1802hkgolfer

Hong Kong Ladies Close Amateur & Mid Amateur Championships Review

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION VOTED THE REGION’S NO 1 GOLF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 132

HKGOLFER.COM FEBRUARY 2018

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GOLF TRAVEL: SEVEN WONDERS OF SOUTHERN ASIA

STEPHANIE HO SHE IS BACK! DISPLAY UNTIL 15 MAR

Managed and serviced by The Old Course Hotel Ltd

| CONTENTS

HK Golfer Issue 132

February 2018

30 On the Cover:

Despite a 7-year competitive layoff, former champ Stephanie Ho has still got her game and won the Ladies Close Amateur Championship at Discovery Bay Golf Club.

Photo by Daniel Wong

Features

Plus…

30 | Ladies Close Amateur &

12 | Divots

Stephanie Ho sank a 30-foot putt to beat Hu Jing at the first hole of the playoff in dramatic fashion.

By Louie Chan

14 | In Focus

Mid Amateur Championships

34 | Bunker Mentality

It may come as something of a surprise that winner Wade Ormsby would probably not have been the highest-paid player in the UBS Hong Kong Open.

By Mike Wilson

40 | Asian Angle

Guess who will be the next Asian winner at the first World Golf Championship tournament of 2018, the WGC-Mexico Championship?

By Chuah Choo Chiang

44 | Better at Receiving Than Giving

A fair comment on President Donald Trump, America’s most astute golfer.

By The Kilted Caddie

50 | The Longest Hole

Review of a 2,011km golf odyssey across Mongolia that defies logic to golf.

By Adam Rolston

Daniel Wong

60 | The Seven Wonders of Southern Asia

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Award-winning architect in search of the region’s most unique golf courses and landscapes.

By Paul Jansen

News and events from Hong Kong and the region.

By The Editors A pictorial review of the last 30 days from around the world.

By The Editors

21 | Tee Time

For the 28th time in history, Omega is set to fulfil its role as Off icial Timekeeper of the Olympic Games in PyeongChang.

By The Editors

29 | Around the HKGA

Local golf future stars have been busy in the last December taking part in junior tournaments staged by the HKGA.

By The Editors

32 | Interview

Brad Schadewitz, Lead Coach of HKGA, wins the FCG Top 25 Elite Junior Golf Coach Award.

By Louie Chan

70 | Crossword

This issue: “Know the Rules! ”

By Dr Milton Wayne

74 | Final Shot

James Robinson, former Executive Director of Hong Kong Land talks about his best ever round and the most memorable moment on a golf course.

Interview by Charles McLaughlin HKGOLFER.COM

HK Golfer

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION FEBRUARY 2018 • Issue 132

Managing Editor: Louie Chan louie.chan@hkgolfer.com Contributing Editors: Dr Milton Wayne, Faye Glasgow, John Bruce, Nathan Goulding, Keith McLaren, Paul Jansen, Evan Rast, Mike Wilson, Robin Lynam.

Art Director: Derek Hannah Photo Editor: Daniel Wong Administration Manager Cindy Kwok Publisher: Charles McLaughlin Published by:

TIMES INTERNATIONAL CREATION

The Longest Hole - A 2,011km Golf Odyssey Across Mongolia on page 50

Times International Creation Limited 10B Lockhart Centre 301-307 Lockhart Road Hong Kong Phone: +852 3590-4153 Fax: +852 3590-4533

D E PA R T M E N T S 10 Mailbag 12 Divots 14 Global Focus 16 Asia Focus 18 Local Focus 21 Clubhouse 29 Around the HKGA 32 Interview 34 Bunker Mentality 40 Asian Angle 44 The Kilted Caddie 60 Golf Travel 70 Crossword 74 Final Shot

In association with: thymedesign.hk Advertising: For advertising information, please contact: ads@hkgolfer.com For purchasing information contact: sales@hkgolfer.com For subscription information contact: subs@hkgolfer.com Hong Kong Golf Association Suite 2003, Olympic House 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Phone (General): +852 2504-8659 Fax: +852 2845-1553 Phone (Handicaps): +852 2504-8197 Fax: +852 2504-8198 Email: info@hkga.com handicaps@hkga.com

Andrew King

HK GOLFER is published by Times International Creation, 10B Lockhart Centre, 301-307 Lockhart Road, Hong Kong.

HK GOLFER is published monthly © 2017 by Times International Creation. Published in Hong Kong. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. PRINTED IN HONG KONG. 8

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

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HK Golfer Mailbag

The Euro is Rising

There is more buzz about Europe’s bid to hold off a rejuvenated American effort in Paris in September than there is about the Masters coming up in April. Rory McIlroy was asked in a news conference before his 2018 debut in Abu Dhabi what he was most excited about this year.

The Ryder Cup topped his list.

Though McIlroy will be trying to complete the career Grand Slam at Augusta National come April, he talked more about the Ryder Cup than he did any of the game’s major championships.

The Euros dominated across the planet in January, and it was a heck of an encouraging start to the year for European captain Thomas Bjorn to witness.

Spain’s Jon Rahm won the CareerBuilder Challenge on the PGA Tour, England’s Tommy Fleetwood started the week at Abu Dhabi paired with American and world WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

AFP/Getty Images

Have something to say about an article in HK Golfer or a topic affecting golf in our area? Send your thoughts and comments to letters@hkgolfer. com. Please also include your address, contact number, email and HKGA #. The winner of the best letter (the first one that appears on the page) will receive a bottle of Champagne Deutz courtesy of Montrose Fine Wines.

10

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

No. 1 Dustin Johnson and won the European Tour event, and Spain’s Sergio Garcia won the Singapore Open in a rout on the Asian Tour.

And McIlroy looked close to being in midseason form, tying for third in his first start in three months.

Yes, it’s only January, and the Ryder Cup is still a long way off, with so much still to unfold, but you got an early sense from McIlroy how much defending European turf will mean to him and the Euros in Paris in September.

Ciaran Bryne Caine Road, Mid Levels

Professional Golfers and Their Prize Money Dear Sir,

I have always wondered how long it takes for a professional golfer to receive his/her prize money, from the winner down to last place on the prize money list. And, at the end of the day, after paying agents, caddies, the taxman, etc., what typically is the proportion he/she gets to actually bank for themselves, particularly a winner of a major event.

I am sure many of your readers would be interested to know.

G. Bailey, Hong Kong Golf Club Member Muk Wu Village, Takwuling, N.T.

HKGOLFER.COM

| DIVOTS

Strong line-up for inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Singapore

Daniel Wong

T he R& A a nd A sia-Pacif ic G ol f Confederation (APGC) have announced that 81 players from 18 countries have already been con f irmed for t he f irst Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific golf championship, which will be held in Singapore from 21-24 February at the redeveloped New Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club. As nations with the top-ranked players, Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand will field six players each. Singapore will also have six spots, comprising four based on ranking and an additional two places as the host nation. Hong Kong will have four players, including Isabella Leung, Michelle Cheung, Chloe Chan and Vivian Lee. The final field for the 72-hole stroke play event is expected to feature 86 players from 20 countries. The winner will earn invitations to play in two major championships next year - the ANA Inspiration and the Ricoh Women’s British Open. The winner will also be invited by HSBC, a global supporter of women’s golf, to remain in Singapore to compete in the following week’s HSBC Women’s World Championship at the same layout.

Isabella Leung

Hong Kong Team Finds Huge Success in Bangladesh

Hong Kong Golf Association

Terrance Ng and Isabella Leung claimed the men’s and women’s individual champion at the Orion Group 33rd Bangladesh Amateur Golf Championship 2018, held in Dhaka’s Kurmitola Golf Club. Leung and Chole Chan also won the women’s team champion, while Stephanie Wong f inished at third in the women’s division. “ We c a m e t o Ba n g l ad e sh w it h o n e simple goal - to give our local players more international experience, and anything else is just a bonus. We were fortunate to achieve great results this week, with two overall individual winners from men’s and women’s division. I believe winning this week will help them to build confidence and grow as players - to be able to experience a different culture, golf course and different type of competitive at mosphere. Win ning is just a bonus,” concluded Tim Tang, High Performance Manager of the HKGA.

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HKGOLFER.COM

| DIVOTS

HKGC to Host First Inter-Secondary Schools Golf Tournament As part of its efforts to promote and develop the sport of golf across the territory, the Hong Kong Golf Club announced that its Fanling location will play host to the first Inter-Secondary Schools Golf Tournament on 14 May 2018. The tournament - organised by the Hong Kong Golf Association, sponsored by the Hong Kong Golf Club and supported by the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation – is open to all secondary schools entering a team or teams of no more than four players. Featuring competitions for boys and girls, the tournament also provides an opportunity for the HKGA to promote golf in secondary schools city-wide and identify promising young athletes.

To support t he f irst I nter-Secondar y Schools G ol f Tou r na ment , t he H KG C a nd H KG A a re also collaborating on a host of initiatives to assist secondary schools in forming their own golf teams and systematically provide them with training resources. The initiatives include golf orientation for secondary school physical education teachers, golf clubs and equipment, training facilities and exchanges.

‘We are very pleased to host the first Inter-Secondary Schools Golf Tournament. As a golf club with over 100 years of history, we are dedicated to supporting the development of young athletes and promoting this fun sport to the community,’ said Ian Gardner, General Manager of the HKGC.

HKGOLFER.COM

From left to right: Ray Fung, golf professional of the HKGC, Ian Gardner, General Manager of the HKGC, Danny Lai, CEO of the HKGA, Daniel O’Neill, Head of Professionals of the HKGC

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

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Global Focus Rahm Passes Spieth to Become World No. 2 23-year-old Jon Rahm picked up his second PGA Tour victory at the CareerBuilder Challenge and passed Jordan Spieth to move to No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking, behind only Dustin Johnson.

In 19 months, since June 2016, the Spaniard has rocketed from No. 776 in the world to No. 2. Asked after his playoff victory over Andrew Landry to discuss his rapid ascent up the world rankings, Rahm was almost at a loss.

Rahm may only have two PGA Tour titles, but this is his fourth worldwide win in the last year, dating back to last season’s Farmers Insurance Open. He also took the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and the DP World Tour Championship on his way to claiming the European Tour’s 2017 Rookie of the Year Award.

Dating back to the start of last season on the PGA Tour, Rahm has racked up 12 top-10s, three runner-ups, and two wins.

Photo by AFP/Getty Images

Asia Focus Team Europe Retains EurAsia Cup Team Europe, captained by Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, dominated the Single matches to earn a hard-fought win over Team Asia with a 14-10 victory to retain the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM. After trailing Team Asia for two days, Europe surmounted a gallant fightback to win eight out of 12 matches in the Singles format at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

“It was a great performance today from every single one of them, they go out and do the job the way they did today shows a lot about the character of these 12 guys, and it shows a lot about the character of European golf, and it shows a lot about what we are,” said Bjorn.

Alex Noren of Sweden delivered the day’s first point with a convincing 4&2 win over Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung. Asia’s number one Gavin Green of Malaysia then fell victim to Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello 4&3.

The winning moment for Europe came on the 18th hole when Belgium’s Thomas Pieters beat Korea’s Byeonghun An by one hole.

Photo by Asian Tour

Local Focus Pop Star Returns to Putting Green Stephanie Ho, the top amateur golfer turned pop singer, won the Ladies Close Amateur Championship at Discovery Bay Golf Club after a 7-year competitive layoff.

Here is a recap of her interview with HK Golfer in 2010: Are you a golfer who sings or a singer who plays golf?

At the moment I consider myself as a golfer who sings since I have more significant achievements in golf. I am going to participate in the Asian Games and the World Amateur Team Championship this year (2010), and I think I can achieve more in golf. These are two big events, and I really need to focus on them, I need to try my best. After that, I will be going to university next year, and I hope that I can devote more time to singing after getting into university. I consider singing as a stepping stone to let others know more about my achievements in golf.

Photo by Daniel Wong

CLUB

Away from the Fairways | TEE TIME

A TIMEKEEPING LEGACY THE OMEGA SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA “PYEONGCHANG 2018” LIMITED EDITION IS A TIMEPIECE THAT CAPTURES ALL THE ORIGINAL INNOVATION AND BEAUTY OF THE AQUA TERRA 150M COLLECTION. HOWEVER, FOR THIS MODEL, THE ADDITIONAL FOCUS IS FIRMLY ON THE MOMENTOUS SPORTING EVENT.

The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra “PyeongChang 2018” Limited Edition

HKGOLFER.COM

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

21

O

mega first served as Official sports scoreboards, and many kilometres of Timekeeper of the Olympic cables and optical fibre.

From February the 9th to the 25th, Omega Winter Games in 1936, when the event was held in Garmisch- will be trusted to capture the results and Partenkirchen, Germany. For that measure the performances at PyeongChang occasion, a single technician 2018, ensuring that every athlete, spectator was sent with just 27 Omega stopwatches used and judge has the most reliable timekeeping at hand. And, from March the to time every second.

9th, the brand will continue Over the past 82 years “Over the past 82 its role at the PyeongChang since then, OMEGA has years, Omega has 2018 Paralympics Games. continued to develop continued to develop Altogether, the Omega its technology and te a m will measure and hone its expertise and, its technology and record more than more than today, the brand has an hone its expertise and, 380,0 0 0 dif ferent times, unrivalled reputation for today, the brand has an distances and scores. These timekeeping. results will determine the Now, for the 28th unrivalled reputation g o l d, sil ve r an d b ro n ze time in history, Omega for timekeeping.” m e dal winn er s in ever y is set to fulfil its role as discipline, including alpine Official Timekeeper of Omega’s “Snowgate” technology skiing, cross country and Nordic combined, the Olympic Games.

The brand’s presence in was introduced to ensures that the ski cross and snowboard cross, speed skating, PyeongChang will include 300 timekeepers starting pulse sounds when the supported by 350 trained volunteers, 230 short track speed skiing, bobsleigh, freestyle “wand” is at precisely the same angle for every competitor tons of equipment including 30 public and 90 and snowboard – half pipe, ice hockey and Big 22

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

HKGOLFER.COM

A fast-paced sport at the heart of the Olympic Winter Games, speed skating is set to become even more enthralling for those watching

Air event - a new Olympic Games sport.

New technology includes “Stromotion”, to break down the action into sections and take a closer look. Trajectory video footage will now neatly reveal the evolution of an athlete’s movement or technique to show you exactly how good it was. And Omega’s Simulcam technology will help to enhance the replay action of numerous events in PyeongChang. By laying an image of one competitor over another, it will be possible for replays to compare the techniques and performances of different teams.

Omega has created two special editions of its Seamaster wristwatches to commemorate the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Both are limited to 2018 pieces. Designed to mark the countdown, the Seamaster Planet Ocean “PyeongChang 2018” is guaranteed to perform with world-class precision long after that great event has come and gone. Using the five colours of the iconic Olympic Rings, the words “PYEONGCHANG 2018” have been inscribed on the minute track of the blue PVD dial of the Seamaster Aqua Terra “PyeongChang 2018” Limited Edition.

HKGOLFER.COM

The Seamaster Planet Ocean "PyeongChang 2018" Limited Edition

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

23

The Seamaster Olympic Games Collection

O

mega’s Seamaster Olympic Games Collection celebrates the brand’s unique timekeeping legac y through five unique watches. The collection represents the different colours of the famous Rings of the Olympic Games, with models available in black, yellow, green, blue or red. As well as having a vibrant colour design and playful spirit, the collection has been inspired by several Omega stopwatches from the brand’s timekeeping past.

This can be seen on the domed black and white dial of each watch, designed to be read at a glance, with sporty hands and bold hour markers on black, set in sharp contrast with an easily-readable minute track on a white outer circle.

Another Pre-Basel 2018 highlight is the new De Ville Trésor, a collection offered in a diverse range of materials and colours. The Trésor delivers a classic design with a truly modern edge. Each model is distinguished by its thin case, available in either 39 mm or 36 mm sizes, with diamond paving that curves along each side. A single diamond is also set within the crown. This is included in a radiant flower, created from five Omega logos in red liquid ceramic. The timepieces are also noticeable for their transferred or embossed Roman numerals, which elegantly circle the lacquered dials. On each Trésor model, Omega has included a special mirrored caseback with a “Her Time” design.

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HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

Easily-readable minute track on the white outer circle

The new De Ville Trésor collection delivers a classic design with a truly modern edge HKGOLFER.COM

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PXG clubs feel and perform unlike anything else. Great gifts for the serious golfer who wants to slice his strokes. Hey, if you can’t play well, at least look good out there.

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

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HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION

A Busy Winter for Local Golf Future Stars Local golf future stars have been busy in the last December taking part in junior tournaments staged by the Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA).

Hu Jing (left) and Cyrus Lee (centre) receives the HKGA Winter Junior Championship 2017 trophies from Tim Tang, High Performance Manager of the HKGA

HKGOLFER.COM

Leading final scores: Graphite Design Hong Kong Schools Holiday Competition (Aged 12 and under) 2017: Boys 11-12 Gross: 66 – Leo Wong (BCWKMS); 68 – Sebastian Lau (SKUTKOKTPS). Girls 1112 Gross: 76 - Chloris Li (SSC); 78 – Summer Lee (KCIS). Boys 8-10 Gross: 37 – Ernie Mok (CIS); 39 – Sze Pak Hin (ISF). Girls 8-10 Gross: 43 – Athena Chan (MTCGPS); 46 – Zoie Chan (BHS).

Dr. George Choa Cup – 2017 Team Event by Invitation: 455 – HKGA-1 (Jasmine Kwan 81 85, Chris Mun 75 74, Yu Ka Jun 75 79, Alex Zhou 77 75); 474 – SZGA (Chen Zi Hao 80 85, Luo Yun Yi 84 88, Han Zheng Fei 79 70, Zhang Yun Xuan 84 76); 475 – GDGA (Li Nai Ke 86 81, Wang Zheng 76 83, Zhang Zong Hao 78 70, Zhong Bin Cheng 83 77).

HKGA Winter Junior Championship 2017: Overall Boys: 145 – Cyrus Lee 73 72; 146 – Taichi Kho 76 70; 152 – Lincoln Lau 81 71. Overall Girls: 153 – Hu Jing 78 75; 154 –Chloe Chan 77 77; 155 – Stephanie Wong 82 73.

For more information and results please go to: www.hkga.com/eng/LocalTournament.aspx HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

Daniel Wong

Daniel Wong

T

he Winter Junior Championship was the climax of such a bumper month and saw Cyrus Lee claim the overall boys title over 36 holes at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course (North Course). Defending champion Taichi Kho fired a 70 on day two, which was the lowest score in the final round. But Kho (146) was still unable to retain his title and lost to Lee (145) by a single stroke margin.

Hu Jing (153) defended her overall girls champion title, who defeated 14-year-old Chloe Chan (154) in consecutive year for just one stroke.

The HKGA-1 team retained the Dr. George Choa Cup title again at the Hong Kong Golf Club, a two-day invitational event for teams across Hong Kong and southern China. With strong performances by Jasmine Kwan, Chris Mun, Yu Ka Jun and Alex Zhuo, the HKGA-1 team (455) defeated the Shenzhen Golf Association team (474) by a huge margin of 19 strokes. The Guangdong Golf Association team was in the third place with a total of 475.

The Graphite Design Hong Kong Schools Holiday Competition saw boys and girls aged 12 and under in action at Hong Kong Golf Club’s Deep Water Bay nine-hole course. Leo Wong from Buddhist Chan Wing Kam Memorial School and Chloris Li from St. Stephen’s College claimed the Boys and Girls 11-12 Gross title respectively.

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Ho Wins Ladies Close Title in Dramatic Fashion Despite a 7-year competitive layoff, former champion (2009) Stephanie Ho has still got her game and won the Ladies Close Amateur Championship at Discovery Bay Golf Club, writes Louie Chan.

Nishi Yoshihiro, President of the HKGA (centre) with the prize winners at the 2018 Hong Kong Ladies Close Amateur and Mid Amateur Championships at the Discovery Bay Golf Club.

T

Daniel Wong

he top amateur golfer turned pop singer sank a 30-foot putt to beat Hu Jing at the first hole of the playoff in dramatic fashion. Both players finished on 220 after 54 holes. Hu was the clubhouse leader after two rounds and had a 3-stroke advantage over Ho. But Ho kept her nerve and forced the game into the playoff.

Ho will be invited to play in the Hong Kong Ladies Open, a professional event, at the Hong Kong Golf Club in May. She also secured a spot in the prestigious MercedesTrophy Hong Kong 2018 event back at Fanling.

“I was consistent and played well in the front nine. I thought I was leading by four strokes after five holes. But I have made some mistakes on course management in the back nine. There were ups and downs in the final five holes. The 18th was already a drama – my birdie putt lip-out, then she (Hu Jing) birdied to tie for the lead.

“Honestly, I was not under a lot of pressure during 30

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

the playoff, as I have been through this for quite a few times. I still remember playing against Tiffany Chan at the Junior Close Championship when I was 12 years old. It was also at the Discovery Bay Golf Club, and we had a playoff for five extra holes! I have been away from competitive golf for seven years, so I just try my best to play the mental game,” concluded Ho. HKGA squad teammates Virginie Ding and Queenie Lai tied at third on 230. Michelle Cheung, who won the best amateur trophy at the 2017 Kaohsiung Entrepreneur Association Ladies Open last December, carded a final-round 71 to finish fifth on 231.

Leading final scores: 220 – Stephanie Ho 76 70 74, Hu Jing 72 71 77; 230 – Virginie Ding 78 79 73, Queenie Lai 79 76 75; 231 – Michelle Cheung 77 83 71; 236 - Jasmine Chee 79 82 75.

Mid-Amateur Division 1: 220 – Stephanie Ho 76 70 74; 250 – Yvonne Wong - 81 88 81; 251 – Christine Kwok 83 86 82.

Mid-Amateur Division 2: 253 – Annie Wong 84 91 78, Christine Wong - 84 86 83; 254 – Helen Cheung 83 85 86.

HKGOLFER.COM

Former top amateur golfer Stephanie Ho has still got her game after a 7-year competitive layoff

HKGOLFER.COM

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

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INTERVIEW

Schadewitz Wins FCG Top 25 Elite Junior Golf Coach Award Louie Chan talks to Brad Schadewitz, Lead Coach of HKGA, about his recent coaching award and his journey of helping local junior golfers to reach their college dreams. of success developing young players and high school kids, the program really took shape in 2007. After hearing from players and parents and seeing a need for a new tournament platform, Smeal launched the FCG Tour and hired Antrone Williams to be the Tournament Director.

Brad Schadewitz with Tiffany Chan after winning the 2014 World University Championship in Crans-Montana, Switzerland Congratulations, Brad! Can you tell us more about the “FCG Top 25 Elite Junior Golf Coach Award” that you just received?

The FCG Top 25 Elite Junior Golf Coach Award started in 2015 recognizes coaches who specialize in competitive players ages 13-18. Their players compete at the highest levels of junior golf and regularly develop into college golfers. 2017 is the 3rd year Future Champions Golf recognizes these top coaches for their efforts.

What does winning this award mean to you?

This award means a great deal to me, as it really covers an over 10 years journey of bringing Hong Kong players to the U.S. to play and practice with the best junior players from around the world and gain college exposure.

What are the criteria to apply for this award?

- Minimum of 6 years teaching golf full time - Minimum of 3 years with established elite junior golf training program - Significant number of college players developed - Tournament finishes by students What exactly does “FCG” stand for?

FCG is the short form of “Future Champions Golf”, which was started in 2004 by PGA Teaching Professional Chris Smeal as an instruction only program at Stadium Golf Center in San Diego, California. After a few years 32

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

In 2008 FCG launched the San Diego Junior Amateur, which today is called the FCG National Championship. This event has grown to host as many as 550 players from all over the world and is annually held in San Diego during Winter Break. Last event featured 37 U.S. College Coaches on site recruiting at the event.

What was the initiative to bring Hong Kong junior players to the U.S. participating the Junior World Tournament?

One of the big initiatives set out by the Hong Kong Golf Association early on was to find a way to combine golf and university education. With the support of the Junior and International Committee and the sponsorship from EFG Bank, we planned and put together a 6-week tournament and training tour to the U.S. It was a huge success and the stepping stone for putting more than 40 players into college in the U.S. and other countries. That first tour opened the eyes of now LPGA Tour player Tiffany Chan to the possibilities of playing college golf in the U.S. I believe the initiative to send players to the U.S. has had the single greatest impact in the success of the Hong Kong players to date.

And it’s been such an honour for me to be involved in the HKGA National Golf Program over the last 14 yearrs. We have come such a long way since the first class of 8 kids at Kai Tak Airport driving range in 2003! I’m so proud to be a part of the HKGA family.

HKGOLFER.COM

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BUNKER MENTALITY

First

Amongst

Equals

Daniel Wong

As Mike Wilson writes, the luck of the draw or the bounce of the ball can turn tournaments on their heads and previously sane golfers into nervous wrecks.

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Wade Ormsby won US$355,000 by claiming UBS Hong Kong Open title, by far the biggest pay-day of his career to date

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

35

W

Daniel Wong

Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose may have negotiated a tax-free lump sum appearance fee through his management agency 36

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

hile in any 156-man field each week, there can only ever be one wi n ner – ergo 155 ‘Losers’. Surely that fortunate fellow with the lowest number of strokes, brought about by a combination of fine shots, holed putts, fewer and less unfortunate mistakes and a slice or two of good fortune thrown into the mix must walk away on Sunday night. Winner’s speech delivered, photographs posted for, press questions answered, champagne coiffed, champion’s commitments fulfilled as the most highly-financially-rewarded player of the week, first amongst equals.

Except, no, not necessarily so, as with Aust ra l ia n wi n ner of t he 2018 seasonopening UBS Hong Kong Open, Wade Ormsby. The leaderboard shows that the 27-year-old from Adelaide won €281,786, around US$355,000 in the lovely greenback lucre worshipped by pro golfers everywhere, by far the biggest pay-day of his career to date, hardly surprising for a maiden victory on the second most valuable circuit on earth.

That’s almost US$200,000 more than each of the four men who finished in a tie for second and shared the second, third, fourth and fifth-place purses. Three, like Ormsby,

relatively unknown wannabees, the other, the high-flying young Spanish matador Rafa Cabrera-Bello, 20th on the Official World Golf Ranking, already a member of global golf’s elite club.

But , w h i l st t he ma n for w hom t he epit aph ‘ Jou r ney ma n pro,’ m ig ht wel l have been coined may have recorded the fewest shots over Fanling for four days late last year, it may come as something of a surprise that he would probably not have been the highest-paid.

With reigning Masters champion Sergio García and Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose both persuaded to take a trip to one of the most evocative cities in the world but with a prize fund neither would think of leaving home for. Thanks to the offer of what those practitioners in the dark arts of PR might describe as, ‘A substantial sixfigure sum,’ is far from unrealistic to assume both got almost as much - and arguably more - as Ormsby won for four-days of heated competition in the New Territories, just for turning up.

While the Australian would have had without question - at least 15% withholding tax taken off at the source, the Ryder Cup duo may, through their management agencies, have negotiated a tax-free lump sum. All in HKGOLFER.COM

return for image rights, a coaching clinic or two and a few warm words, and many, many more thousands and millions on the gate and the global viewing figures respectively than Ormsby - with the greatest of respect - will draw when he returns as defending champion next year.

Both 2015 champion Rose and García will have had local Hong Kong tax proportion due to their annual worldwide image rights annulled, whereas Ormsby has no such powers to revoke, whilst it’s possible too that the duo’s commissions due to their munificent management companies may also have been paid by the event sponsors/promoters.

All three will have had to pay their caddies, the rate is usually 8%, whilst only the winner would have fallen due to the 10% winner’s bonus to his bagman.

Meanwhile, Rose and García would have been f lown by sponsors, most probably f irst-class, business at worst, from their lu x u r y homes i n t he ta x havens of t he Bahamas and Switzerland respectively and put-up in a suite at the five-star ‘Luxury,’ JW Marriott in Central. Ormsby - f lying economy and possibly even sharing a room with a similarly ‘impoverished’ player - in the Marriot Courtyard, a case of the princes and the paupers.

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Ormsby may well be paid a modest fivefigure sum in advance next time around as defending champion, the man from Adelaide, who leapt 201 places up the OWGR from 319th to 118th with his Hong Kong Open victory needs one big win, or two more modest ones before he’s even at the top table.

The Australian’s immediate aim going into the 2018 season would have been to retain his European Tour playing rights by getting into the top 101 on the Race to Dubai Rankings, something he achieved comfortably ending t h e 2 016/ 17 s e a s o n i n 83rd pl ac e o n US$429,500. But ten missed cuts and only four top ten finishes in 27 outings meant he was never going to make the Dubai World Championship or any of the WGC events.

And, with taxes, caddies’ fees, management commissions and heavy week-in, week-out travel and accommodation expenses, halfa-million dollars in a season may sound good. But, in truth, for a European Tour professional golfer, that’s subsistence living.

Beyond that, he can but dream of a PGA TOUR player’s card, top-50 in the OWGR, to become a regular in the WGC events and the ‘Majors,’ where the rich are rich and can barely help themselves get richer still. But, unless or until then, of course, he can rely on the notion that all men remain equal…

It is rumoured that reigning Masters champion Sergio García persuaded to take a trip to Hong Kong for a substantial six-figure appearance fee HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

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A substantial family home in a highly desirable Chelsea location, with South facing views over Chelsea Physic Garden and across the Thames towards Battersea Park.

7 Cheyne Place, Chelsea, London, UK • Guide Price £12,000,000

• • •

7 Bedrooms 7 Bathrooms 3 Receptions

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Sebastian NEWALL

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Arguably the best apartment in The Heron, the leading residential building in the City of London.

The Heron, Moor Lane, Moorgate, London, UK • Guide Price £4,950,000

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3 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 Receptions Duplex Apartment High Ceilings’

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Air Conditioning Private Residents Club Leisure Facilities 3 Secure Parking Spaces- Available By Seperate Negotiation

Alex NEWALL

Sebastian NEWALL

M: + 44 (0) 7884 262 774

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AFP/Getty Images

ASIAN ANGLE

Current world No. 1 Dustin Johnson is the defending champion at the US$10 million showpiece 40

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Conquering the World in

Mexico City

Chuah Choo Chiang predicts who can be the next Asian winner at the first World Golf Championship tournament of 2018, the WGC-Mexico Championship in early March.

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Aphibarnrat Kiradech, Asia’s No. 1 in 2013, is keen to lift his game a notch higher and improve on his WGC record

W

AFP/Getty Images

hen it comes to World Golf Championships events, Dustin Johnson probably provides the best description.

“They are very important tournaments. They are big tournaments. They bring together the best players in the world,” said the 17-time PGA TOUR winner and current world No. 1.

It is no wonder these factors have driven the long-hitting American superstar to five WGC titles, where he is second after Tiger Woods for most WGC career victories. Beating the best of the best has pushed him to excel and the mantra appears to be driving Asia’s band of new glory seekers on the WGC frontier.

The region’s flagbearers will get a crack against the world’s elite when the first WGC tournament of 2018, the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, takes place at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City from March 1-4. Johnson is the defending champion at the US$10 million showpiece, which is supported by the Salinas family who is intented to help grow the game further in Mexico.

While WGC tournaments have been held successfully for nearly two decades, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama has only burst through the gates recently as Asia’s most successful golfer following standout triumphs at the World Golf ChampionshipsHSBC Champions in 2016 and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational last year.

At 25, he has entrenched himself as being amongst a new wave of ultratalented golfers dominating the global golf scene alongside the power hitters such as Johnson, reigning FedExCup champion Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

Beyond Matsuyama, Asia is counting on the likes of China’s Li Haotong, 22, Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, 28, and 24-year-old Gavin Green of Malaysia to become world-beaters. Each has shown glimpses of greatness and the trio will 42

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get their chance to underpin their credentials in Mexico, which is not lost on them.

“I’m really excited about the WGC-Mexico Championship. It is always my ambition to play and compete against the best players in the world, so to get into the elite field is a special feeling,” said Li, who enjoyed an impressive third-place finish at The Open Championship last July.

“As it is also my first WGC appearance outside of China, I am determined to make it a memorable week. Hopefully, I can contend for a win,” added Li, who is a product of the China Golf Association-HSBC Junior Golf programme and a graduate of the PGA TOUR Series-China.

Green, who starred for the University of New Mexico during his amateur days, created a slice of golf history at the end of last year when he became the first Malaysian to win the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, which earned him a maiden start at the WGC-Mexico Championship.

“The World Golf Championships are all big events… all the best in the world will be there,” said Green.

His rise during the 2017 season paved the way for him to feature in the PGA TOUR’s events across Asia last fall, namely the CIMB Classic in Ma laysia, CJ C U P @ N I NE BRIDGES in South Korea and WGC-HSBC Champions in China. And the Malaysian said those events “opened” his eyes to top-level golf which he believes will make him a better golfer.

“Playing in the WGC opened my eyes as well as playing in the CIMB and CJ too,” Green said.

“I know what to expect, I know what to do.

You’ll get all the good guys in the top events, so I just hope to use these events to better myself.”

Kiradech, Asia’s No. 1 in 2013, is keen to lift his game a notch higher, which means improving on his WGC record and ultimately playing his way onto the PGA TOUR. In eleven starts, Kiradech’s best is a T18 at the 2016 WGCDell Technologies Match Play, and he hopes his appearance at the WGC-Mexico Championship will see a breakthrough.

“It is fun to have the opportunity to play in big tournaments. Being the first World Golf Championships event of the year, I will be very motivated to produce a strong performance in Mexico, and hopefully, I can challenge for the title,” said Kiradech, who made a welcome return into the world’s top-50 following five top10 finishes at the end of last year.

All eyes will surely be on Kiradech, Li and Green as they attempt to follow in Matsuyama’s footsteps and conquer the world in Mexico City.

The golfing world awaits with bated breath.

Chuah Choo Chiang is the Senior Director, Communications of PGA Tour and based in TPC Kuala Lumpur HKGOLFER.COM

Li Haotong will have his first WGC appearance outside of China in Mexico City

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THE KILTED CADDIE

Better at

Receiving than

Giving The Kilted Caddie recalls a series of caddie experiences for successful Americans who are keen on the old game…

I

once caddied for this elderly American chap who was apparently very fit, wealthy and pretty keen on the old game. He handed me a card on the first tee and asked if I would record his score. It was fine, but it became quickly apparent that his card was to be a wonderfully creative work of fiction.

It started on the second when he duffed a chip and merely put another ball down, hit it close and used it. It was primarily a round of ongoing self-given Mulligans. Fair call I thought, and maybe this is how golf should be played? I mean they kind of do that in lawn tennis. But I’m not sure if the Rules bloke at the Royal and Ancient will buy into it.

Things got a bit more colourful on the ninth. He hit a good pitch which went fifteen feet past the pin and onto the small bank just

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behind the green and stuck there, somehow defying gravity. I said, ‘bad luck’ and meant it, as in most cases it would have come back down to the hole, which it did! As he walked past the ball, he gave it a delicate and most skilful wee nudge with the outside of his left foot, and it rolled to a few feet.

The ultimate came through on the long par four, twelfth. He had a Mulligan off the tee and found himself in the greenside bunker in ‘three’. He had several stabs, attempting to get out of the bunker, and eventually, put it to forty feet and rolled in the putt. His wife turned around and said, ‘what was that?’

And he remarkably and unashamedly and astonishingly said ‘a par’.

He carded an 82.

I caddied for another very successful American gentleman who was some kind of

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AFP/Getty Images

Golf is a game of honesty, if not, a scorecard would just be a wonderfully creative work of fiction

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Rory McIlroy came out with the most politic quote after playing with Donald Trump this year, ‘he probably shot around 80. He’s a decent player for a guy in his 70’s.’

AFP/Getty Images

pastor in Pebble Beach as well as something along the lines of a self-help guru, businessman. Well, at least that is what he told me over the first few holes. He had ‘written 102 books, had over 20 million followers on Twitter and spoke at conferences around the world making millions’.

He was quite a canny golfer but was manifestly full of himself. However, when he got into a bunker at thirteen, on a downward lie, he merely kicked his ball onto a flat and more favourable position. I suppose that is what he professes as self-help, or am I a bit too cynical? Maybe he has a chapter in one of his books about it. Maybe called ‘The Bunker’. Anyway, I shan’t be buying one. For that one little act on the golf course had undermined him in my eyes, no matter the millions of Twitter followers or the number of books he had published. Sorry. Not impressed. And I shall not be giving his name away but let’s just say a most bitter flavour comes into my mouth when I think of it.

By all accounts, a rather famous and notorious ex-footballer in the American sense, (I mean footballer in the American sense, not notorious), playing in a Pro-Am, seemingly had his ball tee’d up in the rough and on being asked why and how he claimed it landed on it! I wonder how that would stand up to the jury?

On another footing, this brings up the remembrance of a golfer at our club, David Patrick, who was a Walker Cup player and got through into a final playoff to qualify for The Open. He, unfortunately, hit into the rough, away from everyone, and on addressing the ball, it seemingly moved just more than the allowed half diameter. Anyway, he called the foul on himself and incurred the penalty which prevented him qualifying. Wonderful. That is golf. That is life. But how rare does this kind of behaviour appear nowadays? I mean even politicians have been found out to be lying. Look at that Flynn bloke in America. The National Security Advisor for goodness sake. Poor show.

My brother told me of an amusing anecdote of how he was playing in a Club Medal one day with a very successful local businessman. Marking the chap’s card on the sixteenth tee, he asked what he’d scored to which the reply came ‘five’. Knowing this was wrong my brother intimated that he thought 46

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he had played six shots on the hole. To which the man unbelievably and immediately replied ‘net five’.

Give me strength!

Now, there is a remarkably successful man in America who is a very keen and seemingly most astute golfer. He is also that country’s president. Mr Donald Trump.

He has seemingly won nineteen club championships, held an amateur course record of 66 at a club called Mar-a-Lago and was listed on the USGA GHIN system at the end of 2016 with a 2.8 handicap. That is ostensibly very impressive. A course record, albeit an amateur one. Nineteen club championships!

Wow. And playing off 2.8.

On further inspection and not to discredit these achievements, Donald turns out to own the golf courses at which he had the many victories and the personnel thereat have not been willing to elaborate on these august triumphs, for some reason. But well done anyway. I suppose you could say that these are home club victories in the truest sense, as he owns them all. The only club he is a member of which he doesn’t own is Winged Foot, and he has no record of any club championship wins there.

I have won t wo club championships.

My junior at Mortonhall in 1979 as well as somehow carrying off the Mortonhall HKGOLFER.COM

The only club Donald Trump is a member of which he doesn’t own is Winged Foot, and he has no record of any club championship wins there

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with Mr Trump in the nineties. Mr Trump said that he had placed his ball next to the pin on one hole and explained it by saying that, ‘the guys I play with cheat all the time, and I have to cheat to catch up with them’. Ok, the picture is building here.

Now in October, Senator Lindsay Graham played in the Columbus Day Foundation Tournament at Trump National GC, Washington, with the owner. He tweeted after that ‘he (the owner) had shot a 73 in wet and windy conditions’. On being questioned further about the round the Senator did not say much, but he did say this about putts, ‘he is better at receiving than giving’.

I think enough said.

Ernie Els reckons that Mr Trump is about an eight to nine handicapper and Rory McIlroy came out with the most politic quote after playing with him this year, ‘he probably shot around 80. He’s a decent player for a guy in his 70’s.’

Well, I don’t like the word ‘probably’ here Rory and ‘around 80’ is far too vague and usually means about 95 once you’ve added the goodwill factor to it. And in this instance, I imagine that was considerable.

Anyway, I am not on a witch hunt against Mr Trump here; heaven forbids I don’t work for the FBI, nor that bloke Mueller. I just understand and adhere to the rules and etiquette of the noble game of golf and have a gut instinct when things appear amiss. And I’m afraid things just don’t stack up for me here. I trust that the president is very probably a decent player for a guy in his 70’s though. But hell, I’m a Comey, straight talking kind of bloke who calls a spade a spade and a bogey a bogey.

My handicap is now very definitely and absolutely eleven. Yes, that’s double figures I know. But an honest writer I am. And an honest golfer too.

Yes, that may well not be a very sexy level of handicap to my female readers out there. However, on the plus side, I do hit a very long ball. Well, when it goes straight that is. If that sort of thing is important to you?

Please go to thekiltedcaddie.com to find out more about The Kilted Caddie.

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

AFP/Getty Images

Casual Barmy Army Club Championship in the glorious summer of 2008 after a oneround decider, resulting from the committee’s inability to arrange a spring qualifying round and any resulting match play that year. A default win maybe. But a win. And an honest win. A reasonable 76 as far as I recall on a cold and wet October’s day.

Now I do not want to undermine Mr Trump’s golfing stature or intimate that he is barmy, but things don’t look that good on closer inspection. He somehow only posted twenty rounds between 2009 and 2016.

Why? That for a start doesn’t inspire one with confidence. And further.

Alan Shipnuck, the then senior writer at Sports Illustrated said that playing golf with Mr Trump was a ‘nauseating character study of him’ And further ‘he bends the rules or completely skirts the rules to his benefit’.

Hmm, not good either.

Nick Reilly, another Sports Illustrated writer, played with him and claimed that he gave himself ‘a gimme chip’. However, that was lambasted by a rather riled Mr Trump who then labelled Mr Reilly as ‘a dishonest writer’.

Fake news I guess?

Mark Mulvoy, the Sports Illustrated media editor told Washington Post that he had played

47

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FEATURE

The

Longest Hole

A 2,011km Golf Odyssey Across Mongolia Photography by Andrew King

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Former Hong Kong rugby player Adam Rolston with caddie-friend Ron Rutland covered 2,011km from the base camp of Khuiten Peak – the highest and most western point in Mongolia to finish at the 18th hole of the Mt Bogd Golf & Country Club in Ulan Bator. The epic odyssey took 80 days and more than 20,000 strokes, has defied logic to golf and played the pair into the Guinness Book of World Records. In this photo story series, Rolston recaps how the pair has completed what they named “The Longest Hole”.

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“It began when I met up with Ron in Kenya. We discussed Ron’s previous charity escapade: a 26,000km cycle through every country in Africa before arriving in Brighton, England to watch his beloved Springboks face Japan in the 2015 World Cup. I came up with the idea of a similar golfing challenge, and we settled on Mongolia because it was an enormous country with few people, no fences and the largest fairways in the world. Ron agreed to be my caddie, and eight months later we began our journey.”

Ron Rutland (right) and Adam Rolston (left) are former rugby colleague in Hong Kong.

TaylorMade sponsored the pairs golf equipment and balls.

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"We first went to Mongolia to plan our trip in March. We spent a lot of time on the route to make sure we would be prepared for what has to come, and the journey would possibly work out. Our biggest concerns were the grass length, water through the dessert and river crossing the cart."

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“I first teed off on June 29, 2017, in Khüiten Peak, the highest and most western point in Mongolia. We had a five-hour trek to the top of this glacier, and it just started chucking it down with sleet and snow. Up there we found a shrine from where I hit the first shot. That was the last time we saw the sun for four days…”

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“The first four days were the toughest thing I’ve ever done I think – the mountainous terrain and atrocious weather restricting me to mainly chip shots. We were only doing 10km a day, and our quota was 25km. This is real, is it even possible to keep playing golf? I told so many people I am going to do this. And now, we are so far behind after the first four days, how on earth are we ever going to catch up?”

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“We found this stray dog after two days, and it just followed us for 2,000km. We named him U.B after Ulan Bator, our finish point. He is probably ten years old, and he has just walked the whole country. He looks like a black wolf and fends for himself by hunting rabbits. He’s not domesticated in any way but still shows affection and love like any other dog. And he’s a great guard dog - we could leave the cart which is loaded with all our gear outside in any town, and we know it will be fine because U.B ferociously defends it.”

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“We stayed predominantly in tents and eating a mixture of dry food and local cuisine. I ate everything from horse and goat stew, and Ron is a vegan has lived on rice, noodles and as many vegs as they could find. I have also tried horse milk vodka, a home-made Mongolian alcoholic drink!�

Rolston and Rutland have so far raised ÂŁ15,000 for charity Laureus Sport for Good, which uses the power of sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage and supports over 100 projects in 35 countries. They are awaiting verification from Guinness World Records to officially make it the Longest Hole in Golf after the European Tour gave it the rubber stamp as a single golf hole.

The journey will be continued...

| GOLF TRAVEL

The Seven

Wonders of

Southern Asia Award-winning architect Paul Jansen recently embarked on a 28-day trip around southern Asia in search of the region’s most unique golf courses and landscapes.

A

s a golf course architect, I am most inspired by environments that are distinctive and unique, and thus this trip provided me with an opportunity to develop my own skill set. Moreover, I would also use this opportunity to extol the virtues and unique appeal of the golf courses on my journey and highlight that golf can be unique and quirky and still be good.

As a strong advocate for the environment, I was also interested in visiting the most sustainable golf courses. Fortunately, the most environmentally sound golf courses tended to be thae most unique golf courses as well - they are fun to play (and you want to play them again and again), and they are typically designed around existing features rather than man made-features (which can cost a lot to build and maintain).

My journey would begin in Sri Lanka and take me to India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia. Here are some highlights from this trip.

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The Bagan Golf Club in Myanmar is one of the planets hidden gems

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Nuwara Eliya Golf Club

1st Wonder - Sri Lanka Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (in the middle of Nuwara Eliya town). In an era where most of our golf courses are guideline driven Nuwara Eliya hits back and shows that golf can be as good - even better - when it does not conform to any formula and where holes are not laid out in an orderly fashion or to meet some desired end number. This is highlighted by Hole 4 - the tee shot is played from an elevated tee. Golfers are required to hit their shot over the public highway, 11th green and fairway, lateral hazard and public footpath onto a common area and then towards a green complex surrounded by the city.

Royal Colombo Golf Club (in the capital city Colombo). As Golden Age Golf Architect Tom Simpson once wrote, “Roads, railways, sheds and gardens may be thought unsatisfactory and unwelcome on a golf course, yet they are often the essence of a course; take them away and the difference would at once be felt.’ At Royal Colombo, an active rail line bisects many of the holes and is the essence of the course.

Royal Colombo Golf Club

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Delhi Golf Club (Lodhi course)

2nd Wonder - Delhi, India

The famed Golf Architect George Thomas wrote, “When you play a course and remember each hole it has individuality and change. If your mind cannot recall the exact sequence of the holes, that course lacks the great assets of originality and diversity.” In the same way, the tombs that dot the property - at the Delhi GC help create a very memorable golf experience and one you can’t easily forget.

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Royal Selangor GC with impressive backdrop of KL city centre

3rd Wonder - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Royal Selangor GC, in the centre of Kuala Lumpur, perfectly melds the old school charm of the past and modern wonders of new world Malaysia. There are few golf courses on the planet with such an impressive backdrop.

The Carey Island Sports Club highlights that it is possible to build fun, quirky and characterful holes on a small parcel of land. On approximately 40 acres the original nine holes repeatedly criss-cross as golfers are required to negotiate numerous unconventional features like the internal roads, ditches, hedges, fences and some beautiful homesteads.

Stand-alone residences bounding some of the holes at Carey Island

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The remarkable backdrop of Mount Salak

The Riverside Golf Club

4th Wonder - Bogor, Indonesia

The Rancamaya Golf & Country Club is dominated by the impressive Mount Salak.

This beautiful landmark gives the golf course an identity and highlights that natural features always trump man-made ones.

At the Riverside Golf Club native plants such as Bougainvillea dot the landscape. They are not just impressive to look at and give the course an identity but also require minimal input. The key is going local.

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The 200m “rickety” bridge at Yemon Island

5th Wonder - Myanmar

Yemon Island Golf Resort is one of Myanmar’s most unique and fun golf courses. Highlighted by a 200m “rickety” bridge crossing to go with square greens, tees and bunkers. Yemon Island is also a multi-use facility where golfers can also take a time-out during the round to enjoy a bit of fishing.

Myanmar Golf Club represents most of the golf clubs in Yangon - it is affordable, sustainable and a lot of fun to play. Large pagodas also surround the property and add to its intrigue.

The Myanmar Golf Club

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The Laguna Lang Co Resort and the rice paddy fields

The reminisce of the Vietnam war can still be seen at the Da Nang Golf Club

6th Wonder - Da Nang, Vietnam

A few of the holes at the Laguna Lang Co Resort are flanked by rice paddy fields that were brought back into existence during the construction. This feature not only influences the play from a visual and strategic perspective but up to 30 tonnes of rice is produced from two harvests a year.

The area around Da Nang saw some of the most intense fighting during the Vietnam war, so its fitting that holes at the Da Nang Golf Club are routed to take advantage of some of the reminisce of the war. A sense of place is important.

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The Angkor Golf Resort

7th Wonder - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap may be well known for its expansive temple complex, but the Angkor Golf Resort and Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf Course are bot h wor t h visit ing if you wa nt to experience some of the unique countrysides including the hundreds of thousands of date palm trees that dot the landscape.

Notable mention: 8th Wonder Bangladesh

With nearly 90,000 rounds per year, the Kurmitola Golf Club highlights the growth of the game in the developing world. Nestled on approximately 100 hectares in the middle of the city of Dhaka, this golf course is an oasis for wildlife including monkeys and peacock.

Surely a significant part of the enjoyment of the game comes from the player's awareness of the beauty of the golf course and the abundant wildlife that wanders freely there.

The Kurmitola Golf Club

About Paul Jansen

Jansen is widely regarded as one of golf’s most well-travelled Golf Course Architects. After having schooled in South Africa, he began his career in the U.S. before relocating to Europe where he worked for Nick Faldo Design on a variety of projects in Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia. In 2011, Paul established Jansen Golf Design & Construction with a focus on creating highly sustainable golf courses that provide strategic, stimulating and memorable golf that is fun.

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A supremely elegant and classically styled mansion of natural Bath stone construction on this internationally renowned private estate.

Westbourn, Wentworth, Surrey, UK • Guide Price £23,000,000

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6 bedrooms 2 staff flats Garaging for 8 vehicles

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Swimming pool Landscaped gardens Wine display room

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3.77 acres GEA 22,087 sq ft (2,052 sq m)

Alex NEWALL

Sebastian NEWALL

M: + 44 (0) 7884 262 774

M: + 44 (0) 7716 860 571

T: + 44 (0) 20 7935 5797

T: + 44 (0) 20 7935 5797

E: a.newall@barnes-international.com

E: s.newall@barnes-international.com

www.barnes-privateoffice.com

Available with planning permission to create an architecturally pure masterpiece.

Sandylands Park, Englefield Green, Surrey, UK • Guide price £7,500,000

• • • •

7 bedroom suites 4 principal reception rooms 20m swimming pool Cinema

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6 space underground garage Passenger lift 22,252 SqFt / 2,067 Sq M 6 acres / 2.4 hectares

Alex NEWALL

Sebastian NEWALL

M: + 44 (0) 7884 262 774

M: + 44 (0) 7716 860 571

T: + 44 (0) 20 7935 5797

T: + 44 (0) 20 7935 5797

E: a.newall@barnes-international.com

E: s.newall@barnes-international.com

www.barnes-privateoffice.com

CROSSWORD

KNOW THE RULES! ©2018 Dr Milton Wayne

ACROSS 1. See 20A 2. See 22D 8. See 13D 10. (& 1D) 2017 host of the Open Championship 11. (& 24A) Home of the Masters 12. See 19A 14. US Open host “Hills” (pictured) 15. (& 7D) 2018 Ryder Cup captain: USA 16. See 9D 19. (& 12A) Our new UBS Hong Kong Open winner!

20. (& 1A) 2018 Ryder Cup captain: Europe 24. See 11A 25. See 17D 27. See 23D 28. (& 21D) World #1, but no majors this year

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DOWN 2. See 6D 4. See 35A 5. See 12A 6. (& 2D) A cart path is a good example of this 7. (& 22D) What you hit, just in case...

10. See 20D 13. Costless relief (4,4) 14. (&17A) Bit of natural rubbish you can move 15. See 29D 16. See 1A 18. (& 19A) Anywhere on the course (7,3,5) 20. (& 10D) Scottish rule makers - pic (5,3,7) 21. Posh way to say “plugged” 22. See 7D 24. You can declare your ball is this 25. See 1A 26. See 31A 28. Take a stance, and speak to your ball?

29. (& 15D, 34A) Fairway height turf...

33. You can’t ask your opponent for this HKGOLFER.COM

WIN "THE GOLFERS" PRINT To enter, complete the crossword and send a scan or photo of the completed grid to Crossword@HKGolfer.com, with “February Crossword” as the subject. Remember to include your name, address and contact number.

Entries close on 15 March 2018.

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL BE DRAWN FROM THE CORRECT ENTRIES.

A luxury print, measuring 38” x 26”, has been produced and is available exclusively in Asia through the HK Golfer. Each print is accompanied by a printed key identifying each of the characters, and makes the perfect gift for any golfer.

Yo u m ay a ls o v isi t H KG o l f e r Sh o p. co m, w r i te to store@hkgolfer.com or call us on 3590 4153 if you wish to purchase a print for only HK$888 (inc. free delivery).

PREVIOUS ANSWERS

Congratulations to Hector Tang of Pok Fu Lam who won the December crossword.

Hill & Adamson, “The Golfers” HKGOLFER.COM

HK GOLFER・FEB 2018

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 78

My good friend Steve Marcopoto turned to me and said, “you have to complete the round, and I will caddy for you to play the 1st hole.” So, after a quick drink to calm my nerves, we headed back out in the late afternoon, and I sank a long putt for a par-4 and a full round of 75. Then the beers started to flow over our late lunch.

Do you have a favourite course?

This is an easy choice for me. The Old Course at St. Andrews, which I have been so lucky to have played severa l t i mes w it h Ch r is Underwood, who grew up in St. Andrews and lived for many years in Hong Kong and Asia.

Touring Scotland twice in the mid-1990s with many friends from The Discovery Bay Golf Club was and still is one of my most favourite “bucket-list” vacations.

What has been your most memorable moment on a golf course?

Again, this goes back to my first “bucket-list” golf trip to Scotland in the summer of 1993.

Near the end of our week-long trip, Chris Underwood had organised a very competitive group of four-ball matches on the Old Course between our touring Discovery Bay Golf Club team and a team from the Royal and Ancient which included Chris’s father. I was paired-up with Jim Gosney, a Seattle-based newspaper journalist, who had flown into Scotland to be part of our tour. We were having a great match with two stalwarts of the R&A, and Jim and I were leading one-up going into the famous “Road Hole”, the par-4, 17th. I pulled my teeshot slightly to the left across the dog-leg right fairway and found myself with a decent lie in the sparse rough at about 190-200 yards out. I took a deep breath, pulled out my trusty 5-iron and crushed-it dead straight to eight feet below the hole. And with my tapping in for par, we won the match 2/1 and the overall team match!

Months later and after we had all gone our ways home, Jim Gosney sent me an autographed copy of his book Gosney, For all Seasons in which he wrote, “To Jim Robinson, from the admiring witness to the finest 5-iron ever hit on the Road Hole at St. Andrews.”

Who would be in your dream fourball?

Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jordan Spieth.

All gentleman golfers with great short games and massive competitive drive, who loved to play the Open Championship in Great Britain.

And of course, they have been wonderful worldwide ambassadors for this great game we all love to play.

HKGOLFER.COM

"Months later and after we had all gone our ways home, Jim Gosney sent me an autographed copy of his book Gosney, For all Seasons in which he wrote, "To Jim Robinson, from the admiring witness to the finest 5-iron ever hit on the Road Hole at St. Andrews."

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FINAL SHOT

James Robinson The former Executive Director of Hong Kong Land talks to Charles McLaughlin about his best ever round and the most memorable moment on a golf course.

AFP/Adrian Dennis

When did you start playing golf and where?

I was probably 9 or 10 years old when my father gave me some sawed-off golf clubs and taught me how to hit plastic whiff leball type golf balls in our backyard in Lake Bluff, a northern suburb of Chicago. At the same time, I was taking up my number one sporting passion, ice hockey (or just “hockey” to my Canadian friends) which also requires excellent hand-eye coordination in striking with force and accuracy a stationary object towards a target. My younger brother Harry (who was and still is a much more accomplished golfer than myself) and I were fortunate in middle school and high school in that the highly-regarded Lake Bluff Public Golf Course was opened in 1968, only a 5-minute bike ride from our home. Our summers were always spent playing golf, while my winters (and later year-round) were spent playing competitive ice hockey in the Chicago area.

How often do you play?

I came to Hong Kong as a young architect/ engineer in 1978, carrying one suitcase, my 74

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ice hockey equipment duffel bag, and a set of my father’s golf clubs (Wilson Staff irons as I recall). I immediately joined The American Club and it’s well-organised American Club Golf ing Society which held regular golf matches against other local Clubs. A few years later in 1987, I purchased a golf debenture at Discovery Bay and also put my name down on the waiting list for The Royal Hong Kong Golf Club. I joined the latter in 1997 (1st July to be exact) and now play most Saturdays at Fanling with friends, the Jimmy’s Kitchen Golfing Society, and sometimes on Sunday afternoons with my wife Yuni who also loves to play golf.

What’s been your best ever round?

My best round of golf was a nifty 75 at the original 18-hole course at Discovery Bay, the challenging Diamond and Ruby Course. I was playing with one of my best friends in a morning match, however, because of a ferry delay, I could only join the game on the 2nd hole. Then magic struck, and I completed the long par-5, 18th hole at just three over par; as I recall, three birdies and six bogies.

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