Sentosa Golf Club Magazine (July - August 2023)

SENTOSA

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Members,

I hope this message finds each and every one of you and your loved ones in good health and high spirits.

Sentosa Golf Club holds a cherished place in our hearts, serving as a second home for many of us. It is not just a club, but a community where staff and Members come together, fostering a unique and special Club culture. I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome back to our Executive Chef KK, who has made a courageous decision to return to the Club to contribute to our relentless pursuit of golfing and culinary excellence.

SERVICE EXCELLENCE

The Club deeply appreciates your patience during our recent manpower challenges, and we are pleased to inform you that the situation has taken a turn for the better in the past two months. Our team has successfully filled vacancies in the Golf Agronomy and F&B departments, ensuring that our services are up to par.

Members can soon look forward to a revitalized F&B menu at the Golfers’ Terrace and the highly anticipated return of popular events like the Raclette Cheese and Wine evenings. Moreover, we will be introducing a new online ordering system for trial soon, offering Members the convenience of self-ordering, particularly beneficial during inclement weather delays, thereby improving overall food delivery and service speed on the Terrace.

While filling staff vacancies remains a priority, we are now committed to enhancing Sentosa Golf Club’s world-class golf course offerings, by sharpening the service skills of our staff to deliver

unparalleled excellence. Both the Committee and Management firmly believe that exceptional and genuine service will be the catalyst to elevate our Club to new heights.

To that end, the Club has invested in specialized service training led by an experienced hotelier and trainer. This endeavor will take time, but it presents a valuable opportunity for our new hires and seasoned veterans to come together, fostering a shared understanding of the Club’s culture and paving the way for future achievements.

SGC 50TH ANNIVERSARY

In recent years, the composition of Sentosa Golf Club’s membership has evolved, with an influx of new Members who are avid golfers. We see this as a positive development and an opportunity to breathe new life into our Club’s demographic, fostering a more welcoming camaraderie and friendship amongst Members and staff alike.

As we approach our momentous 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary next year, we anticipate a series of activities throughout the year, culminating in a charity event to support those in need. These events and activities will not only honour our Club’s rich heritage, but also unite all Members, both long-standing and new, in celebration.

Let us continue to nurture a caring and gracious Club culture as we enter the second half of this year. Wishing you all the best, good health and happy golfing.

Andrew Lim President

SGC President Andrew Lim

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GM’S MESSAGE

Dear Members,

WHO CARES?

• Do you care about your experience on the golf course?

• Do you care about the experience of others?

• Do you care about the golf course itself?

These are important questions we should all ponder when we step onto the golf course. Golf etiquette plays a crucial role in maintaining a positive experience for everyone involved. Unfortunately, some poor habits have carried through and over from the pandemic, and they are negatively impacting others. It's time to address these issues.

One particular area that demands everyone’s attention is bunker etiquette. Each morning, our dedicated world-class Agronomy team meticulously rakes every bunker, resetting the playing experience for all.

There is no valid excuse for any golfer to enter a bunker and leave their foot tracks and worse a disturbed area in the sand untouched or repaired with many rakes placed around the bunkers. Let's all ensure that we rake our foot tracks and playing area, so the next player isn't penalized by finding their ball in an unplayable mess or a foot track.

BUNKER RAKING IS COMPULSORY — NO EXCEPTIONS

In addition to bunker etiquette, there are a few other course care behaviours that require improvement:

1. FIXING YOUR BALL MARK: A simple act of repairing your ball mark helps level the playing surface for all golfers and ensures that no one is at a disadvantage due to an unrepaired mark when

putting. It also allows the green to repair itself before algae or other damages to the turf develop.

2. DISPOSING OF YOUR CIGARETTE: Throwing cigarette butts on the ground is not only disrespectful but also unsightly. Let's keep our golf courses clean and beautiful by properly disposing of them in designated receptacles.

3. FILLING YOUR DIVOT WITH SAND: By taking the time to fill your divot with sand, you contribute to the healthy growth of the turf, making the course more enjoyable for everyone.

These are the fundamental basics of golf etiquette, and they should never be ignored.

We care deeply about the experience you have and the experience of all who play at Sentosa Golf Club. We appreciate your cooperation in upholding these etiquette guidelines, and as we move forward, we will return to actively enforcing these essential etiquette behaviours and rules.

Together, let's respect others and our golf courses. Thank you for doing your part!

Improving Golf Etiquette involves every one of us, please help remind others in your flight what is required for proper etiquette and what it means to others.

Yours Respectfully,

Andrew Johnston General Manager & Director of Agronomy

GM Andrew Johnston

CONTENTS

1.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

SGC President, Andrew Lim, speaks about the return of Executive Chef KK and the Club’s upcoming 50th anniversary in 2024…

4.

GM'S MESSAGE

General Manager, Andrew Johnston, shares his latest thoughts to the Members…

8-11.

GENERAL GOLF AND MEMBER NEWS

Discover all the latest news from the Club including a round-up of the latest Members introduction night…

12-14.

15. SENTOSA GOLF CLUB MAGAZINE

INTERNATIONAL SERIES –PATHWAY TO LIV GOLF

Explore more about the Asian Tour’s International Series and the opportunity it presents towards LIV Golf…

GUEST COLUMN

18-19.

GAME ON –TOURNAMENT READY 365

Learn more about how the Club’s Agronomy team prepared The Serapong for Singapore’s biggest ever golf event…

22-23.

INSTRUCTION –SCOTT VINCENT

Uncover the secrets behind Scott Vincent’s unofficial course record on The Serapong during LIV Golf Singapore…

18 HOLES WITH…

24. MCI (P) 049/12/2022 To advertise in SENTOSA GOLF CLUB, please call 6275 0090.

Rahul Singh, Head of the International Series, discusses the Series’ importance and how it continues to grow in stature… 6 sentosagolfclub @sentosagolfclub @sentosagolfclub SentosaGolfClub

GENERAL GOLF NEWS

NEW MERGER SHAKES THE GOLFING WORLD

On Tuesday June 6, the golfing landscape took a huge turn as the PGA and DP World Tours announced a landmark agreement to bring the game together. The Saudi Public Investment Fund will now work together with the two tours as a for-profit entity as well as make an investment into the new arrangement.

TORO TEAMS UP WITH PALMER CLASSICS

Toro has been chosen as a turf partner at two iconic Arnold Palmer courses, Bay Hill and Latrobe Country Club. The former is home to Palmer's event on the PGA Tour while Latrobe is the course where he grew up and learnt the game. “In partnering with Toro, we’re confident that we can meet and even exceed our turf management goals, continuing Mr Palmer’s legacy of providing a top-notch experience to members, guests and the best touring pros in the game." said Chris Flynn, Bay Hill’s Director of Greens. The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of 17 elevated events on the PGA Tour.

NORMAN UNDERLINES COMMITMENT TO LIV

Greg Norman has again stressed the importance of Asia to the LIV Golf League. The Chief Executive pointed to the investment into the Asian Tour's International Series, highlighting the potential of what can be done across such a vast continent. “It was recognised very early on that the Asian market is a sleeping giant. We know this is where the growth is going in the game of golf for generations to come." This is just the start. I’ve been involved with golf here and I understand and follow this very, very closely because of my golf course design business. I recognise it.”

WESTWOOD HEADS THE FIELD ON HOME SOIL

There will be 10 LIV golfers in the field for the International Series England at Close House in August. Local favourite Lee Westwood will be the main attraction while 2018 Masters Champion Patrick Reed will also be in the field alongside fellow Major Champion Graeme McDowell. Seven-time Asian Tour winner Anirban Lahiri is another to make the trip to England. “I’ve had the privilege of playing at home in tournament situations before and there is truly nothing quite like it,” said Westwood. “I’ve been embraced by the people of the North East since I set up home there; their passion for sport is unrivalled and the full field will feel that during the tournament week – the atmosphere will be tremendous.”

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

NEW MEMBERS FOR THE MONTHS OF APR & MAY 2023

ORDINARY MEMBER

1. Dr Chua Yu Kim Dennis

2. Mdm Jiang Xiaomin

3. Mdm Niu Min

4. Mdm Ye Xuanzhi

5. Mr Chang Andrew Inhyuk

6. Mr David Michael Cookson

7. Mr Kaname Nagayama

8. Mr Kim Joo Youl

9. Mr Lee Chi Haeng

10. Mr Sim Mong Teck

11. Mr Shuhei Kawada

12. Mr Takeshi Matsushita

13. Mr Xu Wenyou

CORPORATE NOMINEE

1. Mr Choi Young Sang

2. Mr Daisuke Kakihara

WE MEET NEW MEMBER… GEORG GREILINGER

Occupation

Ship owner

Why did you become a member at SGC?

I am member at TMCC but was keen to join SGC because I’ve always admired the constantly prevailing quality of the entire club in any respect. In fact, I do prefer a golf club where the game of golf is in focus versus a country club.

Favourite thing to do in Singapore?

My wife and I love the culinary scene, as well as travelling within the Indo/ Pacific region for which Singapore and its airport is the ideal spot to take off.

Favourite thing about Golf?

Though I loved to play the game of golf on a competitive level when I was younger, today I enjoy playing with friends or with my wife for fun. I like the walk in nine holes with the tranquility at its best close to the sunset. Meantime, I am looking forward to participating again in the Pro-Am of the New Zealand Open in Queenstown next February which has been the best golfing experience of my life so far.

Greatest Achievement in Life?

Getting married to my wonderful wife Heide 31 years back, raising three lovely children who are now going their own way (almost...) and having built up my own company from scratch at the same time.

3. Mr Hwang Suyang

4. Mr Jung Hyungdong

5. Mr Junya Ono

6. Mr Kenichi Sugo

7. Mr Kensuke Hirai

8. Mr Lee Jaehun

9. Mr Minoru Ishibashi

10. Mr No Nam Su

11. Mr Takashi Furutani

12. Mr Taro Fukushima

13. Mr Tsutomu Hiramatsu

14. Ms Wong Pik Kuen Helen

TERM MEMBER

1. Mdm Yoon Jung Jue

2. Mr Bae Jung Ho

3. Mr Choi Chang Keun

4. Mr Clive Rowland Kerner

5. Mr Georg Greilinger

6. Mr Glen Christopher Hilton

7. Mr Gum Ki Ho

8. Mr Hao Quoc Tien

9. Mr Hideomi Tsujimura

10. Mr Hiromichi Shinohara

11. Mr Hiroki Nakayama

12. Mr Hiroki Tsujii

13. Mr Jun Kobayashi

14. Mr Keiichi Sakata

15. Mr Kenichiro Matsui

16. Mr Kim Joel

17. Mr Kim Sang Rok

18. Mr Kiichiro Shimao

19. Mr Kim Sung Hee

20. Mr Koji Segawa

21. Mr Krishan Rattan

22. Mr Kwon Kijung

23. Mr Lim Yi Maw

24. Mr Masanobu Itani

25. Mr Nobuo Shiotsu

26. Mr Park Joonryul

27. Mr Shen Renqi

28. Mr Takaaki Tejima

29. Mr Tomohiro Endo

30. Mr Ty Dincer

31. Mr Yasuo Kubota

MEMBER NEWS NEW MEMBERS’ INTRODUCTION NIGHT

Held on Thu 25 May

Celebrate the success of our New Members' Introduction Night at Sentosa Golf Club, where new connections were forged, and unforgettable golfing memories were made.

TRIP TO THE ROYAL CLUB

Led by Mr. Kazuaki Takabatake, our Greens Committee, a group of Sentosa Golf Club members participated in the Royal Club Tokyo event in May.

HOLE-IN-ONE

Lee Jeong Ho

6 May 2023

The Tanjong

Hole 4, 141 metres

Baek Joon Seung

17 May 2023

The Serapong

Hole 17, 154 metres

Cho Elizabeth Aseo

29 May 2023

The Tanjong

Hole 4, 115 metres

Our Ladies Committee members Mrs Midori Canoon, Mrs Gloria Kuok (Lady Captain) and Ms Lilian Lim with Mr Tsutomu Hiramatsu and his wife Mdm Kim Haengjin

Mr Graham Bell, Mr Andrew Lim (President) and Mr Darryl Wee (Captain) with our new member, Mr David Michael Cookson and Mrs Carey Cookson

THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES AND ITS PATHWAY TO THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE

Going into the International Series England event

Scott Vincent could have had little idea of what lay ahead of him over the next 12 months. The Zimbabwean not only picked up US$360,000 for his one-shot win at Slaley Hall but it also elevated him straight into LIV Golf’s first event at Centurion Club.

He would play in all eight events and be part of three different teams before settling on Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC for the final five events. This year Vincent, who became the first Zimbabwean to prevail on the Asian Tour, is part of the LIV Golf League furniture having topped the inaugural International Series order of merit.

Vincent is now part of Iron Heads GC where he plays under captain Kevin

Na and alongside Danny Lee and Sihwan Kim. Life, these days, is very different for the 31-year-old.

At the end of April, Vincent saved his best for The Serapong when he posted a nine-under 62 on day two as LIV Golf Singapore made its debut on the calendar. He would share a post-round media chat with Talor Gooch, who would go back-to-back, and Sergio Garcia.

"Obviously I love playing at Sentosa. We come here on the Asian Tour quite regularly so it's nice to play this event at a different time of year where you've got a few events under your belt. So, yeah, always fun coming back. And I know the course pretty well, so that always helps."

Vincent would be part of a field which numbered 13 Major winners and he would outscore all of them on day two in the 48-man field.

"It's amazing. Your whole life you dream of moments like this where you get to play with some of the best players in the world and to be here right now and have this opportunity, which started on the Asian Tour, and thanks to LIV for bringing it all together is incredible. I'm very fortunate to be here and I don't take that lightly."

A day later he would consolidate that with a four-under 67 to finish in fourth spot, one back of Brooks Koepka.

"I would say the journey starts way before that (Slaley Hall) but that's kind of what everyone sees along the way. So I continue to use all this as a learning platform, and I still hope that my game continues to rise to an even higher level. That's the route that we're on and that we're chasing. I've got a lot to learn and no better way to do that than to be in those situations and watch how players like

Cameron Smith does it."

The International Series was unveiled in February last year and it was heralded as the most significant development in the history of Asian golf. There would be an investment of US$300m into the Asian Tour and the purses were to range from US$1.5m to US$2m per event. The ethos of the new Series was to drive greater fan engagement, attract new commercial interest and to help stabilise professional golf following what had gone on around the world in the past couple of years.

The upper tier of events would, and does, form the backbone of the Asian Tour schedule and it sparked the beginning of a relationship with LIV Golf Investments and its CEO Greg Norman.

“We are setting the Asian Tour up as a powerful new force on the world golf stage,” promised

Scott Vincent shot an unofficial course record during LIV Golf Singapore in April

Andy Ogletree currently leads the International Series Order of Merit in 2023

Wade Ormsby is looking to regain his spot in LIV Golf through the International Series after being dropped at the end of 2022

Japan's Takumi Kanaya claimed victory in the opening round of the 2023 International Series at Al Mouj Golf

Kieran Vincent replicated his brother, Scott, by winning on the International Series in Vietnam at the last event

Photo Credits: Asian Tour

Norman in 2022. “Everyone benefits – professional players, amateurs, grassroots golf, fans, economies, communities, stakeholders. I’ve never been so optimistic about the future of the sport.”

The most recent winner on the Series was Scott Vincent’s brother, Kieran, who triumphed in Vietnam. The Zimbabwean follows in the footsteps of Takumi Kanaya, Andy Ogletree and Wade Ormsby this season. As things stand Ogletree leads the way for the golden ticket to the LIV Golf League. India's Anirban Lahiri first joined the Asian Tour in 2008 and is now a seven-time winner, having topped the money list in 2015. And the 36-year-old is under no illusions as to the importance of the new series of events.

“With The International Series and LIV Golf coming to Asia, growing the game here has really become one of the main agendas and bringing so many of the best golfers to play in this region is going to have a huge impact. I won’t say ‘change’ but that’s where the boost is going to come from. It’s there, it’s growing, and I think the International Series is doing a phenomenal job of accelerating that.

“If you ask the majority of golfers in Asia, or on this side of the world, they’re going to say, ‘I want to play on LIV’, and now there’s a pathway to get there. Even outside of that, you’ve got 10 tournaments, which you’re playing for pretty much US$2million every time, which is a really good prize for that many events in Asia. It’s a huge leap.”

Next up on the schedule is the International Series England at Close House and the St Andrews Bay Championship at the Fairmont as the Series breaks new ground in Scotland.

Close Hour is where nine-time Asian Tour winner Lee Westwood plays his golf and the field, in the middle of August, is set to be a particularly strong one with Patrick Reed and Abraham Ancer all set to tee it up.

STATS

1 26

No of play-offs in International Series history

Sihwan Kim's score at the inaugural event in 2022, still the lowest score to par

The International Series also continues to play its part in raising funds for where they are most needed. Examples of this are the Bright Dawn Federation which has now raised over US$50,000 for low-income Thai children through the provision of healthcare and educational support.

517,845 12

US dollars won by Scott Vincent in 2022

No of countries to have hosted an International Series event

9-7-1-48-16

Andy Ogletree’s finishes this season

In Vietnam the Khanh Hoa Study and Talent Promotion Fund became another benefactor of the Series when they were awarded a donation of US$25,000, a figure that was matched by the hosts at KN Golf Links, to support scholarships for students, teachers and those in need. During the week of the International Series Vietnam, where Vincent Jr won, the children and staff were able to meet the players and watch the golf.

The season will be closed out at Tanah Merah Country Club, Hong Kong before climaxing in Indonesia where the head of the Series, Rahul Singh, is expecting more drama.

“The Indonesian Masters has always been a fitting battle ground for global trophy hunters over the last 11 years, and as it was last year, it now has the added bonus of being the clincher for a lucrative ticket to one of the world’s most exciting franchises – the LIV Golf League.”

Iron Heads GC's Scott Vincent in conversation with his caddie during International Series Oman

SINGH

There are so many positives to be seen with The International Series and it has been both fantastic for the game and for presenting wideranging opportunities for the Asian Tour members to play in varied markets across the globe.

There is now a pathway from the Asian Tour to The International Series and on to the LIV Golf League and this encourages better fields, more competitive golf and worldwide players now teeing it up on the Tour. We now have Major Champions, Ryder Cup heroes and other stars of the game and this level of competition and exposure would not have existed without The International Series. Scott Vincent is a fantastic example of what the Series is all about. By winning the Order of Merit, it catapulted him onto the LIV Golf League and he is an inspiration to all the players on Tour as they try to secure their place on the League roster for 2024. Scott’s ability to be in the mix – he shot a nine-under 62 at Sentosa on his way to finishing fourth – is clear demonstration of the

quality of players on the Asian Tour. The next few years promise to see further strides with The International Series. In our first year, we had seven tournaments and US$10m as prize money. This year we have expanded to 10 tournaments and US$20m on offer. Looking forward we can expect more tournaments, in a greater geography, and larger prize purses. In August, we will visit the UK with the International Series England and St. Andrews Bay Championship in consecutive weeks. Having successive events in England and Scotland shows the limitless potential of The International Series. Returning to England for the second year running and having our first tournament at the heart of where golf began in St Andrews, Scotland is an incredibly exciting addition to the Asian Tour and The International

Series. These tournaments are a huge validation of our product. Having tournaments in new markets, traditionally outside of the Asian Tour schedule, is a brilliant way to showcase the Tour's talents to well-established golf markets. Furthermore, having International Series events in countries like Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong is also fundamental to growing the game in a geography that is without doubt the heartland for the Asian Tour. Along with providing members with enhanced opportunities to play in front of home crowds, International Series tournaments will also provide the opportunity for some of the world’s best golfers to play at the top level in the region. This will undoubtedly help to inspire new generations of golfers across the continent and help sustain the future growth of the game in Asia.

Looking forward we can expect more tournaments, in a greater geography, and larger prize purses.

Kuih Dadar, Grated Parmigiana Reggiano, Coconut Cream Espuma

Serves 4 persons

INGREDIENTS FOR PANDAN CREPE

5pcs Pandan Leaf

60ml Water Blend together

120gm Cake Flour

50gm Egg

300gm Coconut Milk

1gm Salt

45ml Pandan Juice Green Colouring Pandan Essence

INGREDIENTS FOR GULA MELAKA

90gm Gula Melaka

12gm Sugar White (optional)

50ml Water

½ pc Fresh Coconut grated

4gm Corn Flour (optional)

INGREDIENTS FOR ESPUMA COCONUT CREAM (OPTIONAL)

1 ¾ Cups Coconut Milk

¾ Cup Condensed Milk

¾ Cup Coconut Cream

5pcs Gelatine Sheets (Previously Soaked in Ice Water)

3 Chargers (For Siphon)

GARNISH

100gm Parmigiana Reggiano (optional)

Preparation method for PANDAN CREPE

1 Blend pandan leaves and water together until smooth.

2. Sift the blended mixture to obtain 45ml of pandan juice.

3. Mix the pandan juice with the remaining ingredients, ensuring a smooth mixture. Sift again to remove any lumps.

4. Heat a non-stick pan and use a small ladle to thinly spread the mixture on the pan. Set aside once the skin is cooked, indicated by a darker green color.

Preparation method for COCONUT GULA MELAKA

1 Combine Gula Melaka, sugar, and water in a pot and melt them together.

2. Stir in fresh grated coconut and cook until the coconut fully absorbs the syrup.

3. In a separate bowl, mix corn flour with water to create a thickening agent. Slowly drizzle it into the mixture until the desired sticky texture is achieved.

Preparation method for COCONUT ESPUMA (OPTIONAL)

1 Gently heat coconut milk, condensed milk, and coconut cream in a pot.

2. While stirring, incorporate gelatine sheets, ensuring they are well mixed. Whisk the mixture, strain it, and pour it into the siphon.

3. Seal the siphon, insert the chargers, and allow it to rest overnight in a cooler.

Finishing

1 Place 1-2 tablespoons of coconut filling on one edge of the pancake. Fold over and fold in the sides. Roll up tightly.

2. Pipe Coconut Cream Espuma onto the Kuih Dadar.

3. Sprinkle grated Parmigiano Reggiano on top.

GAME ON!

The secrets behind getting The Serapong Tournament-Ready

Talor Gooch made most of the headlines here in April, with the American going back-to-back on LIV Golf with victory in the Singapore event. Now we’d like to pay tribute to the many people who made the tournament such a huge success, because to host an event of this magnitude takes a great deal of planning and expertise.

One of the keys to the overall success of the event was the Tournament Ready 365 (TR365) mantra that Sentosa Golf Club has

in place, which is a commitment to excellence and attention to detail. Every day, the SGC team work tirelessly to prepare and present the golf course as if it were a Major Championship event.

“The Tournament Ready 365 mantra is like being Nick Saban, the coach of the University of Alabama football team,” says General Manager & Director of Agronomy, Andrew Johnston.

“The leadership of someone like Nick Saban, requires a neverending commitment to leadership, coaching, raising the enthusiasm level of the employees, and using intuitive skills to guide the team to greatness.

“Some of the key traits that Saban has exhibited as a leader and coach include a relentless work ethic, a focus on attention to detail, and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. He has also demonstrated an ability to motivate his players to perform at their best by creating a culture of excellence and holding everyone accountable for their actions.”

The pressure was on as the tournament drew closer, but Johnston credits the team for making sure that “not a single blade of grass was out of place,” and working tirelessly to create a golf course that was fit for the world’s best players.

The Club's agronomy team and volunteers celebrate at the end of LIV Golf Singapore

Attention to detail

From painting the white ring around the cup, to shaping the greens and fairways, no detail can ever be overlooked. The Club’s culture is always to be the best and deliver unforgettable experiences for every golfer who plays here.

Preparation for an event normally begins 90 days from the start of the tournament, with an intense plan outlined that evolves and adapts each day in the build-up. Specific tasks are undertaken, such as adjusting mowing heights or increasing fertility to ensure The Serapong is in top condition.

The course was closed on 3 April to allow it to recover from the stress of dayto-day golf for an entire month. It was mowed every day, with the frequency of the cut increasing over time to promote density in the grass.

The mowing heights of the greens were then gradually lowered at a rate of 0.02mm every other day for 90 days to ensure that the perfect height was reached, so they ran near 13 on the stimpmeter during the event.

That attention to detail and expertise continued throughout the tournament itself. From mowing the greens to raking the bunkers, every detail was taken care of ahead of each day’s play to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for all the players.

Fit for TV

The SGC Agronomy team were always out on the course before the first player arrived, dragging the fairways to remove dew, collecting the rubbish and sweeping away leaves to make it look pristine. They also cut and painted new cups on every hole each day. Even the curbs around the course were painted to ensure that everything looked perfect.

And let’s not forget our beautiful bunkers. The team packed the sand, ensuring that it was perfectly smooth and consistent with a hard line edging the bunkers, needed to shine on television – which they did.

The Club’s TR365 mantra will ensure that whenever we are called upon to host a tournament, either of our golf courses will be in excellent shape. We can’t wait to do it all again.

“The Tournament Ready 365 mantra is like being Nick Saban, the coach of the University of Alabama football team.”

Daily maintenance being undertaken on The Serapong

Course Maintenance Manager, Kutty and former Assistant Supervisor, Pratik who volunteered at the event

SENTOSA TO ERADICATE SINGLE-USE PLASTIC

Sentosa Island has upped its game in the fight against plastic pollution by pledging to phase out disposable, singleuse plastic water bottles. All hotels, food and beverage operators and attractions will stop giving these out by the end of 2023, a move that is predicted to save approximately two million plastic bottles a year.

It comes after a 16 March report by think-tank the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health that found that Singapore was the world’s largest consumer of bottled water and spent the most on it at US$1,348 (S$1,800) per capita in 2021.

Businesses will have to prioritise alternatives, such as the use of glass bottles and filtered piped water from taps, where visitors can fill their own bottle or glass.

“We have chosen to start with bottled water because of the availability of alternatives, since potable water is readily accessible in Singapore,” a spokesman for the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) told The Straits Times. It is not just plastic water bottles used for drinking that are being targeted – a number of other single-use items are just as problematic for the environment.

Hotels have already started to rethink the way in which amenities such as shampoo and shower gel are provided to their guests. It would spell an end to individual amenity bottles, which tend to be disregarded when guests check out.

A number of prominent establishments have been tackling

plastic pollution issues for some time. For example, Capella Singapore removed plastic packaging from in-room amenities such as dental kits and laundry bags last year and eliminated single-use plastic bottles several years ago, which has already saved over 80,000 bottles. Numerous other businesses are now following suit. For instance, Outpost Hotel Sentosa and Oasia Resort Sentosa reportedly plan to install wall-mounted and refillable containers for amenities in every room.

SDC is also liaising with numerous other operators on the Island to implement more measures to

reduce plastic bags, takeaway food containers and dine-in disposable tableware.

A study conducted by the Singapore Environment Council in 2018 revealed that each person in Singapore uses approximately one to three plastic takeaways per week, which results in an astonishing 473 million plastic disposables used yearly, enough to cover an area three times the size of Sentosa.

So, whilst many see the phasing out of single-use plastics by the end of the year as a bold initiative, it’s clearly necessary as the Island looks to take another step towards sustainable tourism.

In Singapore… an astonishing 473 million plastic disposables are used yearly, enough to cover an area three times the size of Sentosa.

STARS MARVEL AT THE TANJONG DURING HSBC WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

After hosting the 15th edition of the HSBC Women’s World Championship earlier this year, the Club received a number of impressive testimonials from the world’s leading female players, expressing their gratitude to the Sentosa Golf Club agronomy team for the outstanding conditions that were presented across The Tanjong during the event.

Lydia Ko

“Dear: The Superintendents at Sentosa Golf Club

Thank you for putting in all the countless hours to make the golf course in the best shape for us to play on! We’re very grateful for your time and support! Couldn’t do this without you –Thank you again”

Cheyenne Knight

“To the Sentosa Golf Club Ground Crew

Thank you for all your hard work this week! The course was incredible despite all the rain. Thank you for making the course playable & giving us a chance to compete!”

Jin Young Ko

“Hi, it’s Jin Young Ko here. We just want to say thanks for your hard work on the course this week, especially with the huge rain! That’s why we love to be here, and we can play this amazing course! We love playing at Sentosa Golf Club, and always enjoy visiting here!! We hope you guys are doing great and see you next year!”

Alison Lee

“To the ground crew, thank you so much for getting the course ready for us this week despite the rain and tough conditions. It means so much to us and all your hard work does not go unnoticed. We wouldn’t be able to compete this week without you guys so thank you so much!”

“To all the ground crew, thank you guys so much for working so hard day in and day out to prepare the course in the best conditions possible. I know how much the weather was a test, but you should all be very proud of how good the course was...things considered. Thank you so much!”

Paula Reto

“We really appreciate you guys working so hard to keep the golf course playable. We cannot thank you enough. We have been blessed with such an amazing course and were all very impressed with the conditions. Thank you!”

Allisen

Danielle Kang

“Thank you for all that you did to keep the course in championship condition"

“To the Sentosa Golf Course staff, thank you so much for doing everything possible to keep your course beautiful for us. Despite all of the rain, the course has been in great shape, and I know it is only because of a huge effort on your part. We appreciate the extra work and effort that goes into preparing the course for us. Thank you so much!”

Maria Fassi

Corpuz

LEARNING FROM THE

SERAPONG'S RECORD BREAKER

When the world’s best players teed it up here in April for LIV Golf Singapore, hopefully you were able to get along and pick up a few tips for your own game.

Talor Gooch became the first player to win back-to-back LIV Golf titles, but in this issue we take a look back at one of the other big stories of the week, which came in round two – Scott Vincent’s unofficial course record 62.

ANALYSIS PROVIDED BY KATIE DAWKINS, A UK-BASED TOP 50 PGA PROFESSIONAL

1 THE PERFECT STRIKE

It’s something we all strive for – that beautiful, crisp impact. However, even the world’s best players don’t hit every shot exactly as intended – and that’s something worth remembering when you’re getting frustrated out on the course.

Vincent may have shot an incredible 62 around The Serapong, yet his tee shot on the par-3 8th was anything but perfect. In fact, this is as close as you’ll see a Tour professional come to missing the ball when it’s teed up –it was horribly thin, hence why he took his hand off the club in disgust.

Next time you find yourself struggling for consistency, remember to take the rough with the smooth. Sometimes you have to work with the swing you turn up with on the day.

2 LONG PUTTING

When Vincent holed his 58-foot putt on the 13th, you sensed he could be on for something quite special. There’s a reason why the professionals sink so many putts of this length over the course of a season – practice.

If you want to hole more lengthy putts – even those of around 25-30 feet – get yourself out on the course and find a spot on the green where you can putt over a long distance, from fringe to fringe.

Watch that putt back and notice the length and rhythm of Vincent’s stroke. He relies on a longer and more rhythmical stroke that has more of a pendulum action. In other words, he doesn’t ‘hit’ at the ball, like a lot of club golfers tend to do.

3 COMMITMENT

The man from Zimbabwe was throwing darts on the par 3s. Like most Tour professionals, he displays great commitment when he strikes the ball. Even when his hand came off the club on the par-3 8th and he caught the ball halfway up, he finished the swing.

The scoring was low here during LIV Golf Singapore, with most players showing aggression. Maybe this has something to do with the 54-hole format. There’s a key takeaway here: have a go at being aggressive yourself. If you’re playing a friendly round, go at the pins and push the boundaries. If you’re not going to see how aggressive you can be during a round with friends, when will you?

4 HOLING OUT

Vincent was rock solid from short range, making birdie after birdie – it never looked like he’d miss inside six feet. One of the keys to his putting success is the way he keeps his eyes down. You can work on this yourself, by listening to the ball hitting the hole rather than looking up for it.

‘Staying down’ is generally not something you’d do with full shots, as it can stop you from rotating through the ball. However, with short putts, keep your eyes down and listen for the result. When you lift your eyes up, this tends to lift your body, too, something that can put unwanted sidespin on the ball.

With…

BEEF' JOHNSTON

In the latest issue of 18 Holes With…we sat down with DP World Tour professional, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, to discuss his love for Singapore, as well as all things Sentosa Golf Club and The Serapong…

How did you get into playing golf?

Through my dad. He loved sport. Played football for years then took up golf. We used to play all the time. Did you have a golfing idol growing up? Tiger was at his peak when I was growing up.

What has been the best moment in your career so far?

Winning at Valderrama and playing at The Open at Royal Troon in 2016.

What did it feel like to win on a professional tour for the first time? It was amazing. To get over the line and have my name on the trophy will forever be cool.

How excited were you to play at Sentosa Golf Club?

I was excited to play and really gutted I never did so because of my thumb. It was torture watching everyone else go out and play.

What is your favourite hole on The Serapong?

I’ll have to update you when I come back and play.

What is the origin of the nickname ‘Beef’? My friend called me a beef head because I had big curly hair when I was 12. It just stuck from that point on.

What is your favourite career highlight so far?

I would have to say Troon again. That weekend was something I’ll never forget. Walking down 18 was incredible.

What are your goals for the remainder of 2023?

To get my hand ready for 2024. Target the Ryder Cup in 2025.

What is your favourite golf course in the world?

Pebble Beach. I really want to play a US Open there.

If you could play a round of golf with any one person, past or present, who would you choose?

Muhammad Ali.

Who is the greatest golfer of all time? Tiger Woods.

What do you do in your spare time to switch off from golf?

I love watching sport. And firing up the BBQ. Ask Captain Darryl as he spoiled us in Singapore taking us to so many amazing places.

What is your favourite club in the bag? Driver.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?

The fame. I struggled to cope for a period of time and this injury has also been tough.

How would you describe Sentosa Golf Club in three words? Kind, caring, and family.

What is your favourite thing about Singapore?

Everyone is very welcoming and generous. The food is incredible too. My family and I love it here.

If you could play one other sport professionally, what would it be? I would love a team environment. I guess playing for Arsenal or bowling in the Ashes.

DP World Tour Pro, ‘Beef’ Johnston, directs SGC GM Andrew Johnston with a putt

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