The ClubHouse Issue 14 (Sept 2012) by The ClubHouse

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Improving Course Access Must Be A Priority After many months of speculation of a seven-iron programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Malaysian Golf Association announced that it will kick-start a pilot project to introduce golf as a co-curriculum activity in selected Klang Valley schools. This is not the first time that golf is heading to naturally, the best honing ground. The Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (MALGA) has spearheaded such a venture for many years now, which has seen young girls from somewhat rural towns in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as in Sabah and Sarawak (where the programme has reached its full potential) being exposed to the Royal and Ancient. Bankrolled by the government’s RM2 million development grant awarded by the Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak during the Maybank Malaysian Open earlier this year and with equipment graciously supported by the R&A, MGA intends to train teachers in these selected schools to head mini golf clubs; these clubs would be the entry point for keen students before they move on to training centres to be established at golf clubs. While I still have my reservations about the implementation of this programme until I see it with my own eyes, I’m all for the idea. Having avidly followed the domestic junior golf scene for some years now, I have come to a conclusion that the talent pool, especially children aged nine and below, is at an all-time low. Hence, if we are to earmark more golfing talents for the future, it can only start if we have more kids getting involved with the game at the grassroots level. By breaking the barrier that golf is an elitist sport (I cannot however say that it is an affordable game to be good at), I believe we can unearth a few raw talents. When these young gems are given time and some polishing, they could go on to represent the country in the years to come. Here lies the fundamental problem that needs to be sorted out and requires some guide from the national association - the issue of course access. Not all parents can afford golf memberships to pave the way for their children to practise and play regularly. Even if they could afford it, many still find bringing their children to play in other clubs and especially the better clubs, an expensive affair. While many golf clubs continue to suffer from low numbers of new members joining and a largely ageing golfing population, they have been slow in embracing the little guys. These young ones are potential members in their own right once they enter the workforce down the road, a point which goes overloaded more often than not. This is by no means an avenue to name and shame but there are golf clubs that don’t allow their junior members to participate in club tournaments (our juniors play better golf than most ordinary members). There are others who enjoy the media fanfare of ticker-tape junior events but shut their doors to juniors for the rest of the year. There are also clubs that are only willing to accept juniors from abroad to use their facilities at preferred ‘long-stay’ rates but will not extend the same discounts to locals.

The saving grace, however, is the growing number of clubs across the country that are embracing junior golfers wholeheartedly and supporting these kids in their developing years. I don’t expect our friends at golf clubs to fall backwards in supporting our juniors. Just like many clubs have ladies and seniors day during the less-busy weekday stretch, we could easily set aside a day for juniors, where kids can come in and play for a reasonable sum, that doesn’t burden their already under-pressure golfing parents. It will go a long way to sustain the number of juniors already playing the game.

Edward Saminathan Chief Golf Writer news@theclubhouse.com.my

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Long gone are the days when golf shoes were just meant to keep your feet dry on the golf course. Today, buying the right golf shoes is just as important for your golf game as buying the right set of clubs or golf balls. Featuring game-improvement technology and not to mention an added attention to comfort, detail and style, investing in the right golf footwear is a great idea to play your game with ease. 8 > Advancement of Golf Footwear 12 > From Design to Concept 14 > Choosing The Right Golf Shoes 15 > Showcase

On our cover: Adidas-Golf Puremotion, Ashworth Cardiff, Callaway Del Mar, Crocs Bradyn, ECCO Biom Hybrid, FJ Sport & Puma evoSPEED Faas Trac

The Advancement of Golf Footwear Just like any other segment of the golf equipment and apparel business, golf’s big boys have spend millions of research and development to produce shoes that not only look good and feel comfortable but also fit right and deliver top-notch performance By Scott Kramer

G 8

olf shoes are not what they used to be. That is a good thing.

Consider yourself lucky. A hundred years ago, golfers – both male and female wore heavy, thick-soled men’s leather boots studded with protruding nails for spikes. Spaced sparsely for the best traction, the nails frequently broke through thin soles and into feet. Each boot’s bulky heel guard weighed 30-plus ounces. Colour choices? Brown or black. Things improved only slightly over future decades. Softer leather boots emerged, but did not wear well. Pigskin and porpoise hide became popular, as did boots that laced halfway up the leg, buttoning over with flaps. Metal spikes eventually replaced nails, locking into dedicated sole receptacles. Heavy, stiff, all-leather welted golf shoes debuted in the 1940s and lasted until the late 1960s, when new sole materials were developed to reduce weight and cost.

durability, breathability, waterproofing, flexibility, stability, cushion, traction, longevity of traction nubs, and of course styling. Once a shoe is conceptualized – at least for large manufacturers – prototypes are made and go into a testing phase. As for design, you will notice that many golf shoes are now designed in such a way that your feet sit lower to the ground. Science has proven that lends more stability to your swing. While each company strives for stability in

In the 1980s, sophisticated lightweight plastics and rubbers were used in soles. Then in 1990, waterproof shoes surfaced. Technology started rapidly advancing at that point. Now shoes have become even more sophisticated, featuring state-of-the-art designs that lower weight, improve stability and flexibility, and enhance feel, comfort and performance.

THE SCIENCE OF MAKING GOLF SHOES

Depending on the manufacturer, teams of designers sketch out what style of shoe they’re making and decide what characteristics they want included, such as comfort, type of outsole and insole, material

adidas Golf & Ashworth vice president of global footwear Bill Price

its shoes, adidas Golf goes a step further by consulting a doctor who studies how golfers transfer weight from the back leg to the front leg during the swing and the amount of force it takes to create more power and energy. “You want force to go from the ground up,” says Bill Price, vice president of global footwear for adidas Golf and Ashworth. “Tour pros are looking for lighter, more comfortable shoes. We are designing those, and they are also flexible. They do not lock your foot down to the

Tiger Woods has been at the forefront of the TW13 golf shoes development

“That’s where our Crossflex and PureMotion shine because they allow natural foot movement. The golf swing used to be very lateral. That’s the way players are taught to swing. Look at the players on the PGA Champions Tour today. That style of swing was great for those stability-style shoes. Today, you want stability with flexibility, because the swing has gone to a more rotational move in which you cannot have a shoe that locks your ankles in. Players today are looking for rotational flexibility in the outsole.” Price claims the rotational swing is causing golfers more injuries today, as it is much more athletic of a swing. “So you need stability in the shoe so that you have stability in your knees, but the flexibility in your ankles, hips and shoulders,” he says. “There’s a chain reaction up from the ground through your shoulders. This is where the science of making golf shoes is changing. It is not just golf. It is about athletes and sports that are changing. The baseball swing is changing, in the same way.” In fact, most PGA Tour pros today are athletic and work out. They see what kind of technology is available in running and training shoes and wonder if they can have it for golf. “For Tiger Woods to continue to compete, Nike had to create a shoe incorporating flexibility to free up his knees,” says Price, referring to Nike’s TW ’13 shoes inspired by the company’s “FREE” technology in its running and training shoes.

In fact, Woods had said that he trains, runs and lifts weights in it, and asked Nike why he could not play golf in it. Thus, the company’s footwear team immediately developed the shoe that embodies a natural motion engineered outsole. “Now my feet are stronger and I feel more athletic,” says Woods. “These shoes provide freedom of movement and allow me to release more power through my swing.”

Oakley this year debuted the sleek-looking, 260-gram Cipher – arguably the lightest shoe in golf. “We’re not afraid to be outside the box and have people laugh at us and say ‘what the hell is that product? It’s so different,’” says Al Janc, Oakley’s sports marketing manager for golf. “Yet three years from now, I expect to see a lot of shoe companies looking at what we’re doing now and copying us.”

Lightweight is another trend. Back in the day, running coach and Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman tinkered with track spikes to provide any competitive edge for his runners, knowing that track spikes weighing even a few grams lighter than competitors’ would cause less fatigue.

Not all manufacturers agree with the lightweight trend, however. “While a majority

“The same goes for golf shoes,” says Lee Walker, Nike Golf’s global footwear marketing director. “If we can shave three ounces from a typical golf shoe, then over the course of walking 10,000 steps in 18 holes, that can quickly add up to almost one ton of weight that you didn’t carry with you.” It is noticeable. Case in point: Once Sergio Garcia tested a lightweight shoe this summer for adidas, he could not revert to a heavier model afterwards. Yes, manufacturers test lightweight soles to ensure golfers won’t feel stones or anything uncomfortable underneath their feet, as they walk. “It’s like playing golf in your favourite pair of running shoes -- who wouldn’t want that?,” asks Price. “You’re not sacrificing traction. Lightness reduces fatigue, knee soreness, and course wear-and-tear, and your hip mechanics will not deteriorate. Everything’s about going lighter these days.”

ground for maximum stability, as they did five years ago. Now we want torsion, lightweight and flexibility so that your foot can engage those muscles and not lock them down to the ground.

“We ask them to think all along as they’re testing any model if it’s a shoe they would buy,” says Price. “They’re excellent at testing materials for durability. They play golf three to five rounds a week in them for 30 to 90 days, and run them through the full gamut, beating the hell out of the shoes. They do a lot of walking. If there is a puddle, they will stand in it or drag their feet through it. They give us an idea of how a shoe will look after a year or two of use, in only 30 days of time.” Then there is machine testing. adidas puts shoe material through abrasion testing via salt water, dirt and other abrasives, to see how the leather will break down and if it will shrink, expand, deteriorate, or go through colour migration.

OUTSOLE STYLING

FootJoy’s director of footwear marketing Mike Foley

of players prefer lighter shoes, there are many who prefer heavier shoes so they have the sensation of being anchored to the ground for more stability throughout their swing,” says Mike Foley, director of footwear marketing at FootJoy.

The outsole is another area of particular focus this year – both in design and testing. Companies say more than half of all new golf shoes purchased this year are cleatless. “Golfers are buying multiple pairs of cleatless shoes,” says Price. “A lot of them cost around $150, so guys are buying two colours.”

Testing shoes is getting more savvy, too. Every aspect of a shoe is tested out before it hits the market, by machines, players and computer modelling. “FootJoy has a comprehensive testing protocol which includes a combination of extensive lab testing and live testing oncourse,” says Foley. “Each product is tested, revised accordingly and tested again before being considered for mass production. We know which traction patterns or spikes work better through testing -- in a biomechanics lab, we perform traction tests on all of our outsoles and cleats, to ensure we are providing the optimal combination of traction, cushioning and flexibility. We rely on input from our significant wear-tester database, as well from the most discerning wear-testers on the planet - the PGA Tour professionals.” Likewise, adidas and Nike use large pools of male and female golfers made up of different ages and handicaps – all are avid, better golfers, because they provide more accurate feedback – as well as college and high school players, and golf coaches.

Cleated outsoles also undergo stringent testing, to ensure that golfers do not feel the spikes as they’re walking, and that they’re not damaging the course or greens. As for the nubs’ durability, the more they are worn on pavement – as many golfers use them beyond the golf course - the quicker they wear down. Shoe manufacturers claim people are wearing cleatless golf shoes three to four times as long as they do their cleated shoes, to run errands and kick around in. Thus, they should be replaced as often as people replace their sneakers. There is little question that the traction a spike provides is better than a rubber nub. However, the contact points on a cleatless shoe with a flatter sole, provides more contact points with Fred Couples was the revolutionary force behind the advent of spikeless shoes on Tour

Adds Jesper Then, ECCO’s global marketing manager: “Lightweight is important, specifically as it relates to comfort. However, going too lightweight risks losing the tensional stability that is essential to making a proper golf swing. This is especially true for Tour players, better amateurs and those with higher swing speeds who absolutely must have a stable swing platform that doesn’t collapse as they come through the hitting zone.”

TESTING, TESTING

than others are, so we work with cleat manufacturers on the rigidity of a spike to make sure it is soft enough to have give yet firm enough that the arms do not snap off during competition. We can’t check all grass conditions and types, but try to cover as many as we can.”

That said, some golfers have been suspicious of the protruding nubs instead of interchangeable cleats on the bottom, claiming they are leaving deeper impressions in greens and possibly damaging them, compared to traditional cleats. Not true, says Price, who had the complaint tested. “In the end, people are just conditioned these days to see a certain spike pattern in the green from Softspikes. When we came out with our spike-free design, with 125 studs on the outsole of the original version of the adicross or Cardiff, that makes quite a different impression on the green than eight or 10 of those six-pronged Softspikes,” says Price. “So people might not be used to seeing it. It is a different visual. In addition, the recovery time is very similar; it is not doing any permanent damage to the green. After five to seven minutes on typical dry grass – that is the time until the next foursome typically passes through - it has to be gone or it does not pass our tests. There are certain cleats that are more intrusive

the ground. Therefore, that kind of balances out the traction - and you get mid-foot traction, too. For optimal traction on its new Lunar Swingtip shoes, Nike derived the nub pattern from a pressure mapping study that influenced the configuration, geometry and height of the lugs. Regardless of the outsole, the mesh, athletic look is very much in vogue. Every major company offers models sporting that vibe. It is the new norm, because what was considered athletic and kind of non-golfy just a few years ago is now deemed the casual norm. These shoes look a lot like those from the skateboard, basketball, baseball, running and training worlds. For the more conservative golfers, there are still classic, heavy leather shoes available, too. As a by-product, many brands offer hybrids that combine, say, wingtips or saddles with the athletic look. Golfers are the true beneficiaries, as they are seeing more choices than ever in style, combined with top technology, performance and comfort – all for a price that has not really increased over the years.

market during the year as soon as they are ready. Why hold on to great products that can make a real difference to golfers’ performance. Speed to market gives us our competitive edge. How does your R&D team agree on the concept of a new shoe? Players’ input has always been our guide. We continuously explore with top tour players, like Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia & Jason Day, their ideas of the next dream shoe that can help them outperform themselves. Sergio, for example, told us he would put spikes on his feet to play if he could.

From concept to design

Portia Lok on Adidas-Golf’s creative process adidas Golf’s goal is to set new standards with high-performance footwear. How do you satisfy the wide variety of golfers out there from different regions of the globe?

We always challenge ourselves and status quo to design & develop the latest and greatest golf footwear that meets the “equipment for your body” criteria of adidas Golf and helps golfers push their own performance limits. TaylorMade-adidas Golf works closely with professional golfers around the world who play on a wide variety of climate & weather conditions. We also leverage the ground breaking concepts of the adidas brand whose R&D facilities & expertise in footwear technology are unparalleled in the sporting goods industry. Puremotion, our latest model, is one great example. We have learnt from our tour players that a natural fit and feel for enhanced comfort, stability and performance is what they require. Based on their input and the proven-success barefoot footwear concept of adidas running, we created an anatomical shape and versatile spikeless outsole & built on barefoot last to reduce heel lift and properly align the spine. Web-shaped forefoot allows for a “wider” fit. To combine waterproof and breakability, we developed an anti-wicking mesh upper that repels water to provide a breathable protection. “puremotion” has been designed and developed in Carlsbad, California, and it is perfect for golfers in Malaysia! When do you decide it’s time to update a shoe line? Innovation is our key to success. We aim to outperform ourselves and introduce a brand new range every year. At the same time, we introduce additional new models to the

Our global golf footwear management team interprets the feedback and creates a clear vision on product benefits each model has got to deliver. Input from Sergio inspires us to come up with new shoe concepts that are less restrictive and allow players to feel the ground when they swing. Our R&D team’s mission is to bring the product mission to life. Simultaneously, our global golf footwear management team always gets novel inspirations from the trend & technology update from our golf footwear R&D team the U.S. This two-way communication flow has been very efficient & essential. How do you decided on style, colour and materials used in the construction? It all starts with a clear product vision that includes target consumer segment & product benefits. Again the puremotion is a perfect example. The target consumers are the techsavvy golfers who follow the later sports footwear trend of lightweight & natural motion. Therefore the look and feel of this model is more modern & athletic, and the material choices have got to be lightweight. The outcome is a groundbreaking model that looks young & aggressive and weighs only 11.5 oz. Finding the balance between aesthetics, functionality and performance can be quite difficult. How does the adidas-Golf creative team achieve that perfect harmony? The key is knowing golf consumers. Each model of adidas Golf footwear is tailored to fulfill the specific needs and expectations of a different type of consumers. When the product vision is precise, everything follows naturally and logically. For instance, for the golfers who are fans of adidas and seeks good traction, comfort and off-course versatility, we have come up with the adicross. It combines the iconic adidas styling with full-grain leather for a rich look and feel. The upper is both lightweight and durable while the spikeless outsole is soft, delivering superior traction with 124 strategically placed traction lugs of varying size for a secure grip in all playing conditions.

Is it an advantage that Adidas-golf is able to leverage on proprietary technologies from various other adidas categories such as adiPrene+ with golf-specific technologies such as Thintech? Definitely, adidas Golf benefits from the assets developed by adidas brand’s R&D team. At the same time, at TaylorMade-adidas Golf we create golf specific technologies. The combination of the two gives us our unique ability to lead innovation in golf footwear. How has the advent of spikeless sole technology changed the way golf shoes are being designed today? The past few decades saw the replacement of metal spikes by plastic spikes. Spikeless outsole which offers comfort and off-course versatility is the next big trend. Natural foot & body movement is the single biggest global trend in sports footwear nowadays. The golf swing is a chain reaction from the ground up. A pair of good spikeless golf shoes can help prevent injury. Introduced in 2011, adicross has quickly become one of the top golf footwear models globally. It decreases heel lift to improve posture and activates more muscles. Jason Rose’s two-time tournament wins - at BMW Championship and WGCCadillac Championship - wearing the adicross has completely disproved the myth that spikeless golf shoes do not provide stability on the green. How difficult is it to satisfy tour professionals and the average Sunday golfer with the same shoe? Tour professionals and the average Sunday golfers are the same in three aspects. Firstly, they both share the needs for functionality & comfort. Secondly, product quality matters. Thirdly, within each group there are players with different personal needs and preferences. Our strategy is to provide some distinctive different models to cater for different player expectations. For those seeking the latest technology for stability and golf shoe silhouette with a contemporary touch, we offer Tour360 Carbon. For those seeking maximum power in their swing, we provide POWERBAND 4.0. (an ontour model) and POWERBAND Grind (a tonedown version). For those closely following the latest trend of natural motion and comfort, we have puremotion & adicross. With this strategy, we have been able to satisfy both tour professionals and the average Sunday golfers. Portia Lok is the director for adidas Golf, Asia Pacific Region

CHOOSING THE RIGHT GOLF SHOES A big part of enjoying your round of golf is being comfortable on the course.

or some of us who spend a lot of time criss-crossing the fairways, we can easily cover more than 10km in a round. A poorly fitting or uncomfortable shoes can make it not only painful to walk the course, but may also impede your swing, thereby affecting your game. The right footwear allows you to enjoy your game, which at the end of the day may even lead to a lower score. When entering the Pro shop, we often find a whole wall filled with shoes of different brands, designs and prices. Too many times, our choice of shoe depends solely on looks and price. Here are some tips to help you decide which shoes offer you the best comfort and fit. By far, the most important aspect of choosing the right golf shoe is comfort. Generally, the most comfortable shoes tend to have more cushioning in the sole. Modern golf shoes are designed based on sports shoe technology, so often incorporate soft foam midsoles, rubber outsoles and similar air bags, gel pads etc, seen in running shoes. The soft foams also lighten the shoes, which help to reduce fatigue. The lining of the shoe is also important for comfort, as rough seams or worn patches may lead to abrasions, calluses or blistering. The shape and depth of the shoes should also be considered, as not all brands are based on the same last. Shoes, which are too narrow, may cause abrasions and blisters, particularly at the small toes. Conversely, shoes that are too wide may allow too many movements in the forefoot, also leading to abrasions. The primary function of a golf shoe is to provide grip, traditionally provided by steel or rubber spikes. Spikes come in a variety of styles as well as hardness. A good golf shoe will allow you to interchange softer studs for dry hard conditions and firmer studs for wet or muddy courses. Stability of the shoe is an important factor in

preventing injury and improving performance. Good grip is irrelevant if the foot does not remain in firm contact with the base plate of the shoe. Therefore, a number of aspects of the shoe contribute to stability of the shoe. Firstly, a firm heel counter. Too often golfers ram their foot into the shoe, crushing the heel counter, and then sliding the heel into the shoe. While this saves all of 10 seconds in tying the laces, it also destroys one of the main contributors to stability of the shoe, the heel counter. The stiff material is designed to contour/cup the heel to prevent excessive side-to-side motion, keeping the foot well in contact with the sole. Stability is also achieved with a good stable shank within the midsole of the shoe. A simple test would be to hold either end of the shoe and try to twist it. The shoe should not twist more than 10° or 20° in either direction. Good shoes should have good longitudinal stability. This helps prevent excessive rolling and twisting of the foot. A good golf shoe should also provide protection from the weather and elements. Most golf shoes are now all waterproof. Wet feet are the main causes of blisters and fungal infections and so should be kept as dry as possible. This is achieved either through synthetic materials or waterproof lining in leather shoes. This feature is particularly important in Singapore, not just with our frequent rainstorms but also with waterlogged courses. Having judged the shoe on the above factors, it is now time to fit the shoe. The most expensive, technical shoe can cause just as many problems if it does not fit well. Try on shoes later in the day, as this is when the feet are at their largest. Wear the socks that you play golf in as they can differ greatly from your business socks. Try and have the feet measured. This gives you a starting point on the size to fit. You may even find a difference in the size of your two feet so always fit to the larger foot.

Once you have the shoes on, always check the size when you are standing up, as the feet elongate in weight bearing. To ensure the correct fit, press the thumb at the end of your longest toe. There should be a thumb width between the toes and the end of the shoe. Then try to pinch the material with fingers across the ball of the foot. If you cannot gather any material, then the shoe may be too tight across the ball of the foot. Finally, the heel should fit snugly with no slippage. Always give your feet time to adjust to new shoes. Walk around casually, or wear them at the range for a couple days before playing a full round in them. Now that you have invested time and money in your golf shoe, you should take good care of them and they will take good care of you. Shoes’ worst enemy is water. Even the best waterproof shoes will break down eventually when exposed to moisture over long periods. It is inevitable that the shoes get wet, but ensure that they are dried well after wearing. Towel dry them then leave them in an airy position to dry, not in the golf bag or in the boot of the car. Shoes should not be left in the sun. The heat makes them deteriorate faster, similar case if they are placed in the clothes dryer. If moisture gets inside the shoes, stuff them with newspaper overnight. The moisture will wick into the paper. Leather shoes should be buffed and waxed regularly to keep them waterproof. I hope these tips help in selecting you next pair of comfortable golf shoes. Happy golfing! Adam Jorgensen is the principal podiatrist of The Foot Practice (www.thefootpractice. com) in Singapore. One of the pioneers of podiatry in Singapore, he is a founding member of the Podiatry Association of Singapore and specialises in sports podiatry. He is an avid golfer and athlete.

SHOWCASE

Choose from the most stylish golf shoes around to meet any taste and budgets

ADIDAS-GOLF adicross

Inspired by classic Adidas designs and colors, this shoe brings your favourite street shoes onto the golf course with spikeless outsole provides traction, comfort as well as off-course versatility. RRP: RM299

ADIDAS GOLF samba

Taking on the iconic Samba’s classic silhouette and three-stripe design while incorporating ThinTech low-profile technology and six cleats for improved traction, stability and support. RRP: RM359

ADIDAS-GOLF puremotion

Highly technical and lighweight shoe with a curvy, anatomical shape that closely follows the natural lines of the foot and features traction “pods” to provide the necessary traction on the fairways. RRP: RM399

ASHWORTH CARDIFF

CALLAWAY XTREME

CALLAWAY DEL MAR

CALLAWAY C-TECH SADDLE

CROCS BRADYN

CROCS PRESTON

Golf shoe with the cross-over appeal of a town shoe. Playability, wearability and a sure-footed spikeless sole unite with tumbled leathers and rich suede accents RRP: RM399

Features contemporary saddle styling with superior lightweight performance, ensuring total comfort and fit right out of the box RRP: RM260

Combines lightweight stability with advanced Callaway Comfort Tech, providing Xtreme performance for dedicated golfers RRP: RM450

Exceptionally light, form-to-foot Croslite™ material footbed in a great looking and feeling sneaker with water-proof uppers RRP: RM389

Casual in its design, but serious in its performance, offering out-of-the-box comfort that lets you go straight from the car to the course with an all rubber comfort traction outsole RRP: RM390

Crocs™ Croscomfort™ hybrid construction with premium leather and classic styling for comfortable golfing all year long RRP: RM409

CROCS WOMEN’S BRADYN

Interchangeable leather kilties and shoe laces in white and fuchsia or white and turquoise to match Crocs™ innovative multi-cleat spikeless design RRP: RM409

ECCO BIOM HYBRID

Sporty golf shoe with a smart design offering performance and comfort in all weather conditions. Features ECCO’s Comfort Fibre System which allows the feet to breathe naturally. RRP: RM905

ECCO STREET

ECCO WORLD CLASS

ECCO COOL III

FJ ICON

FJ PROFESSIONAL

FJ SPORT

FJ LO-PRO

Fashionable golf sneaker with a retro twist and colour matching laces. Features lightweight cushioning insole as well as durable and stable platform for superior grip and traction. RRP: RM625 - RM1899

Smart and contemporary shoe with a classic golf look crafted with luxurious leather uppers as well as a water-repellent outsole ensures maximum durability for all conditions RRP: RM1899

Take your preferred FJ Icon from the golf course to the street without comprising on the comfort and of these spikeless shoe RRP: RM645

Sleek, sporty and trend inspired golf shoe with soft distressed leathers and suede detailing uppers will appeal to the new school style golfer RRP: RM859

Designed and developed for the player seeking crossover-inspired performance, combining sporty styles along with FootJoy’s tour-proven performance and the BOA lacing system for practicality and ease RRP: RM575 / 545 (Spikeless)

Inspired by FootJoy’s heritage, combines both premium full grain leathers and luxurious calfskin detailing, supported by a performance infused outsole. RRP: RM965 RM1000(BOA)

Perfect modern blend of performance and fashion. With a soft an breathable full grain and patent leather upper, for support, comfort and a stylish look, coupled with a ProofGuard waterproof membrane for complete water resistant protection RRP: RM420

FJ CONTOUR CASUAL

Construction of traditional Contour golf shoes but with a sportier design and the versatility of a spikeless golf shoe RRP: RM399

NIKE TW13

A multifunctional golf shoe offering “free” movement to allow maximum release of power through your swing while mirroring the natural motion of the foot RRP: RM799

NIKE LUNAR SWINGTIP

A mash-up of street style and golf performance that is comfortable to wear on the course and off with weight activated rubber traction lugs RRP: RM399

PUMA FAAS TRAC EVOSPEED

High performance, sporty style golf shoe that provide a unique look with athletic shoe styling and all the latest in Puma comfort and support technology RRP: TBA

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INSIDE THE ROPES

ENDING THE KOREAN STRANGLEHOLD The third edition of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia is set to once draw the top lady professionals from around the world but will the Koreans steal the show again?

he billboards are up all over Klang Valley. If you’ve not caught one yet on your daily morning drive or you’re from outside of town, then be in the know that the preparations for the third edition of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia will reach fever pitch in the coming weeks. The immediate future of the event is secured with conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad extending their support for a further three

years. The attention now turns to who of the 72 players will prevail after four days of gruelling battle at the magnificent East Course of Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club from October 1114. With only one event (the Navistar LPGA Classic) and a two-week break separating the stars (and starlets) from the tropical sunshine of Kuala Lumpur, it is without doubt that the tournament organisers will have their fingers

crossed that the US$1.9 million tournament will once again feature the top ten players from the LPGA Money List. As of press time, defending champion and US Women’s Open champion Na Yeon-choi, Rolex Rankings world number one Yani Tseng as well as American trio Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie will headline a power-packed line-up. The list will also include Malaysia’s own professionals Jean Chua and Ainil Johani Abu Bakar, both of whom were granted sponsor’s exemptions once again this year. Indications are also clear that all four Major winners of this year including Sun Young Yoo, who triumphed at the Kraft Nabisco Championship; LPGA Championship holder Shahshan Feng and in-form Shin Jiyai, the British Women’s Open victor will be make their presence felt alongside the likes of Stacy Lewis, Ai Miyazato, British Women’s Open victor Shin Jiyai, Azahara Munoz and Natalie Gulbis. With a global cast of stars, it is difficult to predict who will lift the beautiful Royal Selangor sculpted trophy this year. It doesn’t help that the tour has dished 16 different winners in its 20 stops so far this year. Unlike in 2011, When Yani Tseng started as the overwhelming favourite in almost every event. No one player had dominated the ladies game throughout

to increase focus, mental toughness, self-confidence and dominance.

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME BAGGING RESULTS

or three months prior to the upcoming Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, 15 of Malaysia’s best female golfers spent up to 50 hours a week honing their game as part of a long-term initiative to help them succeed on the professional stage. As part of Sime Darby’s commitment to develop golf in Malaysia, both at the youth and elite level, the conglomerate partnered with Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) Golf Academy three years ago to initiate the Sime Darby LPGA Development Program.

The intensive 12-week programme held annually is designed to provide performance training for elite junior amateurs as they prepare to participate in the national qualifiers for the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. Besides physical and technical training, the holistic program sees the girls participate in classroom discussions, focusing on areas including physical preparation, physiotherapy, diet and nutrition, strengthening and stretching, and cardiovascular understanding. Special sessions emphasising the psychological aspects of the game are also conducted

“All these girls have swings that work perfectly in practice; but when they are under high pressure and in competitive situations, their game can break down very quickly. The Sime Darby Development Program takes a holistic view of all the different elements that need to come together to win an elite event and applies a formula to assist the players in those situations,” said Australian coaching legend Ian Triggs, who has a hand in nurturing talents such as former world number one Karrie Webb and US Open winners Eun Hee Ji and So Yeon Ryu. Senior instructor Koe Lai Yin, who is also the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association’s resident coach, shared that the participants have shown much improvement as a result of the programme. “In recent weeks after the completion of the programme, some of the girls have done very well in a series of junior and amateur tournaments, both locally and internationally. It goes to show the self-confidence and mental strength they have gained by being part of this programme,” said Koe.

INSIDE THE ROPES vie for a leaderboard position on Sunday, the14th, should she choose to make the trip. The 24-year-old has definitely been the Tour’s best-improved player in 2012 and currently leads the LPGA Money List by virtue of nine top ten positions of this season, including five consecutive top three finishes in as many starts on the back of her victory at the Evian Masters. But no matter how the tournament pans out, Malaysian golf fans are in for a real treat as the very best of women’s golf once again wage battle on our shores.

Michelle Wie

the season as the Taiwanese sensation did last year and neither had there been any compelling rivalries to mention. What is certain, however, is that the player that shakes off the after-effect of jetlag and adapts to the conditions the fastest will definitely gain a head start. Lady luck of course will play its part, with protracted weather delays and searing conditions likely to test the fortitude of even the well-travelled professionals. With Jimin Kang claiming a surprise victory in

Paula Creamer

the first edition and Na-yeon emerging as tops after a compelling battle with Tseng last year, the tournament has yet to see a non-Korean winner. The challenge is definitely on for the game’s other top billings to pocket one of the biggest winner’s share in the ladies regular season. It does not however stop us from naming a South Korean (how surprising with 35 players in the top 100 of the Rolex Rankings) as The ClubHouse’s pick for the tournament. Based on form alone, Park Inbee looks certain to

Yani Tseng

21 professional Ainil Johani Abu Bakar. Aretha confirmed her third consecutive start at the US$1.9 million LPGA event with a resounding closing round of evenpar 71 to add to her opening 77.

DREAM START FOR SARFINA, ARETHA EYES IMPROVEMENT

unior golfer Sarfina Vinota Seretharan could hardly hide her excitement after earning a valuable exemption to the prestigious Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. The 16-year-old student of SMK Taman Yarl finished second behind the nation’s top-ranked amateur Aretha Pan Herng in the national qualifier, which concluded on September 5 at the East Course of Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC). Sarfina’s two-day efforts of 78 and 73 for an eight-over 151 were enough for her to squeeze ahead of fancied names such as Kelly Tan and

First round leader Kelly, twice the best amateur at past editions of the tournament, struggled to uncharacteristic 81 to finish four shots behind on 155 alongside Michelle Koh (78) and Ainil (80). Aretha, who redeemed herself with a strong finish after a jittery double bogey start, aimed for improvement in the tournament proper during October. “I am very excited and I hope I can put forth a better performance this time around. I didn’t strike the ball that well this week but I scrambled well with some up-and-downs. From my last two appearances, I have learnt that course management is crucial if you are to shoot a good score. My distance off the tees is similar to [defending champion] NaYeon [Choi] and the other LPGA stars; so if they can go low, I’m sure I can too,” said the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) ladies champion. “I will be representing Malaysia at the Espirito Santo Cup (World Amateur Team

Championships) in Turkey in early October, so that will help me raise my game ahead of the tournament. I know I have to work harder on my fitness over the next few weeks as I have to play four full walking rounds here,” added Aretha. Sarfina was speechless as she pondered the possibility of teeing up alongside her idols Paula Creamer and Ai Miyazato at the tournament proper. “I am really happy, the feeling has yet to sink in but I am thrilled with everything – this is something you can only dream of!” she exclaimed. “Everything fell into place, my drives were long and straight, my iron play was accurate and my short game was terrific. After crossing over, I told myself that if I continued playing steadily, I would have a good chance of qualifying.” The young lass was delighted that her long spells away from school to sharpen her game has paid off. “It’s going to be really fun and nerve-wrecking at the same time. I’m just going to do the same things that I have been doing but I’m going to talk to Aretha and get some tips from her on how to handle the larger than life occasion,” she said. In the regional qualifier, Chinese Taipei’s Ssuchia Cheng topped the standings despite a final round of 77 for a two-day haul of 149. Her compatriot Min Lee also booked a return trip to Kuala Lumpur after claiming second place on countback, eliminating Thailand’s Ajira Nualraksa (75-76) with a better final round score of 72 after both had finished on 151.

INSIDE THE ROPES

AIRIL EYES ORDER OF MERIT TILT AFTER TEMPLER PARK VICTORY reeled in pacesetter and defending Order of Merit champion Nachimuthu Ramasamy on the 2012 money list. Going into the final round at Templer Park Country Club with a six-stroke lead over the nearest challenger Nicholas Fung, Airil started off positively with an opening birdie but dropped four shots in as many holes to turn in 39. As his rivals struggled to make any inroads under strong winds and tough pin positions, Airil traded a birdie and a bogey apiece on the inward nine to comfortably clinch the title with a closing 75 for a four-day total of eight-under 280.

ith a third Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) title in the bag, Airil Rizman Zahari is confident that he can conjure up the results required to mount a challenge for the Order of Merit title this year. The 34-year-old sealed back-to-back titles with a five-shot victory at the Northport Templer Park Classic on August 30 and has

Fung closed with a round of 74 to finish second on 285, three strokes ahead of Kemarol Baharin (73) who finished on the level-par mark. “As I walked off the eighth [after a double bogey], I was ruing my mistakes with regard to my club selection but my caddie told me to just relax and re-coup the losses. I had my chances on the back nine but I struggled a bit with my birdie putts. In the end, I sealed the deal, so I’m really not going to complain,” said Airil.

“It’s been four and half years of being downtrodden, not believing that I can win again, so it has been a very pleasant surprise to have won three times now. After my first victory in my hometown Perlis in February, everything just clicked and the support from my family especially my wife has been amazing,” he added. Lying second in the Order of Merit with only six events to be played, Airil fancies his chances of finishing the year as the champion of Order of Merit. “If I can continue playing as well as I have, I am definitely going to strike a few more wins. I still have a fair chance, I like my chances and I’m giving myself chances.” Leading final round scores 280 - Airil Rizman Zahari (68-68-69-75) 285 - Nicholas Fung (69-71-71-74) 288 - Kemarol Baharin (77-65-73-73) 289 - Md Rashid Ismail (75-74-71-69) 290 - Sukree Othman (74-73-74-69) 291 - Danny Chia (68-76-75-72), S. Murthy (77-70-71-73) 292 - Mohd Azman Basharuddin (72-77-73-70) 296 - Mohd Rizal Amin (73-73-76-74), P. Gunasagaran (75-76-70-75)

CHIA SEALS CIMB CLASSIC BERTH, SHAABAN SWEATS ON OWGR SLOT quite well and I knew if I played decent golf, I would be able to produce a low score,” said Chia, who walked home with RM22,000 for his effort. “I knew from the start that I was relatively assured of a place at the tournament based on my healthy advantage on the world rankings but I am nonetheless pleased to have booked my tee times now,” he smiled. Chia is now relishing the opportunity of playing in the CIMB Classic again after his tied 13th finish last year and expressed hopes that he would be paired with 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods, who will headline the lucrative event.

easoned professional Danny Chia will once again spearhead the nation’s challenge at the CIMB Classic after sealing his berth at the Sapura National Qualifier on September 12. The 39-year-old Chia shot a final round fiveunder 66 to overturn Shaaban Hussin’s threeshot 36-hole lead at The MINES Resort & Golf Club. Chia emerged victorious by two shots to earn a sponsor’s exemption at the US$6.1 million Asian and PGA Tours co-sanctioned exhibition from October 25-28. Rookie

professional

Mohd

Azman

Basharuddin put on a gallant final round display, bagging six birdies in a faultless 66 to finish second behind Chia with a three-day total of seven-under 206. Despite finishing third on the back of a closing 73, two-time champion Shaaban is the best bet for the other domestic berth as he is the best ranked Malaysian on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) after Chia. Chia turned in with a 34 and cruised to victory on the homeward nine with birdies on holes 10, 11, 13 and 17. “My focus was much better. I tried not to look at my swing and focused on shooting a low score. I know this course

“It is always great to play with guys like Vijay (Singh) last year. Hopefully I can play well enough and be paired with Tiger. That will really be a good incentive. I am going try to keep my expectations low and really pace myself and not get ahead of myself,” added Chia. Leading final round scores 204 - Danny Chia (70-68-66) 206 - Mohd Azman Basharuddin (71-70-65) 208 - Shabaan Hussin (66-69-73) 210 - M. Sasidaran (70-69-71), Nicholas Fung (69-70-71) 211 - Mohd Sukree Othman (71-71-69) 212 - Lim Eng Seng (69-73-70), S. Sivachandhran (71-72-71) 215 - S. Murthy (76-70-69) 216 - Nicholas Pua (73-72-71)

INSIDE THE ROPES

THAWORN IN A CLASS OF HIS OWN T

hai maestro Thaworn Wiratchant reignited his long-standing love affair with Malaysia after marching to his 14th Asian Tour title at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters on September 8. Thaworn, whose maiden win on the Asian Tour came 16 years ago at the Sabah Masters, overcame a mid-round wobble to close with a three-under 69 at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club for a three-stroke victory over Gaganjeet Bhullar of India. The 45-year-old totalled 16-under-par 272 over four days to walk away with the winner’s prize purse of US$60,900.

The victory moved him one clear of compatriot Thongchai Jaidee in the all-time list of Asian Tour winners.

The Indian was closely followed by the trio of Bangladeshi Siddikur (66), Javi Colomo (67) of Spain and joint halfway leader Michael Tran (68), who were level on 12-under-par 276.

The local honours went to Sabahan Nicholas Fung, who closed with a one-under-par 71 to settle for tied 29th place on three-under 285.

Two-time Asian Tour winner Bhullar drained five birdies in a flawless front nine to roar into contention. However, he could only garner two further birdies against a solitary bogey on the homeward stretch to register a round of sixunder 66 for a 13-underpar 275 total.

MALAYSIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION

JEREMY, HILFERAH TRIUMPH AT CLEARWATER

(PGM) NorthPort Templer Park Classic, was delighted with his breakthrough victory. “I was one shot behind after the second round yesterday and I told myself to just keep the ball in play, hit as many greens as possible and take on from that. I am glad that I executed what I set out to do and I’m really happy to have won here,” said the 22-yearold. In the ladies division, Tan pipped in-form Sarfina Vinota Seretharan (75) to the main prize by a solitary stroke with a three-day total of three-over 219. Sarfina, who had recently earned a surprise berth at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, carried a one-shot lead over the Ranau lass coming into the final round but never managed to recover from a double bogey on the 14th. Genevieve Ling I-Rynn was seven strokes behind in third on 227.

ising amateur Jeremy Chan and former national Hillferah Tan were the toasts of the field as they captured their maiden state amateur victories at the Perak Amateur Open on September 9.

Chan, who picked up the best placed amateur prize in the recent Professional Golf of Malaysia

Mohd Shah Syaizal Md Aris emerged as the nett champion with a score of 204 (74-6466) while junior Nur Amelia Mohd Shahzan topped the ladies nett category with a 210 (67-74-69) total.

THAILAND DOMINATES SEA AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Chan carded a solid closing round of oneunder 71 to follow his opening two rounds of 75 and 70 at Clearwater Sanctuary Resort

to romp to a four-stroke victory over Amirul Aizat Abdul Bahar of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). Overnight leader Nordin Yahaya posted a poor final round of 78 to take third place on 222, one shot ahead of another UUM player, Mohd Wafiyuddin Abdul Manaf.

Tan was naturally elated with the result. “I played consistently through all three rounds and I am very proud of my scores,” said Tan, who notched rounds of 71, 75 and 73. “Took my chances today and played solid golf under pressure. [The victory] is one to cherish,” said the communications undergraduate at UUM.

alaysia returned with a haul of two silvers and three bronzes respectively from the recent South East Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship at Emeralda Golf Club. Thailand once again underlined their dominance with a clean sweep of the main Putra Cup, Santi Cup and Lion City Cup titles. Low Khai Jei grabbed the individual bronze in the Lion City Cup en-route to helping his team comprising Solomon Emilio, Paul San and Albright Chong to a commendable second place finish on 903 behind runaway

winners from Thailand (870), who were powered by individual champion Boonma Danthai. In the Santi Cup, the Malaysian quartet of Kelly Tan, Michelle Koh, Aretha Pan and Nur Durriyah Damian finished third with a tournament total of 879, eight strokes behind champions from Thailand (871). Host Indonesia Tan had to be satisfied with silver in the individual race after Filipino Jayvie Marie Agojo was adjudged the winner on countback after both players finished with identical 289 totals.

Powered by the dynamic team of Natipong Srithong, Itthipat Buranatanyarat Itthipat, Poom Saksansin and Somprad Rattanasuwan, the Thais topped the field with a haul of 10-over-par 854. Malaysia, represented by Abel Tam, Mohamad Afif Radzi, Chan Tuck Soon and Ahmad Zahir Abdul Gani, carded a combined score of 891 to finish tied third alongside Indonesia. Abel Tam was the best placed Malaysian in fifth placing on fourover-par 292.

MY JUNIORS Results => CIMB Foundation-SportExcel Malaysian Junior Premier-Elite Golf Circuit - 2nd Leg Boys’ Under 20 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Kim Myong Kon Lee Jeong Gin Muhamad Asyraf Hj Rosli Joshua Gibbons

224 (76-71-77) 230 (81-75-74) 237 (81-82-74) 239 (77-83-79)

Boys’ Under-15 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Aaerishna Shahsthy Park Chang Uk Lucas Yee Sim You Jin

224 (75-73-76) 227 (76-74-77) 240 (81-77-82) 244 (82-85-77)

Boys’ Under-12 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Khavish Varman Varadan Adam Arif Mazri K. Rhaasrikanesh Foo Tee Hong

SHI QING WINS THRILLER IN JUNIOR MATCH PLAY

Girls’ Under-20

It was the girls who stole the headlines during the recent CIMB Foundation-MGASportExcel Malaysian Junior Matchplay Championship from August 25-26 at Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

There was little to separate Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia’s Ong Shi Qing and Nur Syazani Amalia Mohd Shahzan of Cinta Sayang Golf & County Resort in the deciding match of the girls’ championship pool. The duo exchanged the lead a couple of times before the 15-year-old Shi Qing triumphed on the closing hole.

Girls’ Under-15

Shi Qing shared that the close finish proved to be an unnerving experience. “It was a good fight with Amalia and I really had to dig deep, especially on the last few holes because both of us were neck to neck and any mistakes would have been costly.” In the boys’ championship pool, Joshua Gibbons strode confidently to the title after a 7&6 victory over Lucas Yee. Muhammad Asyraf Azman and Kim Joo Yeon emerged as the boys’ and girls’ plate champions with a 7&5 defeat of Iqmah Suzairy and 4&3 win over Ho Cai Yan respectively. Thirty two boys and eight girls qualified to participate in the match play championship based on their placings at second leg of the CIMB Foundation-SportExcel Malaysian Junior Premier-Elite Golf Circuit, which concluded on August 24 at the same venue.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Nyca Khaw Wen Hui Asha Laksme Celine Lim Shwi Ling Ho Cai Yan

Kelie Kan Kah Yan Siti Zulaikhaa Shaari Nur Amalia Mohd Shahzan Ong Shi Qing

227 (74-76-77) 246 (81-83-82) 248 (86-79-83) 253 (79-83-91)

258 (86-88-84) 259 (85-88-86) 262 (90-90-82) 265 (85-92-88)

246 (80-81-85) 253 (82-91-80) 258 (87-86-85) 270 (92-88-90)

Girls’ Under-12 1st Winnie Ng Yu Xuan 2nd Siti Sarah Feizal Nor 3rd Zulaikah Nurziana

258 (89-84-85) 296 (104-95-97) 326 (117-107-102)

Mixed Under-9 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Feirish Nor Jeneath Wong Foo Tee Jui Isaac To Chern Yi

237 (85-76-76) 239 (81-79-79) 242 (78-82-82) 246 (77-85-84)

Premier-Elite second leg winners with Malaysian Golf Association president Admiral (R) Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor

INDUSTRY TALK

ASEAN SENIORS’ MEET RETURNS TO KUALA LUMPUR

ver 256 senior golfers from six South East Asian nations will congregate in Kuala Lumpur for the 29th edition of the ASEAN Senior Golfers Championship from September 25-27. Hosted for the sixth time by the Senior Golfers Society of Malaysia (SGSM) under the auspices of the Confederation of ASEAN Senior Golfers Association (CASGA), the three-day event will take place at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club and The Mines Resort & Golf Club. The participants will be divided into two pools, one playing under the strokeplay format for the individual and team championships while another pool will feature age-group categories based on the Stableford format. SGSM president Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr) Sallehuddin Mohamed stated that the society considered it a “national commitment” to organise the event by virtue of its rich history and representation.

“We believe that by hosting this event, we are able to showcase the very best of Malaysian hospitality and golfing facilities as well as promote the spirit of goodwill and friendship that exists among the senior golfers in this region,” he noted. He added that a separate shopping and sight-seeing itinerary has been drawn out for the large number of spouses travelling with the golfers. Sallehuddin also expressed his gratitude to CIMB Bank as well as the Tourism and Youth and Sports ministries for their support. He

also thanked individuals and organisations that have contributed to ease the heavy financial commitment borne by the society in organising the championship. On the competition front, Malaysian team captain Datuk Khamis Abu Samah expressed his hopes that the domestic seniors will rise to the occasion. “With home ground advantage, we are definitely gunning to top the championship, having played second fiddle in the past three editions,” said Khamis.

MGTA SEEKS LARGER VOICE

MSTGE ‘12 TARGETS LARGER TURNOUT

he newly appointed council of the Malaysian Golf Tourism Association (MGTA) has made it a priority to grow its membership - a move which is aimed at increasing its voice and influence in the local golf industry. The association held its first annual general meeting on August 29 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. Its president Paul Gibbons was returned unopposed. He called on all parties involved in the golf tourism scene to come together under the association. “Being a member of MGTA will open a host of benefits to anyone who has an interest in the golf travel industry, from golf clubs and resorts to golf tour operators and even the media,” he said. “Through MGTA, we can be a strong collective voice to bring up to the relevant authorities, issues that affect the golf travel industry. Our close ties with Tourism

Malaysia and other government agencies can also help speed up proceedings and cut through red tape.” Gibbons also presented a progress report, documenting the association’s achievements since its inception in March last year. “Our focus in the first year was to establish a point of contact, which we have done with the appointment of Chris Syer as our executive director. We are also proud to say that we have an up-to-date and reliable information channel through our web portal to reach a global audience.” “But most importantly, we are very pleased that through our efforts and the strong partnership that exists between the International Association of Golf Travel Operators (IAGTO) and us, we were able to successfully organise the inaugural Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) in April this year,” he added.

rganisers of the Malaysia Sports Trade O and Golf Expo 2012 (MSTGE ‘12) are expecting a bumper turnout of over 30,000 visitors during the third edition of the exposition at the Malaysia International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC).

Set to run concurrently with the CIMB Classic which will take place at the neighbouring MINES Resort & Golf Club from October 25-28, the four-day exhibition will feature an increased line-up of domestic and international sports-related businesses including sports and fitness equipment manufacturers and retailers, health supplement suppliers, golf clubs and resorts as well as sports venue providers, among others. Visitors can take part in various sideline activities and competitions while grabbing some good bargains on sports and golf equipment, accessories, apparels and services. The event is organised by MINES Events Sdn Bhd with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Sports Council and the partnership of Unicom Marketing.

AROUND THE GLOBE

PHILLIPINES BREAKTHROUGH FOR QUEK

uincy Quek of Singapore saved his best for last when he nailed an ace on the parthree 16th to close with seven-under-par 65 and capture his maiden professional victory at the $60,000 ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship on August 18.

INDIAN OPEN TRAVELS SOUTH

he Hero Indian Open 2012 will be held at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA Golf Club) in Bangalore for the first time in the tournament’s illustrious history. The Indian Golf Union (IGU), Nimbus Sport and Asian Tour announced on August 21 that the 49th edition of the prestigious Hero Indian Open will be staged from October 18 to 21 With a prize purse of US$1.25 million.

RAMSAY CROWNED KING OF THE ALPS

cotland’s Richie Ramsay earned a well-deserved victory by wrapping up his Swiss campaign with a five-under-par 66 to win the European and Asian Tours co-sanctioned Omega European Masters by a convincing four-shot margin on Sept 2.

In its 48-year history, the national Open has only been held in the capital New Delhi and Kolkata. With the event now moving to Bangalore, more fans from across the country will be able to watch top quality golf more closely.

Ramsay’s four-day total of 16-under-par 267 at Cranssur-Sierre left Australia’s Marcus Fraser, Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson Hed, France’s Romain Wattel and England’s Danny Willett having to settle for tied-second on 271.

MCILROY SET FOR SENTOSA RETURN

Ramsay, who held the overnight lead by one, extended his advantage to four after opening with three birdies in four holes before picking up further birdies on the seventh and ninth holes. A stunning eagle-three on the 14th all but confirmed his victory despite his second bogey of the day on the 17th.

orld number one Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland will grace the fairways of the Barclays Singapore Open along with three-time champion Australia’s Adam Scott of Australia and American star Phil Mickelson.

HOME JOY FOR HSIEH

ocal boy Hsieh Chi-hsien capped a memorable week L by firing a flawless five-under-par 67 to win his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the Ballantine’s

The three golfing powerhouses, along with a wealth of other marquee names, will compete in the US$6 million event at Sentosa Golf Club from November 8 to 11 with their sights clearly set on the US$1 million winner’s cheque.

Taiwan Championship on August 26.

Hsieh, who held the lead after the second round, was a figure of consistency as he put out an assured performance at the National Garden Golf Course to seal a three-shot victory over compatriot Hsu Mong-nan (64) with a winning total of 16-under-par 272.

The 23-year-old McIlroy last played in the tournament in 2008, a year after turning professional and finished joint fourth.

Yeh Wei-tze signed off with a 69 to take third place on 277 while Canada’s Lindsay Renolds, England’s Grant Jackson and Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao shared fourth place on 278.

SHIN COMPLETES ASIAN CLEAN SWEEP OF LADIES’ MAJORS

hin Jiyai marked her return to form in emphatic fashion by claiming the RICOH Women’s British Open - her second victory in seven days after she had outlasted Paula Creamer in a nine-hole play-off at the Kingsmill Championship on September 10.

The Singaporean signed off with a winning total of 12-under-par 276 to finish two shots ahead of Filipino Antonio Lascuna, Australian Scott Barr and compatriot Lam Zhiqun who shared second place on matching 278s at the Orchard Golf and Country Club.

As gales forced a 36-hole final day marathon at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Shin avoided possible mistakes in treacherous weather conditions with rounds of 71 and 73 to finish at nine-under 279.

Shin’s compatriot Inbee Park finished second on the back of rounds of 72 and 76 while Creamer took third place on one-over-par after a strong finish. Shin joins compatriot Sun Young Yoo(Kraft Nabisco Championship), China’s Shanshan Feng (LPGA Championship) and another South Korean Na Yeon Choi(U.S. Women’s Open) in all Far-East line-up of Major winners on the ladies circuit this year.

AROUND THE GLOBE

FIGHTBACK SEALS TAIPEI VICTORY FOR BHULLAR © Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour

aganjeet Bhullar claimed a third Asian Tour title G on Monday, closing with three-under-par 69 to win the weather-shortened Yeangder Tournament Players Championship by four strokes.

The Indian fended off American Jason Knutzon and 14-time Asian Tour winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand to win the $500,000 event with his three-day total of 12-under-par 204 at Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

The strapping Indian star quickly extended his overnight one-stroke lead to two with an opening birdie before dropping a shot on the third. He recovered quickly with two more birdies on the fourth and eighth holes to make turn on 34. After another birdie on the 10th, Bhullar dropped two shots in three holes to see his lead over Knutzon and Thaworn trimmed to one stroke but responded brilliantly with birdies on the 16th and 18th.

GRIFFIN REACHES NEW HIGH WITH KOREAN VICTORY ustralian Matthew Griffin scored the biggest win A of his professional career on Sunday with a onestroke victory at OneAsia’s Charity High1 Resort Open on

Local lads Kang Kyung-nam (68) and Park Sang-Hyun (71) pushed Griffin all the way around the hilly High1 Resort Country Club, which at 1,137 metres ( 3,730 feet) is the highest golf course in Korea.

hongchai Jaidee has been named the tournament ambassador for this year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which will be held from November 1-4 at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand. The three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner and four time European Tour winner

McILROY POWERS TO DOUBLE PLAYOFF WINS

FERNANDEZ-CASTANO CLINCHES SECOND ITALIAN OPEN

is considered Thailand’s most successful golfer, and he will be an inspiration to his young compatriots ahead of the fourth edition of the tournament.

This year’s field will include up to 120 players from the member nations of the APGC. Each nation automatically receives two invitations, based on the WAGR as of August 29. The rest of the field is then made up of invitations by ranking, with each country allowed up to a maximum of six players, while Thailand can have up to 10 as the host nation.

The Spaniard did not drop a shot in a final round 64 en-route to a 24-under 264 total, while South African Mulroy, who led by one stroke coming into the final round, will rue holes six and 17, where he picked up bogeys.

Each year, the winner earns an invitation to compete in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, while the champion and runner(s)-up both earn spots in International Final Qualifying (IFQ) – Asia for The Open Championship. Two-time winner Hideki Matsuyama has confirmed he will defend his title in November.

ory McIlroy fired a five-under par 67 on September 9 to win the BMW Championship, holding off the game’s top field to win a second straight title in the US PGA Tour Playoff series.

onzalo Fernandez-Castano picked up his sixth European Tour victory after he beat off the challenge of Garth Mulroy to win the BMW Italian Open by two shots.

KIWI KO SHOWS POISE BEYOND © Getty

THONGCHAI NAMED ACC AMBASSADOR

The 29-year-old from Melbourne led by two overnight but held his nerve in a topsy-turvy final round for an even-par 72 that gave him a nine-under total of 278 and the winner’s cheque of around US$178,000.

September 9.

ifteen-year-old amateur Lydia Ko dislodged Lexi Thompon as the youngest winner on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour after pulling off a remarkable three-shot victory at the Canadian Women’s Open on August 26.

McIlroy, who won the Deutsche Bank Championship last week by one stroke, finished with a 20-under total of 268, two shots in front of Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood. He is now the heavy favourite to triumph at the seasonending Tour Championship, having won in three of his last four PGA Tour starts.

Ko, who cemented her status as the world’s top-ranked lady amateur by winning the recent U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, carded a stellar five-underpar 67 on the final day at Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam to finish at 13-under 275, three clear of South Korean Inbee Park at 10-under 278.

The Ulsterman becomes the first player since Tiger Woods in 2009 to win in consecutive weeks on the PGA Tour and joins Woods and legend Jack Nicklaus as the only players to have claimed sixth career tour wins before their 24th birthdays.

The victory in Vancouver is Ko’s second professional tournament win after the New Zealander became the youngest golfer to win a professional event at the New South Wales Open in January.

IN THE BAG

BERES KIWAMI IRONS www.honma.co.jp • •

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A mild steel forged head produces an overall soft feel. Re-distribution of weight towards the sole allows for a thinner and lighter centre of the club face, which lowers the centre of gravity for increased operability and larger sweet spot. Designed with three different thickness inside a cavity-back head for higher trajectory and distance.

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Features a classic, semi-mallet putter design combined with a gooseneck hosel. Dual milled face ensures a super flat face, optimising roll for truer putts. Secondary arched master grooves promote spin and reduces skid on central impacts while also putting some back spin on the ball to keep putts on target. Black PVD finish cuts down on glare to make alignment more accurate.

xFIXx GOLF BALLS

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Patented low compression core with Gradational Technology provides the ideal deformation of the ball at impact for a higher launch with less back and side spin for straighter, longer drives. Brand new soft Ionomer cover material provides increased spin control and feel around the greens for extra confidence and stopping power. 330-seamless dimples helps reduce friction during flight, delivering extra accuracy and straighter ball flight.

RRP: RM96

CPG_Travel_Bag_ClubHouseAd.pdf 1 10/9/2012 10:59:20 AM

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IN THE BAG

MORE PERFORMANCE How do you improve on the most successful metal woods franchise on Tour? The folks at Titleist may just have found the answer with their new 913 line-up.

ne major championship, ten worldwide victories and the win count looks set to double before the last putt drops on the professional tours this year. Not bad for a metal woods franchise that is still a few weeks shy from being unveiled officially to golfers around the globe.

The new Titleist 913 line-up has created much buzz since it was first seeded on Tour at the AT&T National in June. It reached meteoric heights when Rory McIlroy, who had elected to put the new 913D3 driver in play, cruised to a spectacular eight-stroke victory at the US PGA Championship - leading the field in driving distance with a 311.5 yard average. Not known to be a mid-season club switcher, the Ulsterman delivered a clear statement of trust and confidence when he added the new 913Fd 3-wood (13.5°) and 913F 5-wood (18.5°) to his bag en route to clinching a sensational double in the Playoffs, sandwiched in between another 913 victory for Nick Watney at The Barclays. With the performance validation on tour continuing to churn out positive reviews and tournament wins, golfers out there may be quite curious how the 913 family is compared with its predecessor, the 910, both in terms of all-round performance as well as in the aesthetics department. “Not that the 910 driver was in anyway a bad club,” said Rick Brown, Titleist brand manager for South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand during the media launch of the 913 drivers in Singapore recently. “A few years down the road when we look back at the 910 driver, we might very well come to the conclusion that it may have been the greatest golf club to carry the Titleist script, almost to the level reached by the Pro V in the ball segment,” shared Brown. “But what excites all of us at Titleist is how quickly the 913 driver has made an impact and the feedback we have received from the players who made the early switch, and the ever-increasing title count has been amazing. This is a momentous step for us because the 913 driver looks in every way, set to continue the legacy of its predecessor,” he added.

Designed and built for higher speed and longer distance, the new Titleist 913 drivers will resonate with serious golfers looking for faster and more consistent drives as the new high-speed, forged face insert delivers maximum balls speeds over a larger area of the face.

draw bias and the 913D3 that has a 445cc classic-pear shape which offers more tourinspired workability while maintaining its forgiveness. Both D2 and D3 models now provide the same launch and spin characteristics to provide maximum fitting flexibility.

A new rear SureFit tour weight and improved centre of gravity (CG) positioning results in improved launch conditions with reduced spin for longer distance off the tees. Meanwhile the industry leading SureFit Tour hosel technology, which debuted on the 910 drivers, continues to allow golfers to set loft and lie adjustment independently to optimise ball flight, improve shot control and maximise distance.

Driver shafts that are available at no extra charge include three from Mitsubishi (Diamana Plus White, Diamana Plus Blue, Bassara W) and two from Aldila (RIP Phenom, RIP Alpha) to fit a wide range of players and swing speeds.

The performance advancement of the 913 drivers are highlighted with bold new cosmetics - featuring an improved toe profile with the club head retaining its striking black PVD finish to provide a sense of confidence and power at address. Two models are available - the 913D2 which features a 460cc fullpear shaped head designed for maximum forgiveness and a slight

The new 913 driver will begin to ship out on the first week of November and will retail at RM1990. The fairway woods (RM1200) and hybrids (RM990) will only be available in the first quarter of 2013.

GEAR UP

BECAUSE YOU DESERVE MORE!

CHEV TRAVEL COVER www.callawaygolf.com • •

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Constructed of durable 1000D polyester and features a padded shell which protects and secures the clubs. Lockable zippers provide additional security while internal bag straps secure clubs and eliminate jostling during baggage clearance. Durable wheels provide smooth rolling and an ID slot keeps identification readily available.

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RRP: RM595

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GOLF TRAVEL

THE QUEST TO BE NUMBER ONE In between settling into married life and balancing his jugular roles at Liberty Travel and Malaysia Golf Tourism Association (MGTA), where he was recently appointed as the vice-president; Ng Eu Shen sat down for an in-depth conversation on his business model, the association which he co-founded as well as the outlook for the golf tourism sector in the near future. Liberty Travel took its first footstep into the golf market in 2001 and after 11 years, is among the market leaders in providing comprehensive golfing packages to Malaysian golfers. What was the inspiration behind the extension of your services into golf? Our core business was corporate airlines ticketing and leisure tour packaging since 1976. The market trend has evolved tremendously and we transcended into where we are today as we were asked to handle more golfing holidays & overseas golf events by local golf clubs and corporations.

This was an avenue for the introduction of golf tourism. Seemingly back then, we felt there wasn’t a great approach in promoting golf destinations and we’ve decided to take it upon ourselves as our management team is a bunch of golfing nuts as well. Your comments on why Liberty Travel has set the standard for golf tourism operators both in Malaysia and the region and what new clients can expect from your company? Even without competitors, it is our commitment to our clients that makes the difference. We know clients have alternatives and we shall constantly uphold their trust in us in providing a reliable service. To be the best, we ensure that our business partners share the same vision and are of caliber or else it’ll never work out. Sometimes it isn’t just about running a fire sale and dumping prices to gain market share. We are still committed to provide a certain level of service to clients regardless of profitability level.

This is probably the simplest decision that we ever needed to make. We were growing not just locally but within Asia itself. Our regional golfing network was expanding from golf travel specialists; golf media, golf retailers, club owners, tourist boards, wholesalers etc were all looking do to some business and some to sizeable magnitudes. We have been moving golfers in & out of Malaysia at a scale that we needed to expand our business in order to cater to the demand. You have been regional mover for International Association of Golf Travel Operators (IAGTO) and instrumental in both the formation of the Malaysian Golf Tourism Association (MGTA) as well as AGTC held recently in Kuala Lumpur. Why take such a bold step forward from a business point of view and the bigger picture of golf tourism in the country? Besides the growth on the commercial side, we

take a national pride in promoting our country to wherever we travel to – because Malaysia is a great golf destination! But we needed a bigger entity to support the golf marketing role for the entire country. Liberty Travel and a few like minded private sectors joint forces and set up the Malaysia Golf Tourism Association (MGTA) on 17 March 2011. As for IAGTO, they were founded in 1997 in the UK & have over 1,900 members across 89 countries. IAGTO members collectively control 85% of all golf tour packages sold worldwide. It was only sensible for Liberty to partner up with IAGTO and to hone our business strength in Asia. The product of that partnership will be the inaugural Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) held in April 2012 at the Palace of The Golden Horses. We played hosts to the largest golf tourism event in Asia. This function really showcases Malaysia to all the golf travel experts from 45 countries that we’re just about the best in Asia.

Our pricing has always been competitive and we’re very tactical with our approaches. In short, we don’t give you much reason not to book your golf tours with us. We don’t have a particular target market as our forte. Golf travel business itself is a niche product and we have served as many FIT golf segments as we have corporate & VIP delegations. Since 2009, you have expanded into a separate golf division through Liberty Golf Services, which offers the whole works including overseas corporate golf tournaments, golf merchandise as well as events promotions. How vital it is for you to have a separate division dedicated to golf?

Part of the organising committee spearheading the inaugural Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC)

GOLF TRAVEL for our Malaysian customers. What are the current trends of golf travel worldwide and does it relate to Malaysian golf tourists? Well I can safely say golf tourists are more often than not jaded by quantitative information, not qualitative ones. Everyone in the industry wants to make a sale with the same yield. Obviously, this means trimming costs and cleverly masking their adverts. The international market (UK, Australia & North Asia) will still rely on bona fide agents for their bookings and although competitive pricing, the sales will fall through.

Simon Ng (right) has been the face of the Liberty brand for decades.

You’re also a leading inbound golf travel operator today. What can foreign travellers come to expect from you in terms of Malaysia as a golf destination? We all know Malaysia is a great destination not just for golf, but for general tourism at large. Our 207 golf facilities will compliment the other tour products such as duty free shopping, spa treatments, the advanced yet cost effective medical tourism, multitude diving spots which are world renowned & eco tourism. Our country gives all the right reasons for travelers to take their next vacation into Malaysia. We have 4 major tournaments in a year which also boasts the level of Malaysia golf course standards. As an example, Tiger Woods will be coming this year for the CIMB Classic and if we’re good enough for the PGA professionals, we’re good enough for any golf tourists. Although Malaysia plays hosts to these events, our neighboring countries should take advantage of this without having to travel far to experience such events. Putting all these features and amenities together, we welcome the world. Your mission statement today and future plans? Without a doubt, we want to set the tone to be the No. 1 Golf Travel Company in Malaysia, if we’re not there already. I believe we’re inching towards that goal every day. Also, we’re looking forward to an increment of market share within our outbound travel segment in Malaysia as our brand presence will be felt.

brand to be carried across Asia as the preferred choice agency. In order to shave a long term cost, we’ve already decided to set up our own permanent offices around this region which we’ll make that announcement later in the year. That will support not only our outbound business but inbound as well. You’re now the second-generation of Ngs in the travel business. How does a familybusiness model like yours adapt to the changing business climate? ‘Be the first in the office + Take ALL responsibilities + Be the last to leave the office’. That’s the Ngs’ business model! Well it is never easy managing family business because the expectations are so much higher. I’ve always looked up to my father, Mr Simon Ng, for his hardworking pace and how he handles our businesses with great care. Truly a great mentor for me and the team. What he brings to the table in terms of vast experience is instrumental to an evolving business climate. We embrace, not fear, the changes and with the knowledge of the business, I believe we will thrive. We’re engaging more into the media segments today, mainstream or social media to get more interactive with our customers or prospects. We are also always on the hunt to add more destinations to our belt and bringing the best

I fear it is worse here. For the Malaysian market, what plagues this industry is the fact that we have lots of ‘fly by night’ agents who claims good deals without license, reputation & support. Our golfers would foolishly hop on their band wagon because of a free t-shirt and later finds out that their tour has been compromised because it is not as advertised. The cost of doing business is so much more these days. How far have we tapped the golf tourism business in Malaysia, both outbound and inbound? For the outbound travelers, we find the numbers are actually increasing. In totality, the number of golfers might be the same or decreased but the ones who travel for golf will make more frequent trips with golf buddies or joining tournaments. As we all know, Malaysians are generally love travelling and golfers are of no exception. As for inbound, we have hardly scratched the surface of what we can do. This country has got it all yet the promotions and visibility of it have yet to be realized by tourists around the world. This is the reason why MGTA was formed and we will stop at nothing to bring more golfers to Malaysia. Therefore, I urge all interested organizations who can lend a hand in promoting Malaysia to the world, to join MGTA today. Not to worry about striding alongside your competitors in MGTA whilst promoting Malaysia - the cake is just too big out there!

Where do you see the Liberty Golf Services brand in the years to come? We don’t want to get over hands into every cookie jar – we remain steadfast and self reliant within the golf travel business. What has given us an edge over the years is our exposure not only to the ‘travel’ side but towards golf as a sport as well. This is why overseas clients would like to partner us because we understand the whole lot! If all goes well and God willing, we want our

Signing a tripartite agreement between Liberty Golf Services, Angkor Golf Resort & PSD Travel Ltd to grow the Malaysia - Cambodia golf tourism sector

GOLF TRAVEL

ÂŠ Ravi Chitty

Devatas carrings on the walls of Angkor Wat

GOLF TRAVEL

KHMER MAGNIFIQUE

37 The temples of Bayon

Ravi Chitty finds himself mesmerised by the ancient wonders of Angkor and Siem Reap’s best golf offerings as he takes in the Franco-Khmer hospitality at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort RNOLD JOSEPH TOYNBEE, the British historian who was responsible for the chronologies documenting the rise and fall of civilisations, described it as “perhaps the greatest of Man’s essays in rectangular architecture that has yet been brought to life.” Indeed, I found myself stumped, almost speechless, as I eyed the colossal temple complex that stood in front of me, Angkor Wat in all its glories. I began to understand why hundreds of years since Suryavarman II presided over the construction of this religious monument and much later, his mausoleum, millions still flock from across the world for a visual pilgrimage to this city of temples that lies five kilometres north of the modern town of Siem Reap. Paying homage to the supreme God Vishnu, the central quincunx of towers which over time have become a national icon of Cambodia, were built to resemble the peaks of mythological Mount Meru - the heavenly abode of the Gods. Resplendent with walls painstakingly carved with thousands of apsara (heavenly nymphs) and devatas (deities), and hundreds of metres of elaborate bas reliefs depicting Hindu epics,

the royal court and scenes from contemporary life, Angkor Wat is an epitome of grandeur in appearance and explains why many have described it as the ultimate masterpiece of Khmer architecture. As a keen photographer, I am a believer that a picture is worth more than a thousand words. However, as I perused through the hundreds of photos I took on that sun-soaked afternoon, nothing could quite re-create the experience of gazing as this stately epicentre of Khmer history, appreciating the imagination and ingenuity of its creators and the vast expenditure of human toil that went into his realisation. Perhaps it was just me, who is unable to get over the fact that I was fulfilling a lifelong dream of visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site. Circling the baroque-styled temple of Bayon, which stands at the centre of the Buddhist king Jayavarman VII’s capital Angkor Thom, soaking in as much as my few hours there allowed me to, something crossed my mind. It occurred to me that no matter how long you spent - be it a full day, three days, a week or even a month - you would never end up at the same place despite criss-crossing this maze-like layout of galleries, terraces, gopuras and ancient ruins.

GOLF TRAVEL

G O L F

E S C A P A D E S

Located in a quiet enclave off Charles De Gaulle Avenue, which is the life wire of this touristy city, the serene and beautiful Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort proved to be an excellent choice. As the fivestar property sits just less than a half an hour away from the Siem Reap International Airport as well as the magnificent temples of Angkor Archaeological Park and three of Siem Reap’s golfing gems (see next page). Spread around a meticulously landscaped lake garden, the property blends a stately French elegance with Khmer architecture that is unique to the Sofitel brand. The spacious and well-appointed 238 rooms and suites are fashioned with timber floors, double-height windows and wrap-around terraces in typical colonial fashion, accentuated by local touches on the exterior with red-shingled roofs, white arches and terracotta tiles. Tucked intimately in a lush and picturesque garden sanctuary, guests cross a footbridge over a lake to reach their accommodation, each which overlook panoramic pool, garden or lake views. Rooms are contemporary with modern amenities, while staying true to the resort’s vision of refined luxury with period furniture, four-poster beds and ceiling fans, embellished by Cambodian mahogany and silks. Signature Sofitel touches such as MyBed, Hermes and L’Occitane toiletries and a

delectable pillow menu (a welcome treat after a day of sightseeing and golf ), completes every guest’s luxurious experience. Life within the resort is definitely at a leisurely pace and no one seems to be in a hurry except, for the hospitable associates that are gentle and almost innocent in their approach as they are swift and resolute in delivering the best service to their guests. The hotel offers a varied selection of food and beverage outlets. The Citadel where the daily complimentary breakfast is, serves hearty Western fare for travellers who opt for the less adventurous choices. It is an all-day diner. On the other hand, The Royal Court serves a Cambodian-style buffet, taken on a terrace looking on trimmed gardens, accompanied by local cultural performances. Completing the trio is W’s Pub, an English-style tavern offering quality pub grub for those eyeing a quick supper.

If impressing your better half is on the itinerary, romance your loved one with a delightful wine-and-dine experience under the clear moonlight at the Mahouts Dream, a private dining venue perched on the edge of a lotus lake. As with all prestigious establishments, the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra boasts a large freeform swimming pool complete with a jacuzzi. Spa lovers can expect some luxurious TLC at the Angkor Spa and if taking a morning stroll across the serene property is not your idea of exercise, a fully equipped gym is a welcome retreat for the health buff. While definitely not for the young and adventurous, the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra proved a welcome respite in my seemingly never-ending Siem Reap itinerary, allowing myself to immerse in a little bit of Cambodian warmth and five-star hospitality all at once. My verdict - simply magnifique!

GOLF TRAVEL STOP & SMELL THE GRASS

Golfing in Siem Reap is still a novelty for most, save tourists who are looking for new and exciting golfing destinations. Located around the periphery of the city centre, the three golf clubs are easily accessible but as I found out on this trip, having everything pre-arranged with a specialized golf travel operator as Liberty Golf Services saves you a lot of hassle and allow you to sit back like a god-king and enjoy your golf.

Phokeethra Country Club

Footbridge to heaven on earth

The Phokeethra continues to linger in my memory because of its character. Each hole delivers a different challenge while the sweeping fairways and gently sloping greens present a friendly challenge to any golfer. A restored ‘Roluh’ bridge dating back to the 11th century is an iconic feature of the club, managed by the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort.

JAKARTA FROM RM1080, CHIANG MAI FROM RM1250, SIEMvisitREAP FROM RM1490 www.libertygolf.com.my Terms & Conditions Apply

Angkor Golf Resort

You know you are up to something where the driving range is decked with the same grass as the club’s fairways. Angkor Golf Resort takes pride in its immaculately manicured layout and while the Nick Faldo-designed course can get a bit predictable after the first few holes, it nonetheless packs a championship feel with its three “killer” final holes.

Angkor Lake Resort (previously Siem Reap Lake Resort) Generously lined with palm trees, the fairways are relatively flat and large greens balance out the presence of water, water and more water courtesy of meandering creeks that cross several of the holes.

RARE BIRDIE

Martin

Vousden

editor, equally at home in print publications or online content. A former editor of Today’s Golfer, he now freelances from Scotland, near Carnoustie. His Ryder Cup book With Friends Like These, was published in 2006.

ow that we know the players who have made their way onto the US and European Ryder Cup teams respectively, it is time to start getting excited, and it is already shaping up to be one of the closest matches of the last three decades. A great deal has been made of the fact that Davis Love, the American captain, has four rookies in his squad, as opposed to Europe’s one (Nicolas Colsaerts) but the suggestion that this weakens team USA doesn’t stand up to close scrutiny. Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker are the debutants and Simpson is the only one who looks like a potential weak link. Since winning the US Open in June he has only one top-10 finish, which is almost to be expected – nearly everyone experiences some kind of slump after landing his or her first major.

Keegan Bradley won the Bridgestone WGC in midAugust and was tied third the following week; Jason Dufner has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour over the last couple of seasons, and Brandt Snedeker is just running into form at the right moment, having had an enforced layoff through injury. He is also one of the best putters in the world. In addition, if we look at the last two contests, America won at Valhalla four years ago, with six rookies, and Europe clinched it at Celtic Manor in 2010, with half-a-dozen debutants. Recent history does not, therefore, suggest that the home team will be weakened by having four of them.

Titans Clash at Medinah

Of the others, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson are in good form, but Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar are in the side because of early season performances and recent results for both have been middling to mediocre. Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker were both dependent on getting the nod from Davis Love but will be their usual, tough-to-beat selves. The crunch factor is that the Americans are playing a home fixture, which is probably the ingredient that will have the greatest bearing on the outcome of the contest. Here in Europe we have enjoyed a tremendous run of success since that magical day at The Belfry in 1985 when Sam Torrance holed the winning putt to end 28 years of misery. In the last quarter-century, in 12 subsequent staging of the event, we have won eight, tied one and lost three. However, all three of those losses have been

in America. In addition, the venue, Medinah, is just outside Chicago, a city whose golf fans are considered hard-nosed, loud, partisan and raucous. One other factor to consider is that every now and then emotion and behaviour, from both players and fans, crosses the line of acceptability. Instead of being loud and enthusiastic, it veers into the jingoistic and offensive. Everyone is then obliged to take stock and things settle down again for a few years before the mercury in the emotional thermometer starts creeping up again. Without wishing to tempt fate, it is worth remembering that the last two hostile occasions were 1991 at Kiawah Island, and 1999 at Brookline, so we’re due another, and rowdy Chicago fans might just provoke it. I sincerely hope not but the ingredients are certainly in place. And this is not to suggest that European fans are blameless but it nevertheless remains true that American galleries can be louder and more aggressive, and that both of those infamous contests happened in America, after they had a experienced a winning drought. Team Europe, however, looks strong enough to cope with whatever is thrown at it. The one acknowledged weak link, Martin Kaymer , who has been in dreadful form – had a satisfying tied 21st at the KLM Open earlier this month after an intensive period of coaching. Rounds of 65, 71, 68, 71 suggest that he’s getting closer to his best. Rory McIlroy is winning for fun, it seems, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Paul Lawie, Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari, Nicolas Colsaerts and Peter Hanson are all in good shape, while Luke Donald is playing steady golf without drama (making him the perfect four ball and foursomes partner). Potential weak links are Graeme McDowell, who has not done much since the Open Championship in July, where he was tied 5th, and Ian Poulter who, for the second time in succession has had to rely on a captain’s wild card pick. Nevertheless, both are masters of match play golf and this competition brings out the best of them. My heart, as ever, says Europe will win but my head thinks that America will clinch it – just – with home advantage being the crucial factor.

GOLFING TALES FROM THE LION CITY

hen Jurong Country Club tweaked their first W nine in 2010 and opened in April 2011, the construction equipment stayed put as work pretty

much immediately started on the back nine. Fastforward 15 months and this S$23 million 18-hole completed project is quite superb, with two very different layouts complementing each other perfectly. Holes 10 to 18 opened for play in July 2012 and they have more water hazards than the front nine. Another stark difference is that the fairways and greens are significantly more undulating than before. The par-four 10th used to have a number of small ponds on the right hand side of the fairway. These have now been combined into one which stretches all the way to the green. The entrance to the green is now narrower and it’s a hole that really needs accuracy and the right club selection to avoid one’s ball rolling into the water at the back or side of the green. The green on the par-five 11th can be reached in two if you’re a long hitter although the club has thoughtfully created a lay-up area for those unable to cross the water hazard. Other changes here include the reshaping of the 860 square metre green to slope to a hollow guarded by bunkers, and the increase in size of the greenside bunker. Holes 12 to 15 have been nicknamed as ‘Crocodile’s Jaw’, in reference to Jurong’s crocodile-infested swampy rivers when the club was first being built. The perfect drive on the par-four 12th would be to fade it from the left bunkers, but be careful, because behind the bunkers is a pond, and to the right a deep and difficult bunker will penalize the sliced tee shot. The green slopes steeply to hollows at the front and right making difficult recovery shots from around the green. A large beach bunker borders the pond at the start of the 13th fairway, and while most players should carry this bunker, others are able to hit it to the fairway on the right. Those who play conservatively and hit their ball too far to the right however may find themselves facing a longer and more challenging second shot to the green. Another unfortunate scenario could be to find your tee shot in-between the trees or running over to the 15th fairway.

The signature par-three 14th is both spectacular and

intimidating. The green is guarded by an enormous beach bunker bordering the pond, two bunkers right of the putting surface and the pond hard up against the green on the left. Cautious players may try to reach the hidden ground between the beach and greenside bunkers, whereas those who have landed in the sand may find recovery particularly difficult. Beware the ‘shaved’ area around the green, however, as while I managed to find the edge of the green, my ball immediately rolled off into the water.

Growing up in a golfing family with a grandmother who was an amateur champion golfer, Justine Moss developed a love of golf at an early age. After

The dogleg left par-four 15th at 405 metres is the longest hole in this four hole stretch, and long accurate drives close to the right of the fairway bunkers are required. Conservative golfers may have plenty of room to the right but from there, they face a much more difficult approach to the well-guarded green.

moving to Singapore in 1998

The long par-five 16th provides plenty of width for the tee shot of the shorter hitter, and the pond extends into half of the fairway from a point approximately 200 metres from the blue tee. Very few golfers have the length to reach this hole in two shots and therefore lay ups must be carefully planned, with a lurking pond and bunkers coming into play.

writing side of her business and

The par-three 17th looks rather gentle but extensive bunkering to both sides of this green will demand accuracy in direction of the tee shot for this hole. The green is long and narrow and poor club selection could leave a long difficult putt on this undulating green.

from Sydney, and opening her own communications company a year later, Justine expanded the

currently writes for a number of golfing and lifestyle publications in the region, with her finger on the pulse of local golf happenings in the Lion City

The finishing hole is really lovely but be careful as it can produce both eagles and double bogies. Try and force your drive left of centre which will set up a chance of reaching the green in two. It is not that straightforward though, with a waterfall at the back of the green well protected with surrounding bunkers. Try and to place your second shot a full lob wedge short of the green in order to avoid the approach bunkers and gain maximum spin on the approach shot. Long putts – and I can attest to this - face multiple breaks, ridgelines and tiers. Jurong Country Club 9 Science Centre Road Singapore 609078 Ph: 6560 5655 www.jcc.org.sg

A SPECTACULAR BEAUTY

UNCHARTED COURSE WITH NORMAS YAKIN

Normas

Yakin

considers

himself an all-rounder: a former cocoa and oil palm planter, golf course superintendent, golf club manager, director, lecturer and consultant. He believes there are only two great mavericks in Malaysia; one of them is a former Prime Minister. Modesty, however, prevents him from telling you who the other one is. In his free time, he scribbles at

www.mynormas.com

here used to be a time when I did house calls. At one time, a single lady journalist friend asked me to check out her grass for signs of disease (I went with my six-year old daughter so spare me any eyebrow-raises and jokes). It was easy to diagnose, the brown spots on the ground were all lined up in straight lines and it was confined to only one side of the lawn. I told her it could not be disease because no disease is localized and organized. “This looks more like some liquid has been spilled,” I told her. She stood there quietly and then her face lighted up “Oh” she said, “I had a kenduri/barbecue last week. The cooking was over there, the food was served here and the dishes were washed beside that fence. Dripping oil or curry may have caused those spots on the grass” Did you notice the lesson to be learnt from the story above? Yes, that’s right. Always invite a turf expert when having a lawn kenduri or barbecue. Of course, if you are serving curry strong enough to kill grass; I just might say ‘no thanks’. By the way, I do not do house calls any more though I have not stopped attending kenduris and barbecues (Hint. Hint)

Diseases

Identifying turf diseases is a skill I do not think many people can claim to have, but then some do, especially those with stuff to sell. I have a friend who sees Pythium in almost every disease situation and there is this one guy who will cry “Nematode” almost every time someone ask him what is the matter with their greens. Get this; the Pythium guy will have a 50% chance of being right and the nematode guy is correct all the time. After all, there are nematodes in the soil all the time but not all nematodes are bad for the grass. Pythium may not necessarily be the first disease that attacked the green. It could be an opportunistic disease just lurking in the soil waiting for the grass to be weak. Early in my career the greens in my course were showing disease symptoms every month (There’s actually a difference between disease ‘signs’ and disease ‘symptoms’ but I don’t think I have the space to explain here)so as the assistant course superintendent I ended doing fungicide applications almost every week. Yes, we were advised that the greens were attacked by Pythium and Nematodes too. Therefore, as soon as we detect disease on the greens, we would put in at least two types of fungicides into the spray tank and just applied them: a “Shoot first, ask questions later”

kinda thing. This actually went on for several months. Come to think of it, one guy told us the ‘disease’ were actually associated with jet fumes (we were located near an airport). We were grasping at straws and were applying everything from nematicide to clay particles to seaweed but the greens keep going down every month. Then we thought of sending a sample to a local university and we were told that they were actually traces of another fungus, Curvularia – on the greens. The initial attack was Curvularia and Pythium was a secondary, opportunistic fungus. As we tailor-made our applications and treatments towards this newlyidentified threat, the duration between attacks increased and gradually, I was spraying fungicides about 3 – 4 times a year including those applications done before major tournaments as a precaution. I have also learnt that keeping grass healthy is a much better strategy than curing diseases or treating symptoms, but that is material for another article. It is easy and common to misdiagnose a disease, but it is not advisable to be in denial and not do anything too. So even now, I teach people to act first and investigate second. This is not to say there should be no preliminary investigations at all. Any and I mean any, application of any and I mean any, (pathetic lame jokes any and I mean any, one?) chemicals must be evaluated carefully. Just think, applying fungicides on greens dried out by lack of irrigation or hydrophobic soils is a supremely ‘not clever’ thing to do, but then not stopping the spread of disease is inviting trouble too. This is where experience counts. The problem is, acting first and not investigating at all is what I observe in most golf courses. Speaking of someone who had been in the hospital ward due to chemical poisoning, I am not a fan of preventive application of fungicide. It is like taking medicine before you are sick. It is a waste of money and resources; potentially creating immunities and polluting the environment. So, are the questions what, when and how to spray fungicides? No. The questions are; what diseases infected my grass, how do I cure it, how and why did it spread and more importantly; how do I prevent it from recurring. Told you this is where experience counts.

GOLF DOWN UNDER

Richard Fellner is the Group Editor of Inside Golf Magazine – Australia’s most regularly read golf publication. Hailing from

Geoff Ogilvy is not a great fan of the Olympics it seems.

ith the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics now behind us, all eyes will be turning to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 games. Golfers and golf fans across the world will have particular interest in what transpires in Rio, as golf is set to mark its return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904. The return of our favourite game to the Olympic Spotlight has been heralded as nothing less than a saviour, as it is expected to boost participation levels, introduce the game to new areas of the world, and generally help grow the sport globally. Indeed, 2016 represents a major opportunity for the game of golf to grab the world’s attention, and inspire legions of young athletes to take up the game. Surprisingly, however, an increasing number of golf professionals on Tour are unconvinced about the inclusion of Golf in the Games, and are disappointed about the proposed format. Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy – one of the country’s most intelligent and well-spoken golfers – has voiced his displeasure on the decision by the IOC to make the golf competition a standard 72-hole strokeplay format, mirroring the same format that is currently used by nearly all Tour golf tournaments. “It [The Olympics] is a good opportunity to do something different,” Ogilvy says. “72-hole strokeplay has stood the test of time, and we play all our biggest events like that--but I think you see how much people embrace the Ryder Cup and The Presidents Cup. So if you could get some sort of team element involved at the same time - maybe running concurrently with the individual event, some sort of interesting Strokeplay/ Matchplay where you play strokeplay but you also play each other for 18 holes - you could have a total score at the end of the week and you could also have a knockout situation with a Team scenario.” According to Ogilvy, the 72-hole format could also see most of the players lose interest during the competition. “A lot of the sports that do well in the Olympics, fields get smaller and smaller each day. And you get a Gold Medal match, or a Bronze Medal Playoff match. I think that’s more interesting than 75 guys playing the last round, and 68 of them are out of it, which would

the United States but now a

be odd especially with no prize money. Normally we have something to play for - 15th is better than 20th, 10th is better than 15th - but when there’s only 3 medals being handed out there’s going to be a lot of guys losing interest if they are out of the tournament.”

proud resident of Melbourne, Fellner is a true golf tragic having played the game for over 35 years but never getting any better at it.

Peter Senior is another Australian professional who is unconvinced that golf even belongs in the Olympics at all. “I’m one of the guys that was surprised it was included in the Olympics. The goal of the Olympics, to me, is to find the best athlete in the world. A golf tournament can be won by anyone who has a good week. It is quite possible it could be won by someone we have never heard of,” he says.

Ogilvy agrees with Senior’s assessment. “I don’t think you’ll ever find a situation where a gold medal is the pinnacle of golf. There’s four pretty well established events [The Majors] that it’s got to get in front of, and that’s going to be pretty difficult for the Olympics,” Ogilvy says. “The other problem,” Senior adds, “is getting the best players there to compete.” Senior refers to the fact that the already clogged schedule for professional golfers will be even more problematic following the recent announcement that the Wimbledon Tennis tournament would be moved back by a week starting in 2015. This would conflict with the plans by the R&A/IOC to move the [British] Open Championship a week earlier in 2016 to avoid conflict with the Olympic Games, the Ryder Cup and potentially the PGA Championship. It’s a scheduling nightmare. The Wimbledon date change does impact on this with regard to when it’s most sensible to play the Open that particular year, so we are going to have to go slightly back to the drawing board on this,’’ said Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A and the president of the International Golf Federation, which oversees Olympic golf. Regardless of the outcome, it is shaping up to be an interesting few years for Olympic Golf.

Aussie pros not impressed with Olympic Golf

BUILDING COURSES WITH JASON WINTER

Having lived for over 18 years in Malaysia, Jason Winter considers himself very much at home here as he does in his native majored

Tasmania. in

Having

Environmental

Design, the single-handicapper got his big break in golf course design when he joined E&G Parlsow and Associates in 1993, where he is a partner here. When he is not tackling quicksand and

the occasional wild animal in the pursuit of the perfect golf tract, he prefers the rough-andtumble of Aussie Rules footy.

Spectacular bunkering at KLGCC East Course made possible with bunker liner

unkers are perhaps one of the most obvious and visible strategic design elements in a Golf Course Architects â&#x20AC;&#x153;arsenalâ&#x20AC;?. However, they are employed much more than just as defensive hazards to trap the wayward golfer. While bunker placement will generally follow the overall strategy of the hole, the size, shape, detailing, even colour of the sand will vary according to the many individual characteristics of that particular location and the way it affects both the play and aesthetics of the hole in its entirety. The original bunkers of the links courses were, as legend tells us, created naturally by the wind and rain, or by sheep huddling together in hollows to the leeward side of mounds and dunes, or both. There were logical places for these sandy patches to occur and the landscape had/has an ordered yet haphazard layout that the original courses were routed through. Bunkers on most modern courses are manmade, but we use those same natural patterns to design the way bunkers fit in to the landscape of the golf course. In tropical regions such as Malaysia, a major factor in bunker design and construction is the heavy rainfall.

The drainage of bunkers is critical to the way that the bunker can be an effective part of the golf course. If it does not drain well it might not always be playable and will be a maintenance liability for the club. We have been involved in many golf course renovations over the years and bunker drainage is nearly always one of the biggest issues that clubs have. There are two key areas we look at, water coming into the bunker and water getting out of the bunker. While we cannot stop the rain from falling directly onto the bunker, we can certainly prevent most of the water from around the bunker from flowing into it. You will not see British links style greens where large sections of a green or fairway will direct your hapless golf ball directly into a bunker on our courses in tropical climates, as that is where the water will run also! Imagine how much water a three or four inch rainstorm will dump into that bunker! We shape the contours surrounding all of our bunkers carefully to ensure water is directed away or around the bunker.

BUNKER

CONSTRUCTION

Amverton GC Carey Island installation of sand trapper liner on the faces of the bunker

BUILDING COURSES WITH JASON WINTER As a bunker is essentially a hollow, without a drainage sump for direct water evacuation, water must be dealt with by subsoil drainage. The water must pass through the sand, and into drainage lines below. Obviously one of the most important items is therefore the sand itself. Good bunker sand must have excellent drainage capabilities, yet be able to compact slightly to prevent the dreaded “poached egg” lie and help stabilise steeper faces. Laboratory testing is done to check the size of the sand particles meets with specifications that should enable these characteristics. Greenside bunkers also should not have too large sand particles as they can damage the blades of green mowers when splashed out onto the green. Subsoil trench networks are laid out at the base of the bunker to catch water as quickly as possible once it passes through the sand. A perimeter drain will catch water from all sides of the bunker and a mainline trench and lateral lines will direct water to the lowest point where an outlet pipe will transfer the water to the nearest sump or lake. The subsoil trenches are typically 300mm deep, 200mm wide and filled with gravel chipping surrounding a perforated agricultural drainage pipe. The gravel chipping must be clean and free from dust and fine particles, and is of a specific size that the bunker sand will not migrate down into it. Again, laboratory testing is done on the sand and gravel compatibility. We actually go a step further these days with our construction and place a layer of free draining geotextile over the gravel so that migration cannot occur at all. We feel that with the intense rainfall that can occur in Malaysia, the high volumes of water can still “drag” the sand into the gravel. This geotextile also serves to completely isolate both the gravel and sand and enable drainage line flushing or sand replacement to be done without contamination occurring. An item used prolifically nowadays is bunker liner fabric on steeper faces, and bases where budget allows. The fibres of the fabric hold the sand in place and provide channels for the water to flow along under the sand, helping to keep the sand in place. With proper design and installation they save the maintenance staff a lot of time from repairing wash outs and replacing contaminated sand. They also allow us as designers to be more creative and dramatic with our bunker designs.

Labuan GC bunker construction sequence from base preparation through to completion

Base preparation and final shaping

Excavation of trenches and forming of the lip

Bunkermat and trench geotextile installation

Bunkers should be an asset and talking point for the golf club and with the proper design and construction they need not be a maintenance nightmare. Whether the talk is about how good the bunkers looked, or how they wrecked your score is up to you, so get out and practice!

Grassing of surrounds after bunkermat and drainage installed

Completed bunker on final hole of Amverton Golf Club in Carey Island

Final product after sand added

TEE BOX

VISA INFINITE GOLF INVITATIONAL Loo earns passage to Lisbon

ore than 45 Visa Infinite cardholders enjoyed a day of friendly golf tournament while doing their part for the community at the grand final of the 2012 Visa Infinite Golf Invitational on September 11. Held at the prestigious Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, the grand final was

the highlight of this year’s Visa Infinite Golf Invitational, organized annually for Visa Infinite cardholders in Malaysia. The Invitational began in April with three preliminary legs at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club with over 180 Visa Infinite cardholders competing for a chance to play at the Grand Final.

PERODUA WORLD GOLFERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Five more qualify for National Grand Finals

ap Chin Tong, Selvan Subramaniam, Noor Aziah Mohd Ariffin, Ng Yee Teong and Calen Choong Ming Wai claimed their berths at the national grand finals of the Perodua World Golfers Championship after winning the fourth qualifying leg at Saujana Golf & Country Club on September 2. The quintet will contest the final shootout at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on October 18 for a chance to qualify for the World Golfers Championship World Final in South Africa.

The first prize of a 6D7N golfing excursion to Portugal to participate in the Lisbon Cup - a golf tournament organized specially by Emirates - was won by Loo Cheng Pin with a score of 40 Stableford points. Runner-up Wong Sak Kian (39 points) walked home with a 3D2N golfing holiday at Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

MAXIS TEAM GOLF TOUR

Nordin’s sizzler helps pair to Yunnan

egulars Nordin Yahaya and Idris Ngah combined well to win the team gross title in the third round of Maxis Team Golf Tour at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club on September 2. Led by Nordin who shot the day’s best of 73, the pair scored a 157 to qualify for the grand final at the outstanding Stoneforest International Country Club in Yunnan, China. In the nett category, Choke Hiang Heng and Alex Yau Wai Heng combined for a 138, edging three other teams who were tied on 140. Choke and Alex will join Nordin and Idris to Yunnan where they will compete in a 36-hole tournament and spend four days in Kunming

Problem greens? Hollow tine planning? Expensive maintenance? Maintenance vs Management clash? Soggy fairways? Too much chemicals? Untrained staff? Contractor and Owner dispute? Weeds all over the place? Renovate or reconstruct? Now or later? One by one or all at once?

CMY

Need an expert?

The Ronald Fream designed par-72 18-hole course at Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai provides players with options to suit any level of game. The undulating fairways cross a series of small lakes, waterways and hillocks, featuring breathtaking views of Karambunai beach, the South China Sea and Mount Kinabalu, as well as a 130-million year old tropical rainforest backdrop.

Contact Normas at 03-5131 0066 or email mynormas@consultant.com for your consulting needs. Or surf www.mynormas.com/questions/

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Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re playing for leisure or competing in a tournament, the Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai course presents memorable, fair but demanding challenges and serves as awww.kgpagolf.com world class example of modern and creative golf course architecture with a traditional feel in the form of its flora and fauna surroundings.

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Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA) is situated within Bukit Kiara, about 18km from Kuala Lumpur City Centre. A 27-hole layout designed by renowned American course architect Ronald Fream. The championship course (Hills and Lakes) is a classic par 72 golf course measuring 5,989 metres with landscaped lush fairways culminating in manicured verdant greens. The third nine (Forest), measuring 2,711 metres is equally scenic and challenging, playing around the natural jungle environment.

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Call us to book your tee time: Bukit Kiara, off Jalan Damansara, Peti Surat 12137, Jalan Pantai Baru, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur 50768, Malaysia

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GOLF DIARY

Sept 27-Oct 7 World Amateur Team Championships Antalya, Turkey Oct 11-13 Kedah Amateur Open Cinta Sayang GCR, Sg Petani, Kedah Oct 16-18 Faldo Series Asia Malaysian Championship Royal Selangor GC, Kuala Lumpur Oct 22-25 Pahang Amateur Open Royal Pahang GC, Kuantan, Pahang

Sept 4 - 5 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysian - National & Regional Qualifier Kuala Lumpur GCC, Kuala Lumpur

Oct 4-7 PGM Sarawak Classic (ADT) Kelab Golf Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak RM180,000 Oct 17-20 PGM Negeri Sembilan Classic Seremban International GC, Seremban, N. Sembilan RM125,000

Sept 27-30 Mercuries Taiwan Masters Taiwan GCC, Chinese Taipei US$600,000 Oct 4-7 PGM Sarawak Classic (ADT) Kelab Golf Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak US$60,000

Oct 4-7 CJ Invitational hosted by K.J. Choi Haesley Nine Bridges GC, South Korea US$750,000 Oct 11-14 Venetian Macau Open Macau GCC, Macau US$750,000 Oct 18-21 Hero Indian Open Karnataka Golf Association, Bangalore, India US$1,250,000 Oct 25-28 CIMB Classic The Mines Resort and GC, Kuala Lumpur US$6,100,000

Oct 11-14 Nanshan China Masters Nanshan International GC, Longkou, China US$1,000,000 Oct 18-21 Kolon Korea Open Woo Jeong Hills CC, Cheongnam, South Korea US$895,000

Sept 28-30 Ryder Cup Medinah Country Club, Illinois,USA Oct 4-7 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship St. Andrews, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns, Scotland US$5,000,000 Oct 11-14 Portugal Masters Oceânico Victoria GC, Vilamoura,Portugal €2,250,000 Oct 18-21 Perth International Lake Karrinyup CC, Perth, Australia US$2,000,000 Oct 25-28 BMW Masters Lake Malaren GC, Shanghai, China US$7,000,000

Sept 20-23 Tenerife Open de España Femenino Las Americas GC, Tenerife, Spain €350,000 Oct 4-7 Lacoste Ladies Open de France Chantaco GC, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France €250,000 Oct 26-28 China Suzhou Taihu Open Suzhou International GC, Suzhou, China €350,000

Sept 28-30 Ryder Cup Medinah Country Club, Illinois Oct 25-28 CIMB Classic The Mines Resort and GC, Kuala Lumpur US$6,100,000

Oct 11-14 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Kuala Lumpur GCC, Kuala Lumpur US$1,900,000 Oct 19-21 LPGA KEB·HanaBank Championship Sky 72 Gc, Incheon, South Korea US$1,800,000 Oct 25-28 Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship Sunrise GCC, Yang Mei, Chinese Taipei US$$2,000,000