have to be very accurate with your tee shot, and also when you attack the green. Even when you play well but don’t make the downhill putt, you are going to struggle,” noted the Spaniard. “I know better what to do than I did last year. The first time is always a little bit tricky, especially with the green here. You need to have a good look and control your pace. The course is firmer, which makes the ball run so much faster. I

32 HK GOLFER | FEB 2019

don’t know if it is because a couple of trees have fallen, but it somehow seems that the course is easier to play.”

Garcia finished a respectable T6 with compatriot Cabrera Bello and young Indian star Sharma Shubhankar. Compared to the Desert Swing in the Middle East, the Hong Kong Open may not have the most attractive winner’s purse, but the city holds a certain charm for some of the big guns.

“Hong Kong is a beautiful city with amazing views; and I like the course, which always helps. I am also fortunate to be hosted by the wonderful Peninsula hotel, where the staff takes great care of us. We went to Felix restaurant during our stay with the new chef from Barcelona, and we had an excellent dinner. We also visited a couple of restaurants owned by Peter Lam (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board). It’s fun to continue to experience this vibrant city.”

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In January 2018, Garcia married Angela Akins, a Texan journalist who works for the Golf Channel. The couple then welcomed their first child, a girl, in March and gave her an Augusta National-inspired name: Azalea. Azaleas are a flowering shrub that can be found all over the grounds at Augusta National, which used to be a nursery before it was converted into the legendary course that it is today. Azalea is also the name of the 13th hole, where Garcia made a terrific par save in the final round in 2017, after hooking his tee shot into trouble. It enabled him to stay in the hunt and eventually come from behind to win.

“We are so happy to have a beautiful girl. It’s not like when I was single that I could go and play wherever and whenever I wanted. Now, I have to carefully look at the schedule and try to see what’s best for my golf,” notes Garcia. “At the same time, I put my family first and make sure I have enough time for them; it’s very important for Angela and I to be with Azalea as she grows up. She usually travels with us and has already been to a few of my tournaments.”

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WINNING THE RYDER CUP AS A TEAM IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS IN GOLF, AND THAT OVERRIDES EVERYTHING ELSE.

Garcia has made nine Ryder Cup appearances and has become the match’s all-time point scorer with 25.5 points, after helping the European Team to defeat the United States in Paris last September.

“It feels great, and I am not going to lie about it; it’s an incredible achievement to be the all-time point scorer. However, it was never something on my mind or even a conscious goal for me. Winning the Ryder Cup as a team is one of the most amazing things in golf, and that overrides everything else. I’m sure some young kid will break my record at some point, so I will enjoy it for as long as I can. I will still try to do even better and hopefully play a few more Ryder Cups, win a few more points and see where I can get to.”

Before the 2018 Ryder Cup started, not many people were confident that the Europeans had a chance. It was expected that with the best team in its history, the Americans would win big.

“This definitely fired us up as a team and also helped us to become stronger,” says Garcia. “We wanted to show everyone the quality of golf that we could play. They won the first session on Friday morning, but after that we put up an amazing performance.”

So, when was the turning point?

“I don’t know what happened with them, but I do know that for us, even on that Friday morning, we felt like there were a couple of games that could go either way. We felt like we were in good shape and we were very comfortable with each other. Friday afternoon was obviously massive for us to swipe them four points out of four and that probably deflated them a lot.”

In the last three years or so, many apparel companies, for example, Nike, stopped making clubs, and it’s no longer common to see players wearing the same brand from head to toe on the

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professional tour. Although some brands like Adidas and Callaway are doing well, the global golf business hasn’t grown much in the past few years. For many lesser-known brands, it’s difficult to sign the big players. “Hopefully it will change again,” says Garcia optimistically. “We are seeing some younger brands coming to the fore and making investments in players. Honma, for example, is trying to sign not just Asian players, but also European and even American players, which is a good sign as it shows that the equipment economy is starting to flourish again.”

Legends like Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus created their own apparel and golf club brands, does Garcia have any such inclination?

“To be honest, I don’t know. I would prefer to do it in collaboration with a big brand like Adidas, for example. It would be something cool to do, especially as we have been together for almost 20 years and it has been a truly amazing relationship.”

W hen a sked about h is most memorable shot s a nd favourite courses, Garcia singles out the shot at the 1999 PGA Championship as the one he will always remember. “I am fortunate to have had many actually, like on the 15th at the Augusta National in 2017. I have also had some nice shots at the Ryder Cup, and then there was the one on the 17th in the 2008 Players Championship that I won.”

In terms of courses, the Spaniard points to The Valderrama Royal Club in Andalusia and Club de Campo del Mediterráneo in Castellon (his home course) as his favourites. “I also like great links courses such as Carnoustie and Muirfield.”

We at HK Golfer look forward to this golfing superpower returning to our shores again, and that Fanling will find a small place in his heart.

JAN 2019 | HK GOLFER 37

38 HK GOLFER | FEB 2019

THE GOLF GURU

IN

FULL

SWING

by Louie Chan / Images: Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy

Malcolm Young, Director of Golf at the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf at the Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy (HKGTA), talks about the fact that developing a personality plays an important role in nurturing talent.

HK Golfer: You spent a decade in Dubai before moving to Hong Kong. How was your coaching experience in the desert?

Malcolm Young: As the Head Professional of the Arabian Ranches Golf Club in my decade-long tenure, I was responsible for daily operations, implementing new technology, hosting specialist coaching clinics and ensuring the growth of the Academy. One of the highlights was coaching Steven Kelbrick to win the 2017 Emirates Golf Federation Men’s Amateur Championship. Steven is living proof that life begins at 50! Hard work and dedication takes your game to the max, no matter whether you are 15 or 50.

HKG: You are a two-time winner of the UAE PGA Strokeplay Championship, taking top honours in 2010 and 2012. Are you planning to play any local professional events this year?

MY: In my 24 years of golf coaching, I have always tried to keep my game at a certain level. I truly believe that if I lost my passion for golf, there would be no point staying in the business. Of course, I am interested in playing some of the local

professional events. Competing with the local pros would be great, and nothing is better than golfing for social networking.

HKG: How would you describe your training regimen?

MY: I became a PGA professional in 1998 and I have trained with worldfamous pros, including Justin Parsons and Tony Bennett, and developed coaching techniques and programmes with them.

I always try to ensure that every golfer has access to the right platforms for success and I design customised programmes to target specific needs. By setting individual goals for each student based on their progress, skills and schedules, I aim to create an effective system to not only guarantee results on the course, but also to enhance their enjoyment of the sport. For the last 20 years, I have taken pride in nurturing champions, educating coaching staff and achieving objectives. I look forward to continuing this tradition at the HKGTA. HKG: Can you tell us about the HKGTA’s top-notch, state-of-the-art facilities?

MY: Sparing no detail, the Jack Nicklaus FEB 2019 | HK GOLFER 39

Malcolm Young

Academy is fully equipped with 75 hitting bays, three Coaching Studios, a 6-hole short game, and a 9-hole putting green. Cuttingedge technology means that coaches and students can instantly review and analyse their swing, stance and ball flight, with the help of finely tuned sensors and radar equipment.

We also offer tailored training programmes for all skill levels. Junior group programmes are available following a 10-Level Progression, taking absolute beginners through the fundamentals of the game and developing their technique through a series of 12-week courses.

HKG: Talking of your Junior group programmes, the HKGTA junior team has become a significant force as witnessed at the HKGA Winter Junior Championship last December.

MY: I am very proud of our junior team members – Lau Hoi Ki, Arin Chian, Trevor Wong and Sabrina Wong, all of whom competed at the HKGA Winter Junior Championship at Kau Sai Chau and winning trophies in their respective divisions. Hoi Ki even captured the Girls Overall title, which was an incredible achievement.

Taking Hoi Ki as an example, I have witnessed her progress since I came to Hong Kong last October, and I was so proud that she was selected by the HKGA to represent Hong Kong in the 2018 Kartini Cup in Myanmar. Before she flew off with the Hong Kong National Squad, I worked with her for a few weeks and we focused on her shoulder alignment and set up routines to instill more confidence during play. Additionally, a new driver was tested and put in play and some simple scoring challenges in coaching sessions using launch monitor feedback helped to sharpen her focus and results.

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Coaching is different from teaching as we look at all areas of performance and keep narrowing the margins of error for better performance.

HKG: What’s your take on the potential of junior Hong Kong golfers to become world-class champions?

MY: Throughout the years, the most significant changes I have seen in the junior players are not entirely about their techniques and results. You can see their personalities change as they continue to improve their game. They usually become more confident, open up and become more socially active. It’s a misconception that a golf academy should build champions; that’s not what we do. The technical differences between average and champion golfers are minimal. What really matters is the development of personality, mentality and perspective.

Core to the proven Nicklaus Academy philosophy is the history of the game, the required etiquette skills, fitness training and overall athletic development, which are all incorporated to form the fundamentals of our training. The Athletic Development Programme offered here focuses on developing athletes first and competitive golfers second, by honing their playing skills in a fun and motivating environment. Whatever positive benefits they take away from here will naturally also trickle into other parts of their lives. And in this way, we are creating a positive impact – not just on the patrons that come to HKGTA, but on their daily lives and wider communities.

It’s wonderful.

FEB 2019 | HK GOLFER 41

THE VIEW

AN APPLAUDABLE VENTURE

by Ann Tsang / Images: Courtesy of Ani Villas

Ani Villas, a collection of private resorts that already includes estates in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Anguilla, recently debuted its latest property in the Dominican Republic, a secluded, 14-suite private resort that boasts its own dramatic peninsula and access to a Robert Trent Jones clifftop golf course reminiscent of Pebble Beach.

W

hile groups such as airbnb and VRBO.com gobble share from the traditional hotel market, and exclusive high-end hotels brands cater to the ultra wealthy with sophisticated design, spare-no-expense hardware and destinations emerging from the zeitgeist, Ani Villas CEO Ira Bloom and Principal Tim Reynolds realised there was an opportunity to present the best of both worlds for the top end of the market. “It’s one of those locations that really makes you wonder whether you’ve seen any place as beautiful,” says Reynolds of the company’s Dominican Republic venture. “This one has been a long time in gestation; we spent three years on environmental impact studies alone. But some things are just worth the wait.”

Reynolds, a one-time trader who co-founded Jane Street Capital, founded Ani Villas as a new category in luxury accommodation: the Private Resort.

The private resort concept taps a growing trend among groups of people who want to vacation in company, though not with strangers. 10 years ago, the travel industry coined a phrase to describe the movement - “togethering” - and there has been nothing but momentum ever since.

In 2016, one New York based consultancy group earlier this year found that nearly half of the top 1 percent of U.S. travellers plan to vacation with friends, 41 percent with kids, and almost a third as part of a multi-generation party. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) released research in the same year showing that three of every four adults over 45 planned to observe a life milestone on holiday with friends.

“Groups travelling for milestone celebrations - weddings, family reunions and get togethers - these are the kinds of groups that want a resort-like property all to themselves,” notes Bloom.

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Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Ani’s four-acre estate in the Dominican Republic trades on spectacular vistas. 12 of the resort’s 14 suites face the ocean with large banks of windows opening onto sunken terraces and unobstructed views of the coves and beaches dotted along the stunning north coast of the island.

Designed by local architects at Estudio Sarah Garcia, the estate cleaves neatly between two villas – one with eight suites, the other with six – that can either host a single group across both villas, or two parties, each in their own private space.

The ten 1,200 square foot (111 square metre) master suites feature lofty, pitched ceilings and screens of backlit onyx, each slab a host to a one-of-a-kind art installation.

A medley of South American hardwoods and local travertine cultivate an ambience that references Bali, but is unquestionably Dominican through and through.

Deep soaking tubs anchor interior bathing spaces, and enclosed outdoor gardens do double duty as al fresco showering hideaways.

Each villa coalesces around a massive, 6,000 square foot (557 square metre) open-walled living and dining area. A billiard table competes with a neighbouring shuffleboard table for players, while a staffed and fully stocked bar quenches thirsts close by.

The spaces flow onto tanning decks and infinity pools, each with shallow soaking areas and great half-moons spilling over to the Caribbean just beyond. While the villa pools inspire passive water play, a third pool rectangles out from a waterslide fit for a theme park.

However inviting the freshwater, the resort’s signature experiences are to be had on either of two private sand beaches perched atop the peninsula’s edge with stepped access to the sea.

Dining at the resort does not require a trip to a restaurant. A team that includes internationally trained chefs of local origin customises menus based on guests’ preferences and dietary requirements.

The menu’s signature local dishes include ceviche and conch salad but draw from a wide range of culinary traditions from Italy, France, Greece, Thailand, Japan, Mexico and the United States.

Beyond each villa’s principal indoor and outdoor dining areas, the resort’s two kitchens serve meals to dining spots on the beaches and in the bars or to a large event pavilion, sitting on the tip of the headland, which can accommodate 40 at a sit-down dinner and 100 for a wedding celebration.

Where the private estate does look a lot like a traditional resort is with the infrastructure of its spa, where an entrance lobby, changing room, steam showers, two treatment rooms and fitness center stand as a lure to wellness.

Three dedicated spa therapists are on hand with a range of complimentary treatments from deep tissue massage to hot stone therapy. Cybex fitness equipment includes everything from upper and lower body presses to treadmills, bikes and arc trainers.

A resident professional tennis coach maintains the resort’s tennis and sports court, and coordinates a wide range of activities including mountain biking, cycling, paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkeling, all part and parcel of a stay experience. Additional off-site

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experiences can be arranged, including deep-sea fishing, surfing, kite-boarding and a selection of sightseeing and action excursions.

The resort lies a few minutes from a Robert Trent Jones clifftop golf course reminiscent of Pebble Beach. The north coast of the Dominican Republic is otherwise renowned for its SCUBA diving opportunities and the migrations of humpback whales.

From the resort’s coastal situation, the terrain backs immediately into rolling hills ribboned by quaint country roads leading to and away from the sleepy fishing town of Rio San Juan.

As Ani’s fourth private resort, the wheelchair-accessible Dominican Republic property is a complement to resorts currently operating on Koh Yao Noi near Phuket in Thailand, on Sri Lanka’s south coast and on Anguilla, where Reynolds opened the door to his ambitions in 2011.

Every Ani Villa offers an all-inclusive, luxury experience. A fully dedicated staff of more than 20 provides gourmet meals, freeflow beverages, beach-butler service, spa treatments/massages, cooking classes and more, at no additional cost.

For every private resort built, Ani also opens an Arts Academy that provides fully funded three- and four-year programmes to local students. At the end of 2016, The Ani Arts Academy America began accepting applications from veterans of the U.S. armed forces for rolling admissions to a tuition-free art school that specialises in realistic drawing and oil painting.

Reynolds conceived the Ani Arts Academy America as a sanctuary and a springboard for disabled veterans. He himself lost the use of his legs after a car accident in 2000, and emerged from that experience with ambitions to address the despair that often accompanies a disability. “Many of the people I met had completely given up,” says Reynolds. “Psychologically, people need stuff to do. It keeps you going.”

The endgame at the academies, according to Reynolds, is the development of art skills that can be adapted and applied to an array of artistic and creative endeavours. Ani students frequently exhibit work at galleries across the country and have even generated a number of notable sales.

Ani students, or apprentices, focus on repetition exercises, layering on one skill after another with technical mastery as the overarching goal. The curriculum covers drawing, materials, anatomy of form, natural forms, and painting techniques. Fulltime students typically graduate after three to four years.

Stephanie Gronchick, the Academy’s general administrator, says it costs between US$12,000 and US$15,000 to educate a single student per year, and that tuition for such a programme elsewhere would cost considerably more.

The Ani Art Academy in the Dominican Republic, which opened in 2013, is currently home to more than 30 artists-intraining. Its campus is set amongst the hills above Rio San Juan and is a must-visit for guests to the resort.

Nightly rates at Ani Villas in the Dominican Republic start at US$4,000 per night for a group of eight, and run up to US$15,000 per night for a group of 30 over the peak festive season.

FEB 2019 | HK GOLFER 47

SPOTLIGHT

FROM

SCREEN TO GREEN

by Ann Tsang / Images: Lakshmi Harilela

For almost 30 years, Korean/Eurasian Lorraine Hahn has been the darling of Asian broadcasting. Possibly the most prolific female news presenter across the continent of her time, Hahn has interviewed pretty much everyone who is anyone, from politicians to sporting icons and Hollywood stars to high profile movers and shakers in the international business world. Also, an avid golf player, Hahn speaks to HK Golfer about her love of the sport, her career highlights, and holing out in one.

HKGolfer: When and why did you first develop an interest in golf?

Lorraine Hahn: I started playing around 20 years ago, as something that I could do with friends, have fun, travel and exercise at the same time. When you travel there’s only so much shopping and looking at temples that you can do.

HKG: Why golf over any other sport that might fulfill the same objectives?

LH: Well actua lly, I used to be an avid sk ier and a squash player, but unfortunately I suffered from a torn meniscus in my right knee, so I thought golf might be an easier sport, especially in these later years (laughs), that wouldn’t put so much pressure on my body.

HKG: So did you take lessons at the beginning?

LH: Yes, I took lessons from two very good pros here in Hong Kong - Iain Roberts and Joann Hardwick. Golf is a very, very hard game to master and even after 20 years I’m

still far from where I would like to be. It was important to have those basics, which Iain and Joann undoubtedly gave me, but you really do need to practice very frequently. I do have a couple of good golf buddies and we play fairly regularly in China and at Kau Sai Chau, which as we golfers know is a beautiful public course that was rated one of the best of its kind in the world, but as we all still work during the week, it’s also quite difficult to book on weekends, so we just play when we can. My husband travels so much, but we try to find weekends to play together, whether it be in Bali, Phuket, Vietnam, or wherever he might be; it’s important for me to share this passion for golf with him, especially as we get older.

HKG: Are you competitive when playing with your husband?

LH: No not at all! Actually he’s a semibeginner and a left-hander, and in fact his coach said “you’re bad either way so you had better play right-handed as it’s easier to rent clubs!” (Laughs).

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HKG: Other than the need to be physically fit, in order to be good at the game, you need a high level of concentration and focus, which I assume was quite difficult when you were at your peak in the world of broadcasting.

LH: Yes of course, being a journalist your schedule is not regular, I hardly played and even though I took lessons, it took me so much longer because of the lack of practice in order to be able to progress. Trying to play whilst looking at emails or taking phone calls whilst on the course is simply too distracting. If you’re really a dedicated player, you just can’t be on the phone. So to be honest, I position myself as a social golfer, I have no plans to be anything more than that; I just love the sport so much.

HKG: Do you still strive to improve your handicap?

LH: Yes, that I do. You know if you are playing and you miss a particular shot, you can just say, “Oh what the hell, it doesn’t matter”, but you will never improve if you think like that. So among my group of playing friends, we just say whoever loses buys lunch, and so through that very basic agreement, I managed to lower my handicap from 24 to 19, which I like to call a “playable social handicap”.

H KG : L a st mont h you played t he Blackstone Celebrity Pro-Am in Hong Kong. How did that go?

LH: It was quite tough because I was sitting in a buggy with a local pro – Derek Cheung – who is actually a great guy, but when you see someone like him hit, it’s like “Oh my god, there’s no way I can do that! Then I started taking pictures with him and filming him to see how he played, which of course was very distracting, but in the end, he did give me a couple of tips!

Another time, I was invited to play in a friendly and somehow ended up alongside Butch Harmon (Tiger Woods’ ex-coach).

For some reason, hardly anyone else showed up, so I kind of ended up getting a private lesson from him!

HKG: In 2014, you circled back into your broadcasting career with a show on Indonesia’s first 24-hour English-language channel, TIC, which focused on golf. Sort of like a perfect marriage right?

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LH: Yes. The show was called ‘Executive Golf’ which ran for 26 episodes. It involved travelling to all the fabulous courses around Indonesia with politicians, and CEOs, talking about their jobs, golf, and how they might use certain techniques in golf to apply to a work situation – like getting stuck in a bunker for example. The only bad thing about it for me was the make-up required for television – you can’t stop your mascara from running in those temperatures!

HKG: What are your feelings towards the fact that many people still view golf as an elitist sport?

LH: Well as we all know, for the longest time it was, but if you look at the sport today, there are so many more ladies and children playing now. I remember when I interviewed Tiger Woods when he first came to Asia in 2001 and I invited six children along – they were fascinated with him, even at their young ages - they were between four and 10 years-old…I’m sure that those kids are still playing today.

HKG: In November 2011, you holed out in one at number 3 on the Jade Course of Discovery Bay Golf Club. Were you aware that it actually happened at the time?

LH: Actually I initially didn’t feel like playing that day as my friend (Janette Padasian) had just passed away from a brain aneurism two days before; I just wasn’t in the mood.

But I had booked already and my husband encouraged me to play in order to try to not think about that for a few hours. Then at hole 3, I just nonchalantly hit the ball and moments later I heard people shouting so I thought it had hit someone. Then the Captain of Discovery Bay Ladies at the time, Marsha Ko, came up to me and said “Lorraine, you just hit a hole-in-one!” I had no clue; and so I just said, “That’s for you Janette!”

HKG: Are hole-in-ones flukes?

LH: I honestly can’t say, except in my case it definitely was! It was a Par 3, 138-yard hole. I didn’t do anything special, I just hit.

But I did keep the ball of course!

HKG: So what keeps you busy these days?

L H : I mo der ate for i nter n at ion a l conferences and summits: I did the World Economic Forums in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, and most recently, the

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China Business Summit in Hong Kong.

I also do media training and motivational talks. Not long ago, one girl came up to me and asked whether I thought she should go into journalism or enter the Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant, and all I could say was that she shouldn’t for one moment think that journalism is glamorous, because I can tell you, it’s not.

HKG: It’s probably a difficult question to answer, but are there any particular interviews that have been particularly memorable for you?

LH: You’re right, it’s a very difficult question, and there are probably too many to mention. Tiger Woods was great of course; Liza Minelli – she wasn’t the diva that people expect; Pavarotti, who made me sit on his knee for a photo op; Elton John, who didn’t want to be touched but ended up kissing me at the end of the interview; Bill Clinton…utterly mesmerising…Then there was the live world exclusive on CNN with Mahatir Mohamad during the Asian Financial Crisis, 28 minutes during which you can’t stop and think – I had New York in one ear and Malaysia in the other and the clock was constantly ticking.

HKG: Did you ever have aspirations to be likened to Christiane Amanpour, Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, or any of those so-called “big primetime broadcast journalists”?

LH: Actually no. I always just did my own thing: I just wanted to be happy and make my mark in the region. I’m extremely fortunate in that I started in the 80s – prior to the advent of satellite or cable TV. I remember hosting the first in-flight entertainment channel on Cathay Pacific with Edward Bean, when we would sit in a studio for hours recording an entire month’s programming, and if either of us made a mistake, we would have to start from the beginning again. We did that for three years! At the end of the day, I feel truly blessed and appreciative that people respected me for what I did.

HKG: So back to golf. What are your favourite courses in the world?

LH: Red Mountain, Phuket; Jagorawi just outside Jakarta; Kau Sai Chau, Hong Kong; Dragon Valley, Sanya; and Spring City in Kunming (China).

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WATCH IT

A TIMELY CONCLUSION

by Saul Franklin / Images: MB&F

2018 marked the 13th year of operations for Maximilian Büsser & Friends (MB&F), the world’s first-ever horological concept laboratory. With 15 remarkable calibres forming the base of the critically acclaimed Horological and Legacy Machines, MB&F is continuing to follow Founder and Creative Director Maximilan Büsser’s vision of creating 3-D kinetic art by deconstructing traditional watchmaking.

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f ter 15 years of managing prestigious watch brands, Maximilian Büsser resigned from his Managing Director position at Harry Winston in 2005 to establish Maximilian Büsser & Friends (MB&F), an artistic and micro-engineering laboratory dedicated to designing and crafting small series of radical concept watches by bringing together talented horological professionals that Büsser both respects and enjoys working with.

In 2007, MB&F unveiled its first Horological Machine, HM1.

The timepiece’s sculptured, three-dimensional case and beautifully finished engine (movement) set the standard for the Machines that followed, which have explored space (HM2, HM3, HM6), the sky (HM4, HM9), the road (HM5, HMX, HM8) and water (HM7).

In 2011, MB&F launched its round-cased Legacy Machine collection. These more ‘classical’ pieces paid tribute to 19th century watchmaking excellence by reinterpreting complications from the great horological innovators of yesteryear to create contemporary objets d’art.

As the ‘F’ in the brand stands for ‘Friends’, it was only natural for MB&F to pursue collaborations with respected artists, watchmakers, designers and manufacturers, which brought about two new categories: Performance Art and Co-Creations. While the Performance Art pieces are MB&F machines revisited by external creative talent, Co-Creations are not wristwatches but other types of machines, engineered and crafted by unique Swiss

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Manufactures from MB&F ideas and designs. Many of these pieces such as the clocks created with L’Epée 1839, tell the time, while collaborations with Reuge and Caran d’Ache generated other forms of mechanical art.

To give all these machines an appropriate platform, Büsser had the idea of placing them in an art gallery alongside various forms of mechanical art created by other artists, rather than in a traditional storefront, which brought about the creation of the first MB&F M.A.D. (Mechanical Art Devices) Gallery in Geneva, which would later be followed by other galleries in Taipei, Dubai and Hong Kong.

In 2014, MB&F launched its Horological Machine N°6, a timepiece boasting audacious construction and design. Just four years after its debut, the company released its Horological Machine N°6 Final Edition in an extremely limited edition of just eight pieces.

The HM6 Final Edition is presented in stainless steel, a fittingly robust and durable material to memorialise the last outing of this series. The body is deeply grooved with polished lines that stretch from the turbine pods to the hour and minute spheres, contrasting sharply with the satin-drawn main surfaces.

The platinum oscillating weight, visible through a sapphire crystal pane on the underside of the case, has been given a blue PVD (physical vapour deposition) coating. The hour and minute spheres are also in this arresting hue, with numerals and markings standing out in thickly applied Super-LumiNova that luminesces light blue.

The hour and minute spheres are oriented perpendicular to the rest of the engine to facilitate readability, and are driven by conical gears to ensure that this unusual configuration still provides the necessary precision in displaying the time. At the opposite end of the HM6 engine, twin turbines create air resistance that protects the automatic winding system. Such commitment to the mechanical integrity doesn’t come easily. The engine of Horological Machine N°6, comprising 475 components, took three years of research and development to realise – almost as long as the entire lifespan of the HM6 series itself.

Central to the design and construction of HM6 is the flying tourbillon, protected by a retractable shield and evocative of the sharply controlled chaos at the heart of our universe.

The otherworldly engine of the Horological Machine N°6 was created over three years of research and development, becoming the second tourbillon movement to come out of MB&F and the brand’s first flying tourbillon.

Unlike other flying tourbillons, which safeguard chronometric performance by keeping the rotating escapement as close to the main body of the movement as possible, the flying tourbillon of the HM6 engine is distinguished by its extreme height, a mechanical and philosophical challenge equal to the audacity of the overall HM6 design. Its one concession to the laws of nature is the retractable titanium shield that protects the lubricating oils essential to the smooth operation of the flying tourbillon from the

oxidising effects of the ultraviolet radiation present in sunlight.

The time is displayed through two rotating hemispheres, marked separately with the hours and minutes. These hemispheres are milled to paper-thinness to reduce the torque demand on the mainspring barrels and to extend the power reserve to its maximum length. Additional mechanical and visual complexity is offered by the positioning of the hemispheres such that they rotate perpendicular to the rest of the geared elements in the HM6 engine. Conical gears are also employed to achieve this angular translation without compromising a single iota of precision engagement.

In terms of security and protection, the automatic winding system of the HM6 engine is equipped with turbines that act as a winding buffer, whilst two sets of curved fins provide the necessary air resistance to keep the winding rotor within a safety zone of oscillation speed, thus further enhancing the longevity of this complex 475-component engine.

Horological Machine N°6 is the fourth Horological Machine

by MB&F to receive an edition to formally mark the end of series production. Completing a series is a major strategic decision and is central to the belief in continual exploration and development that is held by everyone at MB&F. Only by ending production of existing pieces are Maximilian Büsser and his team able to go on to future challenges while keeping the creative spark and momentum that comes with a compact organisation.

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RETROSPECTIVE

CLASSIC

CLUBBERS Images: Courtesy of Globe Photos Inc.

Golf has been swinging across Hollywood’s silver screens almost since the inception of film. In the first of an ongoing series, HK Golfer brings you a selection of some classic still images.

FINE ART PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY HK GOLFER READERS IN THE FOLLOWING SIZES AND EDITIONS: 16” x 20”, edition size 125, numbered with holographic seals and matching COA’s normal price US$595, HK Golfer price US$535.50 + free shipping 20” x 24”, edition size 75, numbered with holographic seals and matching COA’s normal price US$995, HK Golfer price US$895.50 + free shipping

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American golf legend Arnold Palmer and entertainer Bob Hope examine a bent golf club during the filming of ‘Call Me Bwana’ at Denham, West London in 1963.

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The Three Stooges In ‘Three Little Beers’ (1935). The Stooges are hired to deliver beer, but when they go to deliver to a golf course, they get distracted and attempt to play a round of golf. Once inside, they steal some golfers' clothes, and split up to practice - although they know absolutely nothing about the sport.

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In February 1973 President Richard Nixon took a trip to Florida and according to White House records, the President met with comedic actor Jackie Gleason on the 18th green at the Inverness Golf and Country Club. He had apparently come to help Gleason to open a charity golf tournament that he was organising.

If some rumours are to be believed, Nixon also came to Florida to show Gleason evidence of aliens that were not from this planet.

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‘The Honeymooners’, starring Jackie Gleason and Art Carney, premiered on US television in 1955, and became the sitcom by which all sitcoms were measured at the time. The third episode of the seminal series found Ralph vying for the promotion he felt he deserved and, with Norton’s help, determined he would need to learn golf in two short days to get the gig. After learning the player needed to “address the ball,” Norton’s ensuing “Helloooo ball!” served as one of the show’s most famous lines.

‘The Stooge’ (1952) directed

by Norman Taurog starring the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

THE TABLE

CULINARY EMINENCE

by Ann Tsang / Images: Courtesy of InterContinental Hong Kong

Alain Ducasse is unquestionably one of the world’s most celebrated chefs, awarded on multiple occasions for his exquisite and incomparable cuisine and famously becoming the first chef to earn three Michelin stars for restaurants in three different cities: London, Monte Carlo and Paris. The 2019 Michelin Guide for Hong Kong saw Rech by Alain Ducasse at InterContinental Hong Kong awarded its second Michelin star, adding to the chef’s already prestigious collection.

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ALTHOUGH SPENDING VERY FEW HOURS IN THE KITCHEN THESE DAYS, IT IS THE SURVEILLANCE OF HIS EMPIRE THAT TAKES UP MOST OF DUCASSE’S TIME, THOUGH HE ALWAYS ENSURES HIS RESTAURANTS ARE IN VERY SAFE HANDS AND THAT QUALITY IS SECOND TO NONE.

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his year marks the second consecutive year for Rech

by Alain Ducasse at InterContinental Hong Kong to receive 1 Michelin star since its March 2017 opening.

Although spending very few hours in the kitchen these days, it is the surveillance of his empire that takes up most of Ducasse’s time, though he always ensures his restaurants are in very safe hands and that quality is second to none. More often than not, the chefs who take the helm at his highly prestigious restaurants have spent years working within the Ducasse enterprise and know exactly how the particular Frenchman likes his kitchens and restaurants to be run.

Ducasse has had an outstanding career, but that’s not to say that he hasn’t been dedicated from the very beginning. Born in 1956, his upbringing on a farm had a huge bearing on his future.

Growing up amongst ducks and geese in a place surrounded by boletus mushrooms and foie gras, it was a gourmet’s paradise and Ducasse’s own taste developed quickly alongside an understanding and appreciation of these ingredients which later would form the basis of his art, taking him down the path to widespread success.

At the age of 16, Ducasse began working and he was lucky enough to apprentice under some of France’s most famous chefs including Michel Guérard, Gaston Lenôtre and Roger Vergé. Later he would find himself cooking under Alain Chapel who would

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be an important mentor though it was not long before Ducasse was leading his own kitchen at La Terrasse at the Hotel Juana in Juan-Les-Pins. It was here that he was awarded two Michelin stars in 1984. Just three years later he was heading up Le Louis XV in Monte Carlo and at just 33 years of age the restaurant became the first hotel restaurant to garner three Michelin stars. Ducasse’s success was not due to stop there as he went on the become the world’s first six-star chef after gaining another three stars for the Restaurant Alain Ducasse in Paris which, having opened in 1996, took just two years to achieve this coveted distinction.

One of the most famous seafood restaurants in Paris, Rech was originally founded in 1925 when Adrien Rech arrived in the French capital from Alsace.

The 20s actually saw many Alsatians arriving in the city to open seafood restaurants, and places such as the Brasserie Wepler, Maison de l’Alsace, Lorraine, Baumann and Rech were just a few notable examples of this trend. At the time, only white wines from Alsace such as Riesling or Sylvaner, along with local Alsatian family wines, were considered good enough to match perfectly with seafood.

Rech first opened a grocery store, which later became the famed restaurant where people could enjoy oysters from various parts of France, and thus an institution was born.

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This famed dining establishment was reborn by Alain Ducasse in 2007, and made its international debut a decade later in March 2017 at InterContinental Hong Kong. An authentically French seafood experience, it showcases the freshest oysters and fish from France with Ducasse’s personal interpretation and contemporary cuisine.

Executive Chef Stéphane Gortina, who has worked with Ducasse for over 13 years at a diverse selection of his global restaurants, has led the kitchen of the Hong Kong restaurant since it opened and he continues to showcase his expertise in preparing top quality fish and crustaceans in a modern and relaxed seasideinspired ambience coupled with InterContinental Hong Kong’s spectacular panoramic harbour views.

Marie Deroudilhe, who revamped the Parisian restaurant in 2012, designed the Hong Kong outpost with key design elements that are reminiscent of the sea - the inside of a seashell, a piece of floating wood, drifting clouds, and the shimmering sunlight on the surface of the water and waves.

The Alain Ducasse empire is a culinary force to be reckoned with, although Ducasse is tight-lipped on any plans for further expansion, particularly in regards to Asia which has already seen Michelin stars for his restaurants in Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Whatever his ideas for the future, for now he seems content to continue steering his existing kingdom, ensuring it stays on its steady and hugely successful course.

Rech by Alain Ducasse is open daily for dinner and on Saturdays and Sundays for lunch. For reservations, please call (852) 2313 2323 or e-mail: fb.hongkong@ihg.com

Executive Chef Stéphane Gortina

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THE NINETEENTH

JUST THREE

SIR

by Timothy Low / Image: Antonio Saba

Trying to scrape out a decent paycheck on the mini tours of Asia is hard, but sometimes getting to the far-flung courses that these tournaments are played on can be even harder.

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here was once an event played just outside Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. Our protagonist in this little tale misses the cut the week before in Thailand and heads straight to the hotel bar to drown his sorrows. Seven beers deep into his evening (no, it’s not Brett Kavanaugh!) he decides it’s a good idea to fly over to the next venue early to sneak some practice in.

Looking forward to his first trip to the ‘Nam, he jumps on his laptop and can’t believe his luck when he scores a dirt-cheap one-way ticket. He books it without a second thought.

The following morning, he boards his flight and a few hours later his feet touch Vietnamese soil for the very first time.

He gets his bags off the carousel and heads outside. Hailing a cab, he jumps in and gives the driver the address of his hotel.

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The driver says he knows where it is and sets off.

About an hour into the journey, our man harmlessly enquires with the driver how far the hotel is from the airport.

He says, “Just three sir,” and keeps on driving.

Two hours go by and still no sign of the hotel. So, he asks again. The driver still responds, “three sir”.

“We’ve been driving for three hours and we’re still not there yet!” he bellows.

The driver turns around and smiles sheepishly. “Hotel you stay is in Ho Chi Minh city sir, I pick you up from Hanoi airport. Drive is three days, not three hours sir.”

Believe it or not, he ended up taking that cab all the way south to Ho Chi Minh. If there’s a more epic travel fumble, I’d love to hear it.

HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION

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