The ClubHouse Sept 2011 by The ClubHouse

IT’S TIME TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL PROFESSIONAL SCENE How many times this year have you gone to watch our homegrown professionals in action in a local golf event? No, going to the Maybank Malaysian Open doesn’t count and if you were one of the few souls who braved to walk the course alongside your favourite pro during the fasting month at the Omega World Cup Asian Qualifier, then kudos to you.

THE TEAM Chief Golf Writer Edward Saminathan Sub-Editors Lina Abdul Wahab, Khalidah Jamil Evelyn Gan Contributors Justine Moss, Mark Bates, Normas Yakin, Richard Fellner, Scott Kramer, Shaun Moulds Official Photographer T. Ravi Chitty Brand Manager B.N. Murali Art Director Siva Yoham Jalaguvalan Operations Associate Puteri Nadia Azman The ClubHouse Magazine is published by

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But how many of you have actually taken time to travel to one of our local Professional Golf of Malaysia tournaments or for a step up, the Asian Development Tour, which has made quite a round in Malaysia this year? The fact of the matter is, unless you’re a golf freak, a family member or close friend of a professional and not forgetting, a dedicated golf journalist, many of you would probably would not have heard enough about these local events to make your presence. But blaming it on poor publicity or media coverage is just part of the story; the fact is many of us have just given up on our boys! It’s not uncommon to hear comments such as “No standard or lacking quality players”, “Jaguh kampung “ (the colloquial term for local hero), and best of all, “Can’t take time off for a weekday event” - sure, I didn’t hear that when Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer made a short stopover in Kuala Lumpur last month? A good example will be the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters held in late July. Despite a small purse of US$400,000, the full fledged Asian Tour event has always been a favourite among the top stars of Asia and once again attracted a good field this year with a healthy dose of our local professionals as well. Best of all, Kota Permai Golf & Country Club provides a leisurely walking experience for golf fans but yet, the number of spectators was disappointing to say the least, notwithstanding the free attendance. Sorry guys, but many of you missed the thrill of the moment when Sukree Othman rallied ahead with his avalanche of birdies, coming close to winning his first Asian Tour title on his home course. Granted that the Malaysian golf fan is spoilt for choice with big bucks events which attract a busload of foreign stars, such snide remarks from armchair critics is downright insulting and demoralising to our local boys who are putting on a good show week in, week out on a burgeoning yet competitive local tour, which could really do with a little bit more support from the avid golf watchers here. The current tour is the best bet we have to a successful venture in over a decade, which is not only putting bread in the bowls of our professionals but also raising the game of these guys to the level of their peers in the region. A few bad scores during a single event should not be taken as precursor to the overall standard of the local paid rank. Yes, the sponsors may have yet to take the giant leap of faith and queue up to come on board, but maybe we the golf fans can make that decision easier for them. Ps. I look forward to seeing you at the PGM-MIDF-ADT KLGCC Classic. Edward Saminathan Chief Golf Writer news@theclubhouse.com.my

BLOOP WATCH!

We apologise to the Golf Club Managers Association of Malaysia (GCMAM) and AXA-Affin General Insurance Berhad for getting their respective organisation’s name wrong in our August issue.

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SPOTLIGHT

STEERING MGTA AHEAD

ÂŠ The ClubHouse

Many moons since he first arrived in Malaya at the tailend of the Emergency, Chris Syer has been charged to lead the battle of hearts and minds to turn Malaysia into a preferred golf tourism destination in Asia By Edward Saminathan

ix months after the much talked about launch of the Malaysian Golf Tourism Association (MGTA), many questions are still being bandied around about the purpose played by this new entity and how its formation will improve the number of golf tourists coming into the country. Industry captains and key decision makers have been divided in their early opinions on the MGTA. Some have embraced the formation of the association with open arms, understanding the importance of lifting the nation’s golf tourism industry from its current doldrum while many others have been pessimistic of the new grouping, preferring to take the usual wait-and-see approach before committing their support. Filling the hot seat as the association’s first executive director is industry veteran Chris Syer - a respectable and well-known name in the local golf scene.The former general manager of the Royal Selangor Golf Club has had the advantage of being involved in numerous Malaysian Opens and has observing the trials and tribulations of Malaysian golf industry from many viewpoints over the last 30 years. Known for his straight-talking opinions, The ClubHouse catches up with Syer at MGTA’s office in Phileo Damansara - six weeks into his appointment - to understand what’s next for the association now that it is up-andrunning.

What are the main objectives behind the formation of this new entity? First of all, Malaysia is the product – golf is the vehicle. We must understand here that despite our focus being on golf tourism, the greater goal is bringing people to this excellent country. The biggest driving factor behind the formation of the MGTA is to a create greater international awareness of ‘Asia’s best kept secret’ in line with Tourism Malaysia’s Malaysia Truly Asia campaign and to bring more visitors to this beautiful country by coordinating all the “players” and to get them to work as a team for the benefit of all. Now we must understand that despite categorising them as golf tourists, they essentially are tourists - so the totality of the package has to be looked at and this involves the introduction of spin-off attractions such as medical, spa, culinary and shopping opportunities. Another of our objective was to give bring all the industry players including the golf clubs under an united umbrella where our members will have a collective representation to have the specific issues that are affecting them listened to and addressed by the relevant authorities, instead of working in isolation.

SPOTLIGHT

Would you agree that in many way the role of the MGTA overlaps with those already played by the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board? Yes, it is but I think the single most important word here is co-ordination. All the players have to work together if we are to succeed in our five-year plan to transform Malaysia into one of Asia’s leading golf destination and that is where the MGTA plays its role as a co-ordination point where our members can meet and share vital information for the good everyone.

To what extent is the MGTA a privatedriven organisation and how reliant is it on the support of the Ministry of Tourism and its promotions arm in terms of funding etc? By definition the MGTA is a non-profit making organisation. It is not a sales organistion per se, but is purely marketing orientated. The Ministry of Tourism sees golf as one of their key performance areas for bringing visitors to the country and has provided the initial financial backing to get us established. We can also use the vast network of Tourism Malaysia offices around the world as well as within the country and give them the added benefit and depth of having golf professionals working together as their own officers. Ultimately, the MGTA must be self sufficient with proper business planning and targets.

Do we lack from a quality, price or what we have to offer when we talk about golf tourism and how do you think MGTA will tackle this? We do not lack any of those things in general terms, although there is always room for improvement. The standard of service and hospitality is quite high in comparison with most South East Asian countries except maybe Thailand and in terms of price, green fees are comparatively cheaper. Global awareness and marketing is something we have to work on and some giant steps have been made. Last year, we had 105 million households in 166 territories worldwide that would have gotten a first hand impression of Malaysia during the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia and CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia. As with any product, the seller has to passionately believe in its ability of its

product to meet all claims. I do believe that this product (Malaysia) can sell and will sell. So, my wish is for the MGTA to play an important role where we are able to point potential groups of visitors in the right direction. Finally on this point, it is important to remember that not all golfers wish to travel under the label “package tour” and indeed there are many who can afford and will fly business class, as well as stay at five star hotels. These group is what we classify high-yield tourists who will spend more than most outside the golfing scene. We need to get to these people before they get here and I believe that the MGTA has the right sort of contacts to do just that.

It is open knowledge that the response from the golf clubs and their owners has been lukewarm to say the least. Why has been such and what do you think MGTA needs to do attract more clubs to support your efforts? It seems to be a normal trait that people always see the negative rather than the positive. As a journalist you will know that “good news” is not always so appealing as controversial issues. We need to cultivate a greater understanding of what MGTA is all about and especially the benefits that our RM1,000 membership brings for example the automatic membership of the IAGTO, inclusion of direct links to their own club or business in our website, priority rates at international tourism conventions, both here and overseas, as well as inclusion in the promotional brochures which will have worldwide circulation. I may sound harsh but generally speaking, many of the clubs are inward looking and do not concern themselves with the bigger picture and potential benefits from working together with a coordinated marketing effort for the good of the sector as a whole. I understand that each is club is a separate “profit centre“ of its own and some are member-orientated and if a club is satisfied with their current occupancy and the bottom line derived from visitors, that is clearly their prerogative. I do believe and I would like to urge the senior clubs in Malaysia take the first step and contribute to the national drive to encourage visitors to come to Malaysia and they can do this by giving support and strength to the MGTA, who will unquestionably make reference to their historical role in making Malaysia a golfing destination. How can RM1,000 for a term membership be a financial risk?

What’s the next step for MGTA in terms of making progress and achieving its set targets, now that the initial has settled down? Making potential members aware of the fact that by joining now, their membership of the MGTA and by virtue of that to the IAGTO is valid until December 31, 2012. Members will also be included in the IAGTO Directory for 2012 which will contain a 6 page feature on golfing opportunities offered by MGTA members. The deadline for this is the middle of September.. Our website with specific links dedicated to members is also high on my priority list. We are also in the works to produce a marketing brochure containing details of every member for worldwide distribution to specific target sectors. MGTA will also be represented at the IAGTO World Convention in Turkey in November where there will be great exposure for our Members either free as part of a collective stand or at discounted rates for individual booths

Do you believe it is a real problem to promote destinations outside of the usual hot spots such KL, Langkawi and Kota Kinabalu or we can explore some creative packages to promote this destinations? I have always believed that Malaysia is not just the Klang Valley any more than Japan is Tokyo or Jakarta is Indonesia etc. I believe that every state in Malaysia has golf courses with their own unique appeal – be it the course itself or the proximity to other attractions which visitors will enjoy. MGTA will organise regional workshops in conjunction with the state tourism offices. And indeed, I have already presented to all the state officers at one specific workshop last month and one of them has already made plans for a coordinated promotion using golf as the vehicle. There must and will be more personal contact with the ground for us to get feedback and work out a tangible and creative plan on how to market these products.

I am unable to give a precise figure as I have not yet had the opportunity to visit all the clubs but certainly every state has more than one “acceptable” golf course . A total of 23 clubs have already been audited in Sabah, Penang, Malacca and Johor in addition to Selangor and Federal Territory during the phase one of the audit and the report has been overall positive and encouraging.

looking into the issue seriously, as no stones will be left unturned in achieving the target,

The important thing is to view the course through the eyes of a visitor and be able to provide what they are looking for which will also automatically be beneficial to their own members and regular local clientele customers.

Many club players, notably from Europe and the USA are not familiar with the luxury of having caddies and prefer to judge the greens etc for themselves. Golfing remains for many of them as a good physical exercise.

What are some of the quick fixes that MGTA will propose to bolster the number of clubs that reach the level set by IAGTO, taking into account the lackadaisical culture of maintenance here?

In other countries in this region, they are available as the norm and therefore it is good to have them here but I would not say that it is vital especially as they are mostly non-Malaysian ladies. I believe that there is every reason to encourage potential golfers to caddy as happens in the USA and Europe but these need to be Malaysians. There is a need for a better understanding of what caddying is all about.

There really are no “quick fixes” but the first and most obvious requirements are to make visitors feel welcome from the moment they arrive until they leave. The Thais are brilliant at this and there is no doubt that we have the capability, but sometimes we don’t even have Malaysians in the front line. In any “business” the human factor is paramount and one should never forget that the staff is the biggest asset of any organisation. Obviously the changing rooms and on course toilet facilities are critical as well as the condition of the course itself with emphasis on the environment as well as the greens. The other thing to remember is that the audit procedure creates a precedent and can lead to questions as to why clubs have not been audited – are there doubts about their standards? This automatically should encourage every other club to go through the process and get themselves audited. The audit should be seen a bad thing as it helps the clubs because attention to detail will eventually reduce their maintenance bill as well as be appreciated by their members and regular guests.

Will the MGTA address the issue of foreign caddie permits with the relevant Two phrases that were bandied around authorities on behalf of the clubs under during the seminar with IAGTO were its wing ? ‘export-ready’ and ‘tourist-friendly’. it is not our specific mandate, From your own assessment and having Although we will assist indirectly especially when been involved at a managerial level, asked by the relevant Ministry. It is one the examples of where “collective” what percentage of golf clubs that have of representation helps all the members whereas a “ single voice” is sometimes reached that level in Malaysia? ignored or not given serious attention. But I can confirm that the relevant ministries are

Some industry captains have suggested that it’s vital to have local caddies at golf club as “ambassadors” for the country. Would you agree ?

One suggestion a few months ago thrown by an industry peer was to have a separate international rate. Do you feel we are ready for such a move and is it any good for the industry? I don’t think this would be very practical and why should it be any different for visitors from Europe to those from Perlis or Terengganu when playing at a course in Johor?

The first ever Asian Golf Travel Mart next year will be a highlight for MGTA. What can you share with our readers on that ? The IAGTO Asia Golf Tourism Convention from April 22– 25 will undoubtedly be a landmark event in the history of the Malaysian golf industry as it will be a unique opportunity in our own backyard to show the international tour operators exactly what Malaysia has to offer. It will be of particular benefit to members of the MGTA because not only will they get discounted rates for exhibition booths but will have pre-arranged interviews with the visitors and the opportunity to offer their “packages” ahead of others which, with so many visitors, will be a considerable advantage. I can confirm that the IAGTO have already received advance bookings from over 125 tour operators from around the world, which makes it the largest ever convention of its kind ever staged in Asia and not only endorses the confidence shown by the IAGTO in Malaysia but also shows the

the opportunities that exist “outside the box”.

considerable interest in this country as a truly remarkable golfing destination – as I have said before, hitherto one of Asia’s best kept secrets.

Does it bother you that despite being a permanent resident, there are still quarters who consider you a ‘foreigner’, doing what they feel should be a local’s job ?

On a personal level What is your job scope as the new executive director of MGTA? First is to remember that I am an employee not a member and as such am essentially here to ensure the implementation of policies which are set by the members through their council. I obviously have a view on certain issues and I believe that my experience enables me to express those views but they are for consideration by the members before implementation. I am obviously responsible for overall administration as well as being a “neutral” representative when pointing enquries in the right direction.

You are highly respected and welltravelled to say the least. Can you share with us some of the hands-on experience you’re bringing into this organization ? Having assisted with the management of three clubs including being GM at the RSGC, I believe that I have a hands on understanding of golf in all its facets as well as some of the idiosyncracies of members. Having lived here for over 30 years I believe I am familiar with what this incredible country has to offer. Although not a tourist, I can understand what visitors are looking for both on and off the golf course and hopefully my experience of both will give confidence to the buyer and the seller.

I am fortunate to have special “contacts” in golfing circles both here and internationally which should assist me in getting to the “right” people when required to do so. Many years in the corporate world and the commerce chapters will also help me to understand the business side of things and my years as a broadcaster should enable me to have good relations with the media.

What are some of the challenges that you have faced/anticipate to face ? Making contact with the “right” person ie the decision makers and getting responses to the many hundreds of e-mails I have sent out already. A key ingredient to success in any venture is trust and the importance of getting people to work as a team. The MGTA is a combination of many disciplines and for total success all the players must be pulling in the same direction as team all of whom understand each other’s role. In life we must share in order to achieve mutual benefit, which is why the MGTA introduced a golf tourists tracking system called ‘Golf Traveller’, so that we know the real numbers of golf tourist actually coming into Malaysia. We must all be positive in our outlook as well as see the bigger picture and

It doesn’t bother me but perhaps it saddens me a little. Is it because they think I am unable to do the job or because of envy? I do not believe that I would have been granted permanent residence here and the Pingat Jasa Malaysia for services during the Emergency recently if the authorities thought that I could not contribute to the country in some way or other but when all is said and done it is up to me to prove that I was the right choice. In this particular role it is important to establish confidence internationally as well as here and sometimes this is easier for me when dealing with people overseas.

It must be a tough task to get a fractured industry to work towards a common goal which will benefit the country in the long run. What are your hopes for MGTA ? You have made a good observation when you describe the industry as fractured but whatever the circumstances I have always had a personal slogan which is “Turning the Challenge into Achievement” and please be assured that I would not be sitting in this chair if I did not believe that success is possible and the product was viable. As I said earlier it is time to reveal Asia’s best kept secret to the World and to have fun while we are doing it.

How the Malaysian Golf Tourism Association came into being •

Golf tourism was identified as one of the 12 entry projects under the National Key Economic Areas, capable of contributing more to the national GDP.

•

The government’s Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) sets up a golf tourism committee in late 2010- the MGTA’s predecessor - comprising of industry players from golf clubs, hotels and resorts, travel operators and Tourism Malaysia to come out with innovative initiatives to drive inbound golf tourism.

•

Malaysian Golf Tourism Association officially launched on March 15

•

Association’s pro-tem committee made up of representatives from MST Golf Vacations, Liberty Travel & Tours, Sime Darby Property, Gamuda Land, Resorts World Genting as well as national carrier Malaysia Airlines.

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Lions claim Etiqa ASEAN Cup

Confidence boost for Malaysia ahead of SEA Games

ingapore’s Jerome Ng and Marc Ong stuck to their game plans to lift the Etiqa ASEAN Cup at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on August 11.

much-improved display from the Malaysians during the 51st South East Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship held from September 5-8 in Hong Kong was a positive sign ahead of the 26th South East Asian (SEA) Games in Jakarta later this year. Low Khai Jei claimed Malaysia’s first-ever win in the Lion City Cup after going to the wire with Thailand’s overnight leader Chanchok Dejpiratanammongkol during the final round at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club. Khai Jei and Chanchok both closed with a round of three-over 73 at the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club to finish level on fourunder 276. Khai Jei was declared victorious on countback, based on a better third day score. Khai Jei also steered the Malaysian quartet comprising Jeremiah Kim, Paul San and Mohd Afiff Muhd Razif to the silver in the team event. They finished four strokes behind the Thais, who notched up a winning total of 869. The Indonesian quartet was third on 860. In the Santi Cup challenge, Vivienne Chin led Malaysia to a double bronze finish in the individual and team category. Vivienne registered a final round of three-over 73 for a tournament total of 281, five strokes behind winner Pinrath Loomboonruang (72) of Thailand and runner-up Dottie Ardina (73) of the Philippines, who totalled 277. Thailand successfully defended their overall championship for a record third time, combining for a best-three total of 852, to emerge victorious with a razor-thin margin of one stroke over the Philippines. The Malaysian quartet of Nur Durriyah Damian, Isza Fariza Ismail, Hilferah Tan and Vivienne maintained the third place finish they achieved in 2010 with a 877 total.

Singapore lifted their seventh Putra Cup title after beating the host Hong Kong by two strokes. Anchored by veteran Putra Cuppers Choo Tze Huang and Gregory Foo together with on-form Jerome Ng and Marc Ong, the Lions combined for 630 to deny the host Hong Kong of a second victory in the tournament’s 51-year history. Malaysia’s best-placed player was Mohd Hisyam Abdul Majid, who finished tied seventh on 288 with Malaysia settling for fourth place on 862. MGA vice president Low Teck San, who was also the team manager for the event, was delighted with the performance put forward by the national players. "It was a remarkable improvement in terms of discipline and performance and I'm very pleased with their achievement. However, we will not rest on our laurels as much more needs to be done if we are to be in contention for medals at the SEA Games in Jakarta from November . "Once we finalise the team for the event, we hope to be able to organise the final phase of the centralised training in Jagorawi Golf & Country, to acclimatise the golfers to the course and tournament setup," he added. How the Malaysians performed PUTRA CUP 288 Mohd Hisyam Abdul Majid (70-72-72-74) 290 Abel Tam (78-71-69-74) 292 Kenneth de Silva (79-67-74-72) 294 Mohd Azman Basharuddin (75-69-76-74) SANTI CUP 281 Vivienne Chin (68-71-69-73) 296 Nur Durriyah Damian (75-76-73-72) 304 Isza Fariza Ismail (78-76-70-80) 310 Hilferah Tan (80-74-78-78) MALAYSIA 286 Low Khai Jei (73-71-70-73) 293 Jeremiah Kim (78-72-68-75) 301 Paul San (75-70-82-74) 306 Mohd Afif Muhd Radzi 78-78-76-74

Just days after Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing combined superbly to qualify for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup at Seri Selangor Golf Club, the much younger pairing of Ng and Ong carded a final round best of three-over 75 at the West Course for a four-day total of 290 to beat the defending champion Myanmar by four strokes. Starting the final round three shots behind the overnight leaders, the Myanmar pair of Myo Win Aung and Maung Maung Oo got off to a great start with a string of birdies and an eagle to overhaul the Lions. However, they twice found water on the 15th to allow Singapore to regain their lead and take the title comfortably. Myanmar finished on 76 for a 294 total. “It’s been worthwhile for us and it’s always nice to play in a different format and winning. We had a relatively stress-free week here and we didn’t put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. We strived to play competitive golf and despite the fact that we did not play this format (fourball and foursomes) often, the strong camaraderie within our team helped us to do well,” said the 21-year-old Jerome, who won the Negeri Sembilan Amateur Open in May and was the runnerup in the 64th Singapore Amateur Open. His partner Marc concurred, citing a safety first approach as contributing factor to their victory. “We played well and knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses definitely helped. It was vital for us not to get each other into much trouble during the alternate shot rounds and we did just that,” shared Marc. Malaysia was represented by Etiqa Malaysia Cup champions Kenneth Christian de Silva and Tan Wei Chean. They finished nine strokes behind the winners in third with a tournament total of 299.

Final round scores 290 Singapore (69-77-69-75) 294 Myanmar (68-78-72-76) 299 Malaysia (73-79-69-78) 303 Thailand (71-78-72-82) 307 Philippines (79-79-70-79) 324 Cambodia (74-85-73-92)

MY JUNIORS

Ervin grabs elusive Under-15 title

t was a first for Chang Ervin as he overcame a nerve-wrecking playoff to lift his maiden title in the boys’ under-15 category at the fourth leg of the CIMB Foundation-SportExcel-KRPM Malaysian Junior Premier-Elite Golf Circuit in Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia on September 2. A multiple winner in the boys’ under-12 category in the past, the Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort youngster recovered from a poor start with a superb final stretch, including two birdies on the 17th and 18th to close with a 76 and force Park Jong Min into a playoff. Despite finding himself with a much tougher position on the green, the much-experienced Ervin converted his par putt while Park failed to connect with a much easier putt to hand Ervin his first title. “I was not expecting to win this year as moving up one age category was always going to be tough. But I think my effort and hard work at practice has shone through,” said the 13-year-old. Ervin’s club mate Sarfina Vinota Sreetharan was also in the winner’s list after carding a superb four-over 76 to emerge victorious in the girls’ under-15 category. She won by six strokes ahead of another Bukit Jalil player Kelie Kan Kah Yan. Lucas Yee grabbed his second junior title of the year when he prevailed in boys’ under-12 category. Marcus Lim remained undefeated in the Premier-Elite boys’ under-9 category, carding a nine-hole score of 41 to beat nearest rival Foo Tee Jui by three strokes. Korean Kim Mying Kon and Genevieve Ling I-Rynn took the boys’ and girls’ under-20 title respectively.

Results - CIMB Foundation-SportExcel Malaysian Junior Premier Elite Golf Circuit (Fourth Leg) Boys’ Under-20 1st Kim Myong Kon (MST Golf) 2nd Joshua Gibbons (Rahman Putra) 3rd Muhd Syazani Amzar Shahzan (Cinta Sayang) 4th Yong Fatt Hon (Saujana)

76 78 OCB 78 OCB 78

Girls’ Under-20 1st Genevieve Ling I-Rynn (KRTU Subang) 2nd Nur Dahiyah Damian (Kundang Lakes) 3rd Nadzirah Rozaimi (SIGC)

82 87 101

Boys’ Under-15 1st Chang Ervin (Bukit Jalil) (won on playoff) 2nd Park Jong Min (Glenmarie) 3rd Amir Nazrin Jailani (Seri Selangor) 4th Aaron Cheong (Rahman Putra)

76 76 78 80 OCB

Girls’ Under-15 1st Sarfina Seretharan (Bukit Jalil) 2nd Kelie Kan Kah Yan (Bukit Jalil) 3rd Warda Amira (MST Golf) 4th Jolene Kam Jo Ling (Seri Selangor) Boys’ Under-12 1st Lucas Yee Jung Yin (Clearwater) 2nd Yong Fatt Hoe (Saujana) 3rd K. Rhaasrikanesh (GolfHouse) 4th Foo Tee Hong (SIGC) Boys’ Under-9 1st Marcus Lim Pang Chuen (KRTU) 2nd Foo Tee Jui (SIGC) 3rd Tiu Darren (Sri Morib) 4th Feirish Nor Feizal Nor (Glenmarie)

Wei Chean stops Ervin’s gallant run to win national junior match play

rvin Chang’s dreams for a second title in three days were dashed when experienced amateur Tan Wei Chean defeated him in the final of CIMB Foundation- SportExcel Malaysian Junior Matchplay on September 4 at Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia. The long-hitting Chang had surprised the field, defeating rivals who are more senior such as Aaron Cheong and Joshua Gibbons on his way to the final but found Wei Chean a challenge too far, going down 3&2 in the decider. Wei Chean had earlier needed an extra playoff hole to defeat Amir Nazrin Jailani after they finished regulation play on level terms. In the bowl pool, Kharan Singh grabbed a rare victory after seeing off the challenge of Bryan Hong 1-up in the final while in the plate pool, Alvin Hiew of Palm Resort Golf & Country Club squeezed past Danial Sidek 1-up to lift the title.

75 82 88 89 80 86 88 OCB 88 41 44 46 50 OCB

MY JUNIORS

STARS OF TOMORROW

Daeng Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz

Thomas crowned Annika Invitational winner

nglish lass Charlotte Thomas overcame a four-shot deficit to emerge as the champion of the inaugural ANNIKA Invitational held at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen from August 24-26. The Singapore-based Thomas carded a final round six-under-par 66 for a tournament total of ten-under 206 to overhaul 36-hole leader Ru Qing Guan of China by one stroke for the title. The 11-year-old runner-up nonetheless picked up the under-15 crown with rounds of 66, 70 and 71. Thailand’s Phimnipha Wonwaiwate claimed overall third place with a total of one-under 215 (68-77-70).

How old were you when you started golfing? I started hitting balls when I was three years old with my brother Daeng Hakim and began playing in tournaments at the age of six. Your dad also doubles up as your coach. Describe him as coach. He’s very strict and has a no nonsense approach. Best golfing memories so far. Winning the under-12 category at the Etiqa International Junior Masters at Seri Selangor Golf Club in May this year. I took home an iPhone!

More than 70 players from around the globe congregated at Mission Hills’s Annika Course for the first junior girls-only tournament in China and Asia. It was also the first time that the ANNIKA Invitational event was held outside the United States.

Still remember your first victory on the SportExcel junior golf circuit? Yes, I do. It was the Penang Open 2008 at Penang Golf Resort, beating Bryan Teo Wiyang in a playoff in the Under-8 category.

The top three finishers earned starts at the American Junior Golf Association’s ANNIKA Invitational in Orlando, Florida next February.

Do your parents reward you for good performances in tournaments? Sometimes. I received a new watch for winning the Etiqa event. Do you follow any special diet regime? No, I don’t but I still watch what I eat. How do you juggle the demands of school and golf? I only train and play golf on weekends and holidays. Unless there’s an important tournament or I’m part of a training camp, weekdays are for studies. What is your secret to success? Practise hard and when I play, I compete like a winner.

INTERNATIONAL SNAG TOURNAMENT A BIG HIT

unior golfers from Kidz@Golf, the regional distributor of the SNAG programme in South East Asia, and their parents had a ball of a time during the ASEAN leg of the International ‘Starting New At Golf’ (SNAG) tournament 2011at Valencia Golf Club from July 23-24. The ‘virtual’ tournament saw 75 junior participants from three locations - Hull in England, Tucson in Arizona, United States and Kuala Lumpur. They challenged one another for the title, despite playing in different courses and time zones in their respective countries.

What would you say are your strengths and weakness on the course? I would say my focus is my strong point while I can really improve on my short putts. What lessons have golf taught you? To always stay focused on what you do and learning how to communicate. What is your golfing ambition? Play better and hopefully, I can represent the country. I aspire to make it as professional as McIlroy.

In the team category, teams of Malaysia made a clean sweep of all the top places with Team Mizuno emerging as the overall champion with a combined score of 114. Team Transformers came in second on 120 while Team Tom & Jerry combined for a score of 125 to take third place.

If you do not become a golfer, what is your ambition? I aspire to be an engineer or a pilot.

In the individual division, Malaysian-based Fomin Aleksandr took the title with a score of 24, one shot ahead of United States trio Chip McLanghun, Mark Johnson and David Montijo.

Who’s your toughest rival? My good friend and fellow Johor Junior, Aaerishna Shahsthy Balakrishnan.

Why do you like golf? I like to challengemyself and golf gives me that.

INSIDE THE ROPES

UNIQUE EAST MALAYSIAN DOUBLE FOR FUNG

icholas Fung cruised to his second straight title on the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour after lifting the PGM Sarawak Classic with a massive nine-stroke advantage on September 8.

Previous winners Md Rashid Ismail (71) and R. Nachimuthu (73) were involved in a neck-to-neck battle until the end before settling for a share of second place with M. Sasidaran a further three shots adrift in sole fourth on five-under 283. Sukree Othman was fifth on 286 with first day leader S. Murthy recovering with a 70 to finish alongside Khor Kheng Hwai in tied sixth.

“I am very happy that I played quite well on all four days, except for the second day when I missed a lot of greens. But luckily my recovery game was good which enabled me to get up and down or even made birdies,” said Fung, whose only blemish on the final day came at the par-five 15th when he overshot the green and landed in the water hazard. He recovered for bogey.

Starting the final round with a four-stroke advantage, the sophomore pro made turn with a flawless 33 – highlighted by three birdies, the sophomore pro drained two more birdies on the homeward stretch to lift his third professional title.

Four amateurs made the halfway cut which came at 13-over 157, with Asri Khalid finishing as the the best of the lot with a score of 302(71-75-82-74). The three other amateurs who survived the cut were Malcolm Tay with 303 (72-74-79-78), Jordan Tay 312 (79-74-82-77) and Jordan Lim 313 (80-76-75-82).

Gatorade boost for PGM Tour

The victory not only earned him a share of RM42,000 in the RM250,000 event but saw him complete a unique Borneo double, having claimed the PGM Sabah Classic at Sabah Golf & Country Club in late July.

The 21-year-old from Kota Kinabalu continued his scintillating form at Kelab Golf Sarawak, closing with a final round of four-under 68 for a 17-under 271 tournament total.

everage manufactures Permanis Sdn Bhd recently inked a sponsorship deal with Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) which will see the Gatorade brand coming on board as the official sports drink for the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour. “This is a significant tie-up with an isotonic beverage brand which is world renowned. PGM is indeed happy to have Gatorade on board for the PGM Tour 2011. We are happy that Permanis shares our vision in promoting the sport of golf and have come forward to contribute towards its development and growth, with their sponsorship of the PGM Tour,” he added.

Leading final round scores 271 Nicholas Fung 69-67-67-68 280 Md Rashid Ismail 70-69-70-71 280 R.Nachimuthu 68-70-69-73 283 M. Sasidaran 69-71-70-73 286 Sukree Othman74-73-70-69 289 S. Murthy 67-78-74-70,

Khor Kheng Hwai 75-70-70-74

290 Akhmal Tarmizee 70-73-73-74 292 Kemarol Baharin 73-72-69-78 294 M. Rizal Amin 73-73-75-72 295 Sofian Kepli 73-75-73-74

Permanis CEO Erwin Selvarajah said that it was indeed an honour for Permanis to be associated with PGM and its Tour. “PGM under the capable leadership of Tun Ahmad Sarji, whose vision for the game is to put Malaysian golf on a new pedestal, is the right party indeed to lead professional golf in Malaysia towards a new era. “We are confident that both PGM and Gatorade with our presence amongst the international sports personalities will grow to reach greater heights in the near future, as we share the same dream to strive for excellence always,” he said.

INSIDE THE ROPES

Four qualifiers to join stellar field for Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia

ocal duo Aretha Pan and Ainil Johani Abu Bakar will tee off alongside some of the world’s best lady golfers this October after finishing as the best two local finishers in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia qualifier earlier today. Aretha and Ainil carded identical rounds of 79 today for a two-day total of 16-over 158 to earn themselves a place in the US1.9 million event alongside Thailand’s Porani Chutichai and Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai, who topped the leaderboard with scores of sixover 148 (73-75) and seven-over 149 (7475) respectively. Aretha, who finished tied 57th at last year’s tournament, in what was her first appearance in a professional tournament, was excited to gain a second chance to prove herself. “I can’t quite believe I qualified today but I’m extremely excited to be back here at KLGCC next month as part of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2011 field. I was feeling very nervous going into the last few holes but managed to hold my nerve. My aim for the tournament is to finish inside the top 30 like Kelly Tan did last year,” said the 18-year-old Sabahan. The 21-year-old Ainil, who turned professional late last year is looking forward to making her presence on the LPGA Tour known. “I was hitting better today but didn’t play well for a few holes. Luckily I managed to recover and maintain my score. This has given me a lot of confidence for the upcoming tournament. I can’t wait to play in this year’s Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia,” exclaimed Ainil. Top qualifier Porani – a regular in the China LPGA – will be eyeing a top-40 finish on her return to the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s East Course from October 13-16. “I was happy with my performance today. Last year I missed qualifying by a few strokes so it feels good to succeed this year. I know the course quite well and this will help me with my performance during the tournament. I look forward to being back here very soon!” she shared.

RAPID FIRE with Mohd Iylia Jamil

What is your favourite club in the bag? Has to be my putter, which is a Odyssey Black Series.

Tanaporn echoed her compatriot’s excitement for participation in the tournament. “I played extremely well on the front nine, and am really excited to be playing in an LPGA tournament in October. I want to play to the best of my ability and hope I do my country proud! It has been a great event here over the last few days.” The qualifiers account for four of the sponsors’ ten exemptions and will now have the opportunity to test their skills against the top 62 players from the LPGA Money List (as of 14th September) and six other sponsors’ exemptions, which includes USbased Malaysian professional Jean Chua and top national amateur Kelly Tan in the improved 72-hole, four-day event. In another development ahead of the tournament, senior vice president and global co-managing director of IMG Golf Robbie Henchman announced that the top ten players in the LPGA Money List as of September 14, 2011 have confirmed participation for the second edition of the event, promising a stellar field for local golf fans.

Who is your favourite golfer? Rod Pampling for his right-sided swing. What is your dream car? A Mercedes Benz C200 will make a nice ride. If you were not a professional golfer, what would you be? I’d fancy myself as a good online gamer What song currently plays heavy on your Shuffle? LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem Blackberry or iPhone? iPhone as I find it more user-friendly and with better reception Your best mate on tour? My brother Hanafiah Jamil What do you do when you are not playing golf? Movies and playing badminton What do you do to calm yourself when you are leading on the final day? Tell myself to go for it one shot at a time. There’s nothing to be afraid about.

“The tournament has quickly established itself as one of Asia’s most important tournaments and having the best players in the world only reaffirms that status,” he said.

Do you have a routine/superstition before your round? I mark my balls the night before my game every time.

Henchman also explained the organiser’s decision to extend the tournament to 72-holes this year.

Winning on your professional debut? A nice touch but I never really give it much thought. Much more to achieve

“The biggest issue in the past was the scheduling of the event. This year, many of the players will already be in China the week before (for the Imperial Springs LPGA) and for the rest, it comes a fortnight after the Solheim Cup. This means that we can have all of the players in by Monday, unlike last year when the players were flying in straight from California after the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

Toughest shot you have ever made? My third shot on the finishing hole in Kinrara Golf Club, where I won this year was pretty shaky at that point.

“With the increase in the purse and the taking into consideration that the ladies generally prefer to compete over four-days, the organisers and LPGA agreed that a 72hole will be the way to go,” he added.

Describe your coach in one word? Ayoub’s simply awesome. He really wants to get us there. If you had RM10 million in the bank now, what would you do? Buy a house and get my mom a chauffeur. Toughest part of being a rookie pro? It’s difficult to have peace of mind when you have to make ends meet with what I earn on Tour.

INDUSTRY TALK

Referees association takes off

“We will look at avenues to engage these golfers, especially at the club level through social gathering, seminars and also tournaments,” said Kamarul, noting that the association had in fact received the approval from the Sport Commissioner’s Office in October 2010. Vice-president K.H. Wan stressed that it was never the objective of GRAM to take over the role of Malaysian Golf Association as the main governing body for the Rules of Golf or the running of competitions and tournaments in the country.

he Golf Referees Association of Malaysia (GRAM) finally got the ball rolling with the successful convening of its first annual general meeting (AGM) at Kelab Golf Negara Subang on August 17.

Formed with the paramount consideration of promotion of the Rules of Golf, the association will actively seek to engage golfers at the club level on the observance of the Rules of Golf as well as nurture those who are keen to be Rules Officials. GRAM will also provide a proper channel and forum for existing Rules Officials to network and share their experiences and further their common interest.

“We sensed that there is an improvement in the level of awareness amongst golfers here on the importance of the Rules. Many are keen observers of what’s going on in the professional scene and they want to better understand how and why certain decisions were arrived at.

“It was never our purpose and intent that there should be a distinction between a GRAM referee or a MGA referee. A MGA referee can be a GRAM member and vice versa. We do not intend to be on a collision course with the MGA but rather our grouping will complement the role played by the governing body,” shared Wan. Associate membership in the association is opened to golfers keen to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge to acquire qualification from any recognised Rules School while existing Rules Officials with a minimum Level 2 qualification can join as ordinary members with full voting rights.

New Golf Association to spearhead growth of golf in Selangor Khamis Abu Samah after the association’s first committee meeting on August 4 at Kelab Golf Negara Subang.

he needs of the various industry players in Selangor will be primary concern of the now up-and-running Selangor Golf Association. The body, which was registered late last year, feels that the time is right for it to fulfill its role as the primary mover for golf in the state.

“I believe the Selangor Golf Association can effectively become the single point of coordination for all the golfing activites in Selangor,” said SGA’s president Datuk

ON THE MOVE

Experienced Asian Tour referee Kamarul Zaman Mohd Din , who was the grouping’s pro-tem chairman, was duly elected as the association’s first president and was glad that GRAM can now move forward towards promoting the Rules of Golf in the country.

S.A. Nathan was recently unveiled as the general manager of Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia on August 1. An industry veteran, Nathan brings 25 years of experience to one of Klang Valley’s most respectable clubs.

“Selangor has one of the biggest population of golfers in the country and is also home of some of the nation’s most biggest and prominent golf clubs, hence we hope that the SGA will be able to foster better relationship and co-operation between the various stakeholders in the state to promote the best interests and development of the game here,” he added, stating that the majority of the state’s 37 golf clubs have extended their support to the body. Top of the association’s list of priorities is the improvement of the overall condition and standard of the affiliate golf clubs, the re-introduction of inter-club dialogues and activities as well as a structured junior development programme that will cover After a brief stint outside the industry, Ungku Ghazni Ungku Ahmad takes on the responsibility as the senior sales manager at the SwissGarden Golf Resort & Spa Damai Laut. His portfolio includes resort and golf event marketing and corporate tournaments.

the breadth of the state. SGA feels that by engaging the big and small stakeholders in the state, the association will be able to represent the united voice of the Selangor golfing community when dealing with the Government on issues which affect the industry, for example the shortage of caddies, skill and training as well as tax reductions on purchases of machinery and maintenance equipment. “We understand that we cannot depend entirely on the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) to solve the various problems and grouses raised at the grassroot level. The MGA has to focus on the bigger picture and this is where we think as an affiliate of the governing body, we can compliment their role with our regional emphasis and find solutions for our affiliates, “ said deputy president Dr. Ronnie Yeo. A man of products through and through, Tony Francis joined Winston’s Sdn Bhd on August 1 as the exclusive Ping distributor’s sales manager. His immediate responsibility will be to expand Ping’s brand reach in Malaysia through the strategic marketing and promotion of the brand’s 2012 lineup.

FACES OF GOLF with

Datuk Khamis Abu Samah

President, Selangor Golf Association devoted my whole career to the game of golf since I left the diplomatic corps in 1984. Golf has remained my bread and butter. It’s my wish to do as much as I can for the growth of the game in Malaysia before my time ends.

When and how did you pick up the game of golf? I picked up the game in 1972 when I was posted to London as a junior member of the diplomatic corps. I used to frequent a pitch and putt after office hours and adjacent to it was a public course, where I played my first round of golf with a 7-iron and a putter!

Your biggest grouse with the modernday golfers? It’s such a pity to see the drastic drop in the level of etiquette among golfers today. I feel that the more senior golfers have failed to inculcate the most basic entrylevel requirements of the game in the new generation of golfers as we used to do in the past.

Did you play other sports other than golf? Now, 100% golf. Describe yourself as a golfer? Do you have a different persona on the course? I yam what I yam - if I may borrow the quote from Popeye. Whatever characteristics I have when I’m not playing golf, I have when I’m on the course. I like to be my jovial self during my rounds and enjoy the company of friends and other golfers. After all, life is too short to be a sourpuss! What are the lessons golf have taught you as a person? Golf for me, with the benefit of having studied the game in the United States, requires finesse, perfection and a polished touch - it’s a gentleman’s game. You must have respect, both to your fellow players and the course. You must possess integrity and honesty too. The game has also given me its fair dose of lessons on patience and perseverance. What are the enjoyments that you get from the game? Friends, networking and the anticipation of travelling to a new golf course - you don’t feel you’re growing older!

How would you describe your leadership style? I’m a down-to-earth guy with a penchant for getting my hands dirty - there’s nothing about being a leader which means you don’t do the hard work. was also about the same time that I began serving the Malaysian Golf Association from 1995 as a committee member. Subsequently, I was given the trust and privilege to take on the role of honorary secretary from 2003 to 2007. Currently, I sit on the committee of the Senior Golfers’ Society of Malaysia as well as the president of the newly minted Selangor Golf Association. What are some of the challenges that you face in these roles? Many organisations still fall foul of being too old-school in thinking. I feel that the process of putting forward a new and unorthodox idea and getting it accepted and implemented sometimes takes excessively long for any good to come out of it.

How did you get involved in golf management? When I was transferred to Banting, the municipal course was in Morib (the modern day Kelab Golf Sri Morib). I became actively involved as a committee member. Being a small nine-hole club, I was exposed to the hands-on rudiments of golf operations. I was later hand-picked as the golf manager of Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah before being instrumental in the setting up of Kelab Golf Seri Selangor as the general manager.

What are your most memorable moments throughout your involvement in the game? During my tenure at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor, I was able to allocate Sunday afternoons exclusively for junior and teen golfers to play for free. That’s something I can look back and be proud of. From the playing aspect, it is being part of the winning Malaysian team in 1995 at the Peugeot World Challenge in Paris.

You are involved actively in the game’s administration aspect. How long have you been involved? I began refereeing in the old Asian PGA Tour at the behest of my old friend Ramlan Haron, rising to the level of tournament director. It

What inspires you to continue serving the game? It’s because I’m passionate about the game. While it is easy for someone to say that they have a passion for something, I have

Your hopes for the game of golf in Malaysia? Of course for the better. In terms of junior development, I hope more junior development centres will sprout across the country, not just in the big cities and towns but also in smaller districts. I trust that these centres will grow and the golf industry will give them good support. From the amateur point of view, I believe that we need to do more in terms of getting the homeless golfers to play with a valid handicap. We have to start somewhere to level the playing field for all amateurs.

Bio Name: Dato’ Khamis Abu Samah Age: 63 Birthplace: Jasin, Melaka Status: Married with five children Current residence: Banting, Selangor Profession: Director Hobbies: Golf When I Golf Handicap: 8 Best local course I’ve played: Seri Selangor Golf Club Best international course I’ve played: Valderamma Golf Club, Sotogrande, Spain Favourite equipment brand: Honma Favourite golfer: Tiger Woods Preferred drink during rounds: Isotonic Preferred after-round food: Plain noodle soup

AROUND THE GLOBE

Hole-in-one on par-threes is for p*ssies, says Gangjee

The 33-year-old Asian Tour star, who is trying to make inroads Stateside, belted a drive down the 316-yard 15th hole using

his TaylorMade R11 driver. He was only able to see the ball bounce and trickle down the green before a boisterous roar from the greenside fans confirmed the outcome.

“I was just trying to get it on the green, that was it. When it’s a driveable hole, you think you can get it close and maybe make eagle but a hole-in-one, nobody thinks about that.

“I wasn’t playing that great and the other day (in the earlier round) when the tee was up I was on the edge of the green so today I thought I could go for it,” explained Gangjee on his reason behind electing to play a driver.

Gangjee finished tied 32nd after closing with a 70 for a six-under 278 total at the par-71 Southpointe Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

Fung shines as Stolz claims Thai Open crown

ndre Stolz secured his second victory of the season on OneAsia when he triumphed in the US$1million Thailand Open on August 14 after an enthraAlling head to head battle with Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng. Stolz, who won the season’s opening US$1million Indonesia PGA Championship in March, fired a final round nine-underpar 63 at Suwan Golf and Country Club for a tournament haul of 22-under-par 266 to beat Prayad by two shots. Korean’s Choi Jin-ho and Australian Brent McCullough tied for third on 17 under par. The Australian had started the day three behind overnight leader and local favourite but stormed through with nine birdies including six on the front side. The two combatants were tied on 21-under-par through 14 holes but Stolz’ brilliant 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th proved crucial after Prayad had missed a much shorter birdie putt himself.

ationwide Tour rookie Rahil Gangjee became only the third golfer in the history of Nationwide Tour to ace a par four hole after nailing a hole-in-one during the final round of the Mylan Classic on September 4.

The 45-year-old Thai then missed another golden opportunity to draw level on 17th when he failed to connect from eight foot. He saw his bid to become only the third Thai

to win his national Open go up in smokes after taking a drink with his third shot on the finishing hole.

Simpson strikes for a second time at the 18th in regulation before repeating the feat with a 15-footer on the first extra hole. “It was great,” Simpson said. “To finish the way I did, birdies on 18 and then 17, it was awesome. I thought winning the second time would be easier but it wasn’t.”

Remarkable back-to-back victory for Bjorn

AROUND THE GLOBE

ane Thomas Bjorn grabbed a second successive victory in blistering fashion in the Swiss highlands after overcoming a three-stroke deficit to lift the Omega European Masters title on September 4. It was the 40-year-old’s second successive title on the European Tour, having battled through a marathon five-man playoff at the Johnnie Walker Championship a week before at Gleneagles, Scotland.

ebb Simpson sank a nine-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to defeat fellow American Chez Reavie and capture the US PGA Deutsche Bank Championship on September 5. Simpson, whose only prior PGA title came two weeks earlier at the Wyndham Championship, birdied his last three holes to take the crown. He dropped a 26-footer

Siddikur of Bangladesh was once again the toast of the Asian Tour, placing tied 18th in only his second trip to Switzerland. He battled to a final round 67 despite playing in unfamiliar conditions with rain and fog covering the highlands resort. However, it did not deter him from returning with six birdies against two bogeys for a nine-under 279 total.

SIMPSON’S ARSENAL

Driver: Titleist 909D3 (10.5°) Woods: Titleist 909F3 (13.5°), Titleist 910F (17°) Hybrid: Titleist 910H (21°) Irons (#4-PW): Titleist 680MB Wedges: Vokey Design 54°, 58° Putter: Ping Craz-E Long Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Cometh the rain, cometh Lincicome “I was very patient, singing a lot of songs, very chatty,” said Lincicome, who said singing to herself is part of her sports psychology program to stay focused in between shots. “The weather was not great, but I was still having fun. I’m definitely going to remember this win.” She however refused to belt out one of her favourite country numbers to the gathered media pack at the post-event press conference. “I’m not a good singer, so I’m not singing for you,” said Lincicome, who almost blew her chances after pulling her drive on the 18th into the tent before saving par.

Bjorn fired a stunning nine-under 62 at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club for a four-shot victory over Martin Kaymer, who missed the opportunity to pull ahead after a costly two-foot eagle putt miss on the 15th. Bjorn almost found water with his approach on the same hole but birdied it to draw level before converting another ten footer for eagle on the 16th.He sealed the deal with two closing birdies. “The way I finished was special and it’s been an amazing two weeks. I started hitting my wedges so well last week and kept it going. At the end, you think nothing can go wrong. Golf seems easy sometimes and you have to remember that when you are not playing well,” said Bjorn, who has now claimed three European Tour titles in 2011.

Reavie, whose only PGA title came at the 2008 Canadian Open, could only wonder what might have been after taking a bogey on the final regulation hole to fall into the playoff. He missed a 23-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to set the stage for Simpson’s winning putt.

rittany Lincicome beat Michelle Wie and Stacy Lewis by one shot to win the $2.25 million CN Canadian Women’s Open in extreme conditions on August 28. The 26-year-old American closed out the soggy final round with a two-under-par 70 for a 72-hole total of 13-under 275 at Hillsdale Golf & Country Club, to claim her second victory of the season and her fifth career LPGA title.

Playing in the last group, Wie needed birdie on finishing hole to force a playoff, but missed the green to the right and left her chip shot wide and short. Lincicome’s Arsenal

Driver: Adams Speedline Fast 10 (8.5°) Fairway Wood: Adams Insight 3-wood (14.5°) Hybrid: Adams Idea Pro Black (22°) Irons (4-PW): Adams Idea Black CB2 Wedges: Callaway X Forged (50°, 56° and 60°) Putter: Odyssey White Ice 2-Ball Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Royal Trophy moves to new country, different calendar slot

The brainchild of the late Spanish maestro Seve Ballesteros, the tournament will take place from December 14-16 at South China Sea-fronting Empire Hotel and Country Club.

who were touched by Seve`s career and personality,” said Olazabal. “It will be an opportunity to celebrate Seve`s life and an important moment for the world golf community.”

Jose Maria Olazabal, who stood-in as Europe captain in place of Ballesteros in 2009, said that the 2012 edition would be held in honour of his compatriot. “This will be a very special occasion for all of us who played with Seve and for all the people

The event features two teams of eight players contesting foursomes, fourballs and singles competitions, with half of the available 16 points up for grabs on the final day. Europe has won four of the five tournaments held to date.

runei has won the right to host the sixth edition of the Royal Trophy next year, which will see the Europe v Asia match play event move for the first time from its traditional home in Thailand.

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HITS EASIER THAN LONG IRONS A broader sole similar to a fairway wood promotes more consistent ball striking from a variety of turf conditions. The hybridâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face characteristics enable shots to be more in line than traditional long irons.

MORE FORGIVING AND GREATER CONTROL Hybrids incorporate the forgiving hollow construction of a metal wood head with a shorter club length of an iron to promote better distance control. The wider sole also forces the weight lower in the club head to deliver accurate trajectory.

MAXIMISES ACCURACY ON APPROACH SHOTS Hybrids are generally more popular with tour players because it gives them the canny ability to attack the pin more often. The construction of a hybrid moves the centre of gravity lower and further back for higher flying, softer landing shots - a key factor most professionals prefer hybrids today.

EQUIPMENT FEATURE

IDEA BLACK SUPER HYBRID Overview Built bigger and more powerful for golfers looking for a high performance hybrid which provides maximum distance while maintaining both forgiveness and playability. Stock Shaft Aldila Voodoo 85gm Lofts 15°, 17°, 19° and 21° Price RM899

All black finish of the face and sole adds to the level of confidence at address

IDEA PRO BLACK HYBRID Overview Built for better players, its compact and sleek design delivers penetrating ball flight for supreme workability from any lies Stock Shaft Aldila Voodoo 85gm Lofts 18°, 2°0 and 23° Price RM990

(Limited units available)

IDEA TECH V3 Off-centre hits are easily corrected as a result of a bulbous head with a maraging steel face for effective hitting

Overview Built to be easy-to-hit, this high performance hybrid features ultra-premium design elements for all level of golfers wanting more forgiveness and higher and further ball flight. Stock Shaft Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara

COMPENSATES FOR SLOWER SWING SPEED Testing reveals that players with slower swing speeds cannot generate enough ball velocity at impact to launch the ball with less forgiving irons. hybrids today.

Lofts 16°, 19°, 22° and 25° Price RM990

ENTREPRONEUR Mark Teoh has gone through some real ups and some real downs in the golf industry and is the architect behind the successful turnaround story of RGT Technology.

of custom fitting needs to be delivered to the golfing community in Malaysia. My personal belief is that clubs should not hinder your game; it should bring you to the next level.

RGT Technology is a household name in the local golf retail scene. How did the idea to start a golf shop come about? My father Raymond George Teoh started the business 16 years ago. He was an accountant by qualification and was attached to Robertson, Wilson and Jamil, which was one of the biggest sport houses then in Malaysia. A passionate golfer, he decided to venture out on his own and he invested his entire life savings into the golf business.

Any business philosophy you adhere to? Honestly, I believe in not just selling stuff to anybody. If they can’t use it, I rather not sell it.

Why Kelana Jaya? Quite simply, we were down the road from Kelab Golf Negara Subang, where my father was a member. It was a location that had growth potential and we started off with the corner lot shop there. We rode on the golf boom and we prospered between 1994 and 1997. As space became an issue, we began acquiring the lots next to us one-by-one until we reached the end of the whole block.

Describe the early days of the business, what was some of the challenges and obstacles you had to overcome? Passion alone does not pay the bills. We had a standalone shop in the middle of nowhere. Kelana Jaya was just booming back then it was first of its kind and the point where golfers were still turning to the pro shop model. It was hard, as nobody knew us and I recall that we had a staff sitting outside, literally peddling golf balls! However, words of mouth helped and before long, we were the talk of town. And then the good times came to a halt? Of course as time passed, competition for the Kelana Jaya pie increased and we ventured into other golf-related businesses such as golf cards and driving ranges; this is where we hit a rough patch. I had to return from Australia to take over the command and with the addition of two new partners, we streamlined our operations and brought the books back to black again. I’m proud to say that from owing suppliers and debtors, we only owe the Inland Revenue Board nowadays.

What do you think is the secret behind RGT’s continued success? I feel it boils down to service and quality control. I’ll be the first to admit that we are not the cheapest retailer in the market. I like to constantly update myself on the latest development in the equipment sector by reading overseas equipment websites, online forums as well as what’s playing on Tour. I would impart this to my retail staff, so that they have product knowledge to meet customer queries.

Prodigal Son, Practical Businessman RGT has always prided itself for having a wide range of golfing equipment and accessories and you are undoubtedly, the pioneer in the golf hypermarket concept. Share your business model with us. From the early days, we had everything golf under the sun. You name it, from some brands that are obsolete today to the mercurial Callaway Big Bertha driver. I feel it is pointless just to carry a limited selection of brands. Yes, a customer may have already decided on a particular brand but I think it boils down to giving customers choices. That’s why if it is possible, we would like to have every other brand under our roof. How important is the custom fitting business to RGT? I wish it could be a bigger share but for every 10 customers that buys a piece of equipment from us, only two choose to custom fit their clubs. It’s still a growing market but a lot of education on the benefits and advantages

You have embraced social media, are you eyeing a window of opportunity to do online sales? Maybe for awareness but I don’t think the Malaysian market - both consumers and fellow retailers are ready for online sales just yet. Pricing remains a sensitive issue especially in a niche industry like ours. I gather from feedback that golf is still a tangible market; people like to touch and feel before they want to buy. Plans for an expansion? I hope we can open another outlet but it is not something I foresee we would do in the immediate two years. There is, however, a limit to how many shops we can have and it has to be a mirror of our current outlet. It must have a full-size green, a complete repair and fitting shop and a full range of equipment, apparel and accessories. Something you can look back and be proud of? We were the first retailer to actively get involved in a junior development programme at the now defunct Venice Hills Golf Club, which was the stepping-stone for many of the nation’s top local amateurs and juniors today. I always feel that you need to build the younger generation, so that they would be your future customers. Until today, junior golfers still get special treatment and special prices at RGT, despite us no longer dabbling in teaching side of things.

RGT Technology Sdn Bhd No 2 Jalan SS7/16 Kelana Jaya 47301 Petaling Jaya Tel: 603 7874 4560 Fax: 603 7877 8970 Business Hours: Mon - Sun 9am - 8pm (Open 361 days in a year)

IN THE BAG

PING HITS THE SWEET SPOT WITH NEW G20 LINEUP

wo years since launching their most comprehensive product range in history, Ping launched their exciting new 2012 line-up on September 6 at Saujana Golf & Country Club. Having set the market alight with the tourproven success of the G15 driver and irons, the new G20 line-up, which includes driver, irons, hybrids and fairway woods is once again expected surpass the high bar that Ping have set for themselves.

“Ping doesn’t bring out a new lineup unless it is better than its predecessor. We are confident that with our track record of innovative creations, the new G20 lineup is going to appeal not only to our existing pool of Ping aficionados but also to new adopters who are looking for performance in a classily designed package,” said Jennifer Bose of Winston’s Sdn Bhd, the exclusive regional distributor of Ping. “The G20 lineup is going to surprise our consumers and those who are currently using the G15 lineup will be able to notice the considerable advancements and the increase in performance of this new line,” added Steven Hsu of Winston’s. The G20 driver begins where the G15 left off and continues Ping’s focus on developing easy hitting and forgiving clubs by incorporating a new weighting technology. Similar in size and shape to its predecessor, the G20 driver has a dark metallic gray 460cc lightweight titanium alloy head for increased ball speeds across the entire hitting surface, promoting more forgiveness and power. The savings in weight allowed more weight to be distributed lower and further back in the club head for increased launch with lower spin rates. The G20 fairway woods on the other hand features a larger head and face than its predecessor while the G20 hybrids is designed to cope with a variety of ground conditions thanks to added bounce and sole camber and an offset hosel design. The G20 irons also receive a facelift, combining a new multi-material cavity badge with an ultrathin face for improved feel, higher launch and consistent distance control with a good dose of forgiveness. Also launched was the extension to Anser lineup with the introduction

of the Anser wedges series, for golfers looking for a higher spinning and lower launching shots off their wedges. Unlike the other wedges in the Ping family, the Anser compensates the lack of weight badge with a toe stabilization bar that runs diagonally across the cavity and the custom fitting option of insert small weights inside the hosel to adjust to a player’s desired swing weight. With the tagline “Fit for Stroke”, Ping has also taken a revolutionary step in the putting department, introducing for the first time distinct putters to correlate to a player’s stroke type. All new putters in the Anser Milled, Scottsdale, Karsten 1959, Sydney and Classic range will come in three models ie face-balanced for straight strokers, mid hang for golfers with slight arcs and towdown models for players with a strong arc stroke.

To help identify a player’s putting stroke and handicap, the innovative equipment makers have come out with the snazzy iPing app, which makes full use of the qualities of new generation iPhones and iPads to identify a player’s stroke type, analyse their impact angle and measure their putting tempo.

IN THE BAG Shuttle i4000x Driver www.maruman.co.jp • •

• • •

Continues the Shuttle lineup long-standing tradition as one of the easiest line of clubs to play. Features a 430cc precision cast head, designed to benefit mid to higher handicappers who want a lightweight driver that offers forgiveness yet consistent impact on the sweet spot of the face for optimal boring trajectory and distance. Pear shaped at address, the head features a FM titanium face and 6-4 titanium body with a deeper centre of gravity for higher launch and lower spin, which equates to maximum carry and distance. The shorter 44.5-inch Maruman WLT low kick shaft promotes a mid to higher torque, which helps the driver square the face at impact for solid centre contact. Available in lofts of 10.5° and 12.5°; with the driver’s total weight ranging from a 284-291g depending on flex.

RRP: RM1,590

Tour Wedges

www.mstgolf.com •

• • •

•

Made of 8620 mild carbon steel for soft feel and better high-wear resistance and durability. The USGA-conforming new CNC milled H design tapered face to deliver optimum spin and further control, especially on half shots. Features a compact teardrop shaped head with a long straight neck and versatile M style grind, which provides trailing edge and heel toe relief, allowing it to excel in all lies and conditions. A higher toe profile allowing for more control and direction especially when the head opens up. While bounce is on the higher side, the thin sole still plays well even on firmer turf while the bounce comes into play in softer conditions such as from deep rough and sand. Available in loft/bounce options of 50°/10°, 52°/10°, 54°/10°, 56°/12° and 58°/14° with the choice of two finishes - a dark PVD finish or Satin finish.

RRP: RM790 (Available at all MST Golf outlets)

Tracy II Putter

www.yesgolf.com • • •

Pronounced toe-down blade style putter made of 304 stainless steel with a gun-metal finish and a double bend heel shaft. Features the patented C-Groove technology with concentric grooves lathed into the face of the putter at specific angles for an early, stable over-rolling action. Remarkable soft feel and superior feedback; giving the golfer more confidence on the greens.

RRP: RM599

IN THE BAG

VR Pro Forged Wedges www.nikegolf.com • • • •

USGA-conforming X3X high frequency groove pattern, lined closer together and deeper, for more predictable and consistent flight and spin control. Precision forging process not only offer shot shaping performance but eliminates most handwork, for consistency throughout the set. A true S20C forged iron construction for tour performance qualities Available in loft/bounce options of 52°/10°, 56°/10°, 56°/14°, 58°/10°, 60°/6° and 60°/10° in two different finishes satin chrome and brush oxide raw.

RRP: RM490

S3 Irons

www.cobragolf.com • • • •

A new, advanced E9 system creates a larger Sweet Zone® for increased distance, accuracy and forgiveness. Improved multi-material construction with a new hidden internal polymer top line and full cavity TPU (thermoplastic urethane) combine to optimize weight distribution and dampen vibration for superior feel and distance A stepped mid-width crescent sole, which narrows in the toe and heel, promotes superior turf interaction, promoting more consistent distance and accuracy. The long and mid-irons are made of 17-4 hyper steel, a high-strength steel alloy composition that allows for a thinner, hotter clubface for increased COR and ball speed while the short irons are made of 17-4 stainless steel for more control.

RRP: RM3,125

(#4-8, PW - Graphite Design 65g Tour AD)

RM2,670 (#4-8, PW - Nippon NS Pro 950GH steel)

*SW sold separately at RM450

OON!

ING S ARRIV A-902 Hybrid www.epon.co.jp • • • •

(Available in October 2011)

Targeting mid to average golfers, the four-piece super precision forged all titanium utility provides versatility, ultimate feel and forgiveness. Deeper and shorter CG positioning and a shallower face promotes easier and higher launch from any lie angle as well as maximum COR distance performance. A double-stepped sole creates a trailing edge relief, which reduces friction and contact with the turf or rough for purer contact. Available with a standard Graphite Design Tour AD UT-65 shaft in three lofts 18°, 21° and 24°

RRP: To

be announced

IN THE BAG

F THE HOT OF

MILL!

Anser Forged Wedges www.ping.com • • • •

Forged from soft 8620 steel for better feel. High-density tungsten toe weight helps optimise the centre of gravity and elevate moment of inertia for more penetrating, high-spin trajectories. A thicker hitting area, stabilising bar and hourglass-shaped, reinforced back cavity promote consistency while the machined face and grooves are designed to maximise spin and control within USGA regulations. The Anser wedges are available in lofts of 52°, 56° and 60° degrees with lofts 50°, 54° and 58° available later in the year.

RRP: RM855

(Dynamic Gold Spinner W steel)

RM885 (Nippon NS Pro950GH steel)

MP R12

(Availble in October 2011)

www.mizunoeurope.com • • • • •

ARRIVIN

G SOON!

The patented Grain Flow Forged 1025E “Pure Select” mild carbon steel make-up delivers ultimate soft, solid and consistent feel. Features a CNC milled face along with Mizuno’s proprietary Quad Cut Groove technology, which delivers maximum spin control and supreme ball stopping ability in all playing conditions. Integrated loft specific sole geometry design maximises the effectiveness of the clubs for full shots while promoting clean contact with the ball for every wedge. Lofts 50°to 54° created with narrower and deeper grooves, best suited for full shot spin while lofts 56°-64° have a wider and shallower groove, appropriate for partial shot spin. Combined with a True Temper™ DG Spinner™ shaft and available in two exotic glare resistant finishes – satin chrome and black nickel.

RRP: RMTBA

IN THE BAG

TaylorMade unveils new R11 irons

I can assure you, there has never been an iron with this much technology that looks this good and fits so many players.” - Sean Toulon, executive vice president of TaylorMade.

for a cleaner entry and exit through the turf, ensuring increased playability from a variety of lies. The longer irons engineered with wider soles to pull the CG lower for easier, higher launch while also increasing MOI to make them more stable and forgiving.

“Every product has a different functional design, so for the R11 iron has taken all the best technologies that is available to us for example, the precision weighting port technology, I feel has changed the industry standard in terms of adding weight to the club. The R11 iron also feature a thinner face compared to its predecessor and I believe there has never been a steel cast iron that has come close in terms of producing the soft feel generated by the R11 iron,” shared Heng.

A fan of finely designed irons, Faldo also worked extensively with the TaylorMade design team to ensure that the topline of each iron blends into the hosel in just the right way to preserve the iron’s beautiful appearance at address.

The full set of R11 irons (#4-PW) retail for RM3890 (Steel NSPRO 950) and RM4290 (Graphite Fujikura Motore TM65). Early adopters will also receive an exclusive R11 utility bag while stocks last.

ust as you think it could not get any better after the introduction of the first-ever all-white driver, the masterminds at TaylorMade Golf have come out with a new set of irons that is set to anchor the storied chapter of the R11 franchise. Combining the distance and forgiveness found in the Burner 2.0 and the feel and precision of the Tour Preferred line, the new TaylorMade R11 irons would appeal to low to mid-handicappers who are on the lookout for a traditional blade design without comprising on playability and forgiveness. Featuring a single piece stainless steel cast head with an ultra-thin, lightweight face - achieved by shifting the weight from the clubface lower and further back, the R11 irons delivers a higher launch angle, faster ball speed and increased distance. Each individual iron also incorporates TaylorMade’s proprietary Inverted Cone technology, which expands the sweet spot on the clubface for improved distance on off-center hits. Similar to the red disc on the R11 drivers, the R11 irons feature a red precisionweighting port (PWP) which serves to guarantee uniform swing weight and ensure centre-face Centre of Gravity (CG) location in every iron to promote optimised ball flight throughout the set. A multi-functional sole - the brainchild of six-time Major winner Nick Faldo - designed

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Malaysia country manager Heng Lye Guan was quietly confident that the aesthetically pleasant irons will appeal to golfers and do just as well as the franchise-leading R11 driver. “Despite the iron being released in fall, I’m rest assured from our sales forecasts and taking into account the enthusiasm shown by our dealers, which we will be able to replicate the numbers we usually enjoy in the summer period. “I believe we are taking the bull by the horns and setting out an aggressive campaign in the coming months to promote these new irons,” he said during the media presentation of the R11 irons on September 12. When asked about the marked improvement of the R11 iron from its predecessor the R9, Heng was keen to espouse on the key improvements delivered.

GEAR UP

• •

• • • •

Feather Carry Golf Bag

All new lightweight and functional design with serious walking golfers in mind Plenty of storage space with five closed pockets which consist of a large clothing pocket, a large accessory pockets, a ball pocket, a beverage pouch and a watertight multipurpose easy access pocket with magnetic closure for your phone and valuables. Weighing at less than 1.5kg, the Super Slim shape body features a proprietary I-Pure Hip padding built in. The new-patented Swivelmax dual-strap buckle has been redesigned for improved ergonomic and comes with 4-point attachment that is able to withstand 60kg of weight. New integrated stand comes with easy activation features and FRP legs with angled foots that are lightweight and will not bend. Available in attractive White/Red, Black, Navy and Red

RRP: RM450

(Available at all MST Golf outlets)

NEW AD

DITION!

26 •

Tour360 Carbon

A revolutionary outsole construction method using a durable and extra strong carbon fiber for unmatched torsional rigidity and control simultaneously offering ultra-light support. • Unique construction connects a five-pod decoupled heel and aggressive Traxion secondary lugs in the forefoot for enhanced grip. It also features a dual-density outsole with 10-spike configuration to promote sure-footedness in wet and uneven conditions. • Premium full-grain leather upper with 360WRAP promotes maximum mid-foot stability while Adidas Golf’s FitFOAM molded polyurethane insole provides everlasting cushioning and comfort from heel-to-toe. • Proprietary THINTECH low-profile technology brings the foot closer to the ground for improved stability, power transfer and balance. • The full range is available in medium and wide widths with a choice of five colorways and comes with a two-year waterproof warranty

RRP: RM699

NEW • • •

Caddie Bag

Limited-edition full-sized tour bag featuring the popular Epon Dog. Made from high-grade polyurethane, the bag weighs 5.5kg and features a 9.5” opening with a three-point harness and translucent hood. Available in four colours - red, blue, yellow and black.

RRP: RM1,590

TIO ADDI

GEAR UP

•

• • • • • •

Premiere Rain Gear

In line with FootJoy’s Make Everyday Playable tagline, the proprietary Protect waterproof system provides maximum protection in the toughest golf conditions easily beats water and sheds it off the shell while the performance fabric offers extreme comfort and allows for complete range of motion during the golf swing. Reinforced shoulder panels to protects the shoulder area from weight and friction of a carry bag. Easily adjust the fullness of the garment by accessing the cinch system through the pockets Detachable sleeves and three interchangeable performance liners (Mesh, Taffeta, Soft shell) for adaptability to changing playing conditions Lycra cuff with adjustable strap provides maximum comfort and a watertight seal around the wrist while exclusive Sta-Dry grip system protects the club grip from the elements. Double front zipper system helps provide a custom fit during play while easy-access scorecard pocket keeps the card dry. Offered in sizes S-XXL, the jacket comes in one colour royal + white/black to accompany the black pants and comes with a two-year limited waterproof warranty.

RRP: RM2,150

(Jacket) & RM918 (Pants)

Swing Dry

• Engineered from the ground up using extensive R&D to provide golfers with

agreater freedom of movement while swinging.

• Classic design with premium moisture management properties for extreme

breathability and protection from hamful UV exposure.

• Available in American sizing from size XXS to XXL

RRP: RM169

• • • •

NEW STYLES RELEASED!

(available in October 2011)

•

ICON Shoes

Designed to combine both full grain and exquisite calfskin leathers for soft, comfortable and breathable waterproof performance and supported by a performance infused outsole for support and stability. Full leather lining and memory foam in the tongue and around the collar ensure custom fit and slip resistance. Leather covered dual density PU Fit-Bed creates an underfoot base that mimics the natural shape of the foot for quality fit and cushioned support. Perforated alloy ICON torque bar in the shank area of the outsole to increase mid-foot stability and support while the two-part forefoot flexibility channels constructed of thermoplastic urethane produce unparalleled walking comfort and flexibility. Stinger golf cleats by Champ® offers superior support and traction throughout the entire golf swing RRP: RM965 Boa - RM1,000

RRP: RM965

BOA RM1,000

GEAR UP

• • •

Wacle Neck GE Plus

Features powerful ferrite permanent magnet with patented Alternating North-South Polarity Orientation (ANSPO) for wider and more intensive magnetic penetration of the muscles to decrease muscle discomfort caused by lactic acid build-up. The unique free-moving germanium-plated pure titanium metal rings can be adjusted to target problematic spots, improving blood circulation to the affected area. Held in place by a durable and vibrant coloured top-grade silicone necklace for comfort and easy maintenance.

RRP: RM199

• • • •

(Available at all MST Golf outlets)

StaSof Gloves

Ultimate feel and tour-proven performance and preferred by the world’s best players for over 30 years. FootJoy’s exclusive Taction2™ Advanced Performance leather provides optimum feel, a powerful grip, exceptional moisture resistance and the finest feel, which is engineered to stay softer longer. Breathable elasticized PowerNet Mesh creates cool comfort while improving fit and flexibility. The angled ComforTab closure is strategically positioned for a precision fit and stress-free comfort.

RRP: RM89

•

• •

Zarma Spikes

A three-material design that has an innovative soft cushion layer sandwiched between a durable traction layer and a rigid attachment layer, all held together using advanced polymer moulding techniques. Utilises Champ’s proprietary Lotus compression technology to reduce spike pressure for a more comfortable walking experience for the golfer. Available in four distinct systems - Q Lok, Tri-Lok, Small Thread and Fits Pins.

RRP: RM62 / Disc (Available at all MST Golf outlets)

• • •

Fujita Mat 1.5

Unique joint development effort by 10-ten time Japan Tour winner Hiroyuki Fujita and Tabata with the aim of improving putting skill. Measures1700mm in length with a width of 225mm. White centreline marker measuring 20mm in width to improve concentration and accuracy during training. The putting cup comes standard in the size of 63mm with the non-skid base measuring 90mm (height), 305mm (width) and 516mm (length).

RRP: RM199

(Available at all MST Golf outlets)

• •

Formulated with patented non-slip NK510 elastomeric material which boasts a moisture-resisting silica compound for outstanding performance under humid or wet conditions. Ultra oil absorbance capabilities to control oil and greasy feel for more assured shot-making confidence.

RRP: RM55

(available at all Transview Golf outlets)

COVERING CARLSBAD BY SCOTT KRAMER

find it intriguing whenever golf equipment manufacturers begin to get publicly nitpicky with one another’s advertising claims. Usually it’s because company officials feel the competitor’s ad is misleading or threatens their own product, market command or claims. The latest of these donnybrooks hit the ball market in mid-August. Acushnet Company, parent company to Titleist and FootJoy, challenged ad claims made by ball rival Bridgestone Golf through print ads, Internet, broadcast and the social media outlet Twitter, advertising that it is the ‘#1 ball fitter’. The National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus in America investigated the claims and ultimately sided with Bridgestone, deciding that consumers wouldn’t be misled by information about Bridgestone. Acushnet specifically challenged these Bridgestone claims: “#1 Ball Fitter in Golf” “100,000 Live Launch Monitor Fittings” “#1 Ball Fitter in Golf” “the leader in ball fitting” “KING of Ball Fitting” (made by a third-party blog) “#1BallFitter” (Twitter feed name with hashtag) The thing is, these two companies have been at it over ball fitting for a few years. Bridgestone loudly made a splash into ball fitting three or four years ago, with its very effective and mobile Bridgestone Ball Challenge that travels from course to course all year long, operated by a company technician assessing golfers’ swings on a launch monitor and then recommending an appropriate Bridgestone ball for their unique swing. At the time, some Titleist officials told me that Bridgestone was wrong in fitting golfers for golf balls by primarily measuring

Scott Kramer is a veteran their tee shots rather than trying to first fit golfers for short shots. Working backwards, from green to tee, is the preferred method of finding the right ball for someone, they said. And both companies have stuck to their respective methodologies ever since.

golf writer based in the golf

According to published reports, Acushnet owns nearly 50 percent of the ball market, with respect to sales at on- and off-course shops, whereas Bridgestone has been battling Callaway and Nike for second place. Its market share hovers between 10 and 14 percent, in any given month.

covering the golf industry, the

And I completely understand Acushnet officials wanting to protect the company’s dominance. At the same time, Bridgestone has made great strides in building up its ball brand – this past year, it didn’t even introduce any new clubs and instead focused on its ball business – and has made a compelling attempt to take a bite into Titleist’s Pro V1 empire.

his IQ on the sophisticated

But the real winner in this battle is you the consumer. That’s because the whole spectacle is bringing badly needed awareness to ball fitting and to the fact that all golf balls are not the same. There are probably one or two models that you personally will play better with. It’s just a matter of how you want to go about finding that Utopian ball. That is, do you want the one you hit the longest drives with, the ball that gets you the most backspin from your wedge, the model that’s most accurate, or the one that feels best? Chances are, ideally, there’s a model out there that will please you on all levels. You truly are best off getting fitted for a ball, and then taking the top two or three candidates out on the course, and trying them from all distances and conditions. Once you’re confident with a specific model, you’ll be more comfortable on the course. Buying new golf balls is a relatively inexpensive way to quickly improve your game. And that’s one thing all manufacturers will agree on.

equipment capital of Carlsbad, Calif. In his 20-plus years

former senior editor of GOLF Magazine

has

lowered

his

playing index to 5.1, raised

technology used to make golf clubs, and stayed even keel on his propensity to miss short putts. But he always brings game to his columns.

The Golf Ball Wars

GOLFING TALES FROM THE LION CITY

Growing up in a golfing family with a grandmother who was an amateur champion golfer, © Marc Seow

Justine Moss developed a love of golf at an early age. After moving to Singapore in 1998

and 2009, and qualifying for the Barclays

made an impact in his first professional

Singapore Open (BSO) in 2005 and 2009.

tournament after making the cut at the

Prior to his further studies, when he was 17

Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship in August

he took a six month break from study one

– an event on the Asian Development Tour.

year after O’Levels and before national

Koh Dengshan, 23, turned professional

service to play in local amateur events with

the writing side of her business

on August 1st this year after winning the

the blessing of his supportive parents.

and currently writes for a

the end of July, and finished in a tie for

While Koh, who also won the Malaysian

31st in the Taipei event, earning US$924.

Amateur

own communications company a year later, Justine expanded

ingapore’s newest golf professional has

from Sydney, and opening her

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

Warren Amateur Open in Singapore at Golf

Championship

2008,

realises that life as a touring professional will “I’m aware that it’s going to be totally

be a long and arduous one, he is determined

different, playing as an amateur and as a

to make use of every playing opportunity to

professional. I’m looking forward to playing

make a name for himself.

well, just like what I’ve done during my amateur days,” he said, adding, “What’s

“Mardan Mamat is my mentor and I really

different about playing as a pro is that every

admire him for putting Singapore golf on the

shot is much more important as it means

world map. I often get valuable advice and

more dollars and cents. You focus really

tips from him on how to improve my game,”

hard and have a different experience with a

says Koh, adding, “I believe in achieving

different mindset.”

success through hard work. I don’t want to think too much about the results but would

A star for the future

Koh first picked up a club when he was

rather focus on the process as it will be a

nine years old after his father introduced

long journey”.

him to golf at Seletar Base Golf Club. He then grew up playing golf at Seletar Country

And one that Mardan and Singapore number

Club before moving to Raffles Country Club

two Lam Chih Bing have experienced over

in 2003 and has been under the guidance

the past decade or so.

of coach Mark Higgs for the past four years. The emergence of Koh to add to the The former Pioneer Secondary School

numbers, in addition to compatriot Quincy

student completed a Diploma in Business

Quek who turned pro in April 2010, is

Administration at Singapore Polytechnic – a

important for the future of professional golf

period of time which saw him being awarded

in Singapore.

its Sportsman of the Year award in 2006

UNCHARTED COURSE WITH NORMAS YAKIN Continued from last month:

young, handsome, intelligent and capable former oil palm planter who is also very modest (yeah right…) left his comfort zone in the plantation sector to try out his hand at maintaining golf courses. An Australian Superintendent decided that our protagonist is not experienced enough to be a Greenkeeper and insisted he learn from the bottom; especially using the fertilizer or chemical applicators. But his first year was spent trying to figure out (and actually operating) which machine to mow which area.

while walking from the shed to the office. I also became quite good (I’m modest, remember?) at identifying pest or diseases and what chemicals to use against them. I have been hospitalized for chemical poisoning and have seen the effects of unsafe use of pesticide so I have a very cautious attitude towards pesticide. I’ve moved on to earn a Certified Safety Officer Certificate to protect myself, my staff, the golfers and my environment. I suppose foreign Superintendents would

Normas Yakin considers himself an all-rounder: a former cocoa and oil 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 Of course, it did not stop there; in the second year I was expected to be able to operate all fertilizer and pesticide applicators, from small ground-driven fertilizer applicator for greens to medium-sized computerized dedicated boom-sprayers to big tractor-mounted-PTO-driven fertilizer applicator for fairways and rough.

take for granted the skills I boast about, but there are many Malaysian golf course spray-operators I know who calibrate their sprayers only once (when delivered by the machinery supplier) and are unsure of the basics of calibration and application. I now run courses on how to apply pesticide effectively and safely. Hint. Hint.

If you thought that was easy, think again: I had to manoeuvre the tractor or the boom sprayer across the narrow part of the fairway (never lengthwise) in a straight line, making sure that the fertilizer throw or pesticide spray does not overlap the previous throw or spray and at the same time, A - does not make a big gap; B - does not spill onto greens, tees, roughs or tracks; C - the spout/boom must follow the contour of the land, and D - nothing comes out of the spout/nozzle while I’m making a turn.

Enter the third year, Mr Greenwood (the Australian Superintendent) gave me and Fadzil, the other assistant superintendent (who replaced the earlier guy – and he went through the same things I did) the task of actually managing the courses. We got 18 holes each. We did the budget, the manpower planning and the calculations. I remember staying back till 11pm trying to learn to use the computer. Fortunately we also had special software for golf course maintenance that unfortunately, went back to the Stone Age after January 1, 2000. We never did replace that software.

By the end of the second year, I could calibrate and operate all chemical sprayers and fertilizer spreaders on the golf course. I was calibrating sprayers every week, and spreaders every month. My watch had a calculator (no, not on my handphone; those days handphones were huge and can only make/receive calls – it was long ago so please stop shaking your head young man) and I can do calibration calculations

It has been 18 years now and some friends still continue to remind me of the position I would be having, had I stayed on in the plantation business (not to mention the money: oil palm price have increased fourfold) but I have no regrets. I mean, if you think this article is boring, imagine what it would be like if I write about oil palms?

from telling you who the other one is.

Greener pastures? Part 2

GOLF DOWN UNDER

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

ustralian golf has been besieged in recent months by an explosion of Group Buying/Coupon Websites like Scoopon, Groupon, Spreets and others. While Australian golfers are welcoming the massive bargains these sites offer, the Australian golfing industry as a whole is divided on the topic, with some decrying that online coupons are potentially damaging some courses’ long-term viability.

One course manager (who wishes to remain anonymous) told me “The [coupons] are a good marketing opportunity for us – we’re seeing lots of players try out our course, and it’s helping fill up our [very slow] mid-week time slots. Hence that has really helped us in the short term. But we haven’t really seen any of them [coupon customers] take up a membership, so we’re keeping a close eye on it.”

At the heart of the debate is the fact that sites like Groupon require a golf course to come up with a heavily-discounted “deal of the day” golf package. These packages can represent up to 80% off a regular green fee rate. The site then takes a massive commission on the sale – leaving the golf course with only a fraction of their normal rate.

Australian golfers are welcoming the deals with open arms (and open wallets). Hundreds (or even thousands) of golfers are snapping up these coupons on a weekly basis. They are seeing it as an opportunity to play top-quality golf courses (some that are normally closed to the public) at a very low fee. And as this encourages more golfers to play golf more often, the coupon scheme is certainly helping the golf industry from a participation standpoint.

One course’s recent package, for example, offered 18 holes of golf for two people, including electric carts, range balls and two drinks for only $79 (normally a $255 value). If the Coupon Site gets a 50% commission, then the course earns a lowly $39.50. While they may sell a few hundred coupons--and thus have a fair upfront cash injection-- the long-term damage to their brand could be serious. The question on many industry professionals’ minds is: if a golfer can buy a handful of cheap coupons in advance, then will they ever really need to buy a membership or pay an expensive green fee? Otherwise, then isn’t today’s discounting simply a catalyst to a downward trend of lower fees?

However, signs are emerging that some golfers are becoming slightly frustrated with redeeming their coupons – as there are sometimes limitations on available dates/ times/etc. As this process is relatively new, these difficulties may eventually dissipate.

the United States but now a proud resident of Melbourne, Fellner is a true golf tragic having played the game for over 35 years but never getting any better it. 32

Online ‘coupons’ dividing Australian golf industry

The debate comes at a time when some courses are feeling a financial pinch. Factors like the global financial crisis combined with a very wet winter (and massive flooding in some areas) has resulted in extremely low traffic for many Australian courses. Add to that the fact that more golfers (especially the younger generation) are eschewing traditional private course memberships in favour of occasional social/pay-for-play rounds, and it’s easy to see why some Australian courses are struggling financially. Thus, the coupon model can seem like a “saving grace” for some courses.

Another issue is that some course members (or full-price-paying customers) are vocalising their displeasure at the ability of coupon customers to play for less than the normal rate. Australia’s online golf forums are rife with discussions on the topic. Adding to the debate are recent high-level partnerships in the arena. Australian golf’s governing body, Golf Australia, has forged a partnership with Groupon/Stardeals, while Australia’s national handicapping system, GolfLink, has partnered with rival service Spreets. Not to be forgotten is GolfNut. com.au, a new website which was created by (and for) Australian golf courses. As it charges a much lower commission (thereby putting more money into courses’ coffers) it is seen by some to be a very promising alternative. The next few months will be very interesting. Watch this space!

A TEACHER’S TALE completed 5 PGA Teaching workshops, got certified in Rules of Golf, Club Fitting and Repair, and did over 3,000 hours working at an approved PGA golf facility. “I have done courses that teach me how to cater to different learning styles, adjust my instruction to people of different ages based on brain development, and have an understanding of biomechanics as they apply to the golf swing. I passed my Class ”A” exam, and every year I attend further education seminars where I learn new perspectives and ideas in teaching golf. I have been a Class “A” Member now for 8 years. Now this is a good start, but do not pull your credit card out just yet…

ith all kinds of options out in the market, how are you going to decide who you can trust to teach you the game of golf? Think of it this way – you are hiring a contractor to do a specific job for you. They should have some specific qualifications that will allow them to do this effectively. If you would not hire someone to be your accountant just because he is good with a calculator, then why would you hire a golf professional just because he can play well? Try this – Ask your potential instructor, “What makes you qualified to teach me golf?” and really listen to the answer… Incomplete Answer – “I have been a golf pro for 10 years and played on the local tour as well as a couple of events on the Asian Tour”. OK, you can play, but that does not tell me anything about whether you can TEACH the game or not.

Incomplete Answer – “I am and member of the PGA of (insert country here)”. This is getting closer, but would it surprise you to know that many PGAs around the world only require a playing ability test to gain full membership? You need to know more information. Complete Answer - “As a member of the PGA of (insert country here), I went to college for 3 years taking a course in Golf Management. I also had to pass my playing ability test so that I could then enter my apprenticeship. My apprenticeship lasted 3 years and during that duration I

Just because the person does not have a list of certificates and seminars, it does not mean they are not good instructors. Many of the “old guards” have been trained the hard way through years of hard work and sweat. Many who are good at a trade don’t have fancy papers to prove it, but learned through years of experience and knowledge passed on from their mentors…they will also be happy to share with you why that makes them qualified to teach you…just be sure to ask them. The more training (formal and informal) your instructor has, the more prepared they are to teach you, but all of this knowledge is really only worth about 50% of being a good instructor. 10% comes in the ability to play/ demonstrate and the remaining 40% comes down to communication. Do you feel comfortable with the instructor? Do they speak your language? Do you understand their accent well? Are they happy to answer your questions…and do they have the answers? If the instructor possesses the relevant qualifications and they are easy to talk to, you will develop a good instructor/student relationship and learning will come very easy. And when all else fails - ask your friends and colleagues for recommendations…if they had a good experience, it is likely you will as well. Remember, you are the boss and you are hiring someone to do a job, you have the right to ask him/her why he or she should be hired.

A qualified Canadian PGA Class A instructor, Mark Bates had his first bite of teaching golf in Asia when he joined the acclaimed Tony Meechai in Bangkok. Now the general manager of the Heartland Golf School in Singapore, Bates is excited about the growth of the game here and travels widely around the region conducting clinics, presenting conference papers on top of his regular instructing duties back in the island state.

You’re Hired! How to Find a Good Golf Instructor

TEE BOX

MST golf rewards loyal clientele with exclusive circuit

esigned exclusively for MST Golf’s ilovegolf members, the 10-leg Alliance Bank ilovegolf tournament was officially teed on September 15 at the Mines Resort & Golf Club. It will tee-off at some of the country’s best golf clubs before culminating in the final leg at Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club on December 15. Alliance Bank returns as the event’s title sponsor for the second year running with PenDrive as the presenting sponsor. With strong backing from major golfing brands such as Titleist, TaylorMade and Callaway, participants can expect a bevy of attractive prizes at each leg. Prizes up for grabs include TaylorMade Ghost Putter, Titleist

AP1 iron sets and Callaway Diablo irons sets. A lucky ace scorer stands a chance to take home a Williams Sports Gold Series golf set worth RM31,390. Participants will also each take home an attractive goodie bag valued at over RM500. Title sponsor Alliance Bank is proud to be associated with the event. “This is the second consecutive year that the Bank is supporting the event. Alliance Bank will continue to support activities that provide a platform for business networking and more importantly, to raise the level of golf sportsmanship in the country,” said Lim Kee Yeong, Alliance Bank’s senior vice president of SME Banking.

ollowing through on their involvement with the game of golf in Malaysia, Chang, the official beverage of the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia teed off The Chang Inter Club 2011 recently. The amateur golf circuit, which teed off at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club on July 24 will see ten legs being organised nationwide where the top two players from each leg will join their Thai counterparts for the Chang Golf Day at The Royal Gems Golf & Sports Club in Bangkok on October 8.

Bukit Jalil winners

Lucky four bound for Bangkok

The inaugural leg at Glenmarie, which was played simultaneously with the club’s Captain Trophy competition, saw two ladies – Lai Pik Chun (14) and Yong Siew Khim (19) – topping the standings and earning the right to represent Glenmarie GCC at the Bangkok finale.

Alliance Bank ilovegolf tournament Sept 15 The Mines Resort & GC,Selangor Sept 24 Bukit Jawi GR, Penang Sept 29 Royal Perak G&CC, Perak Oct 6

Palm Resort G&CC, Johor

Oct 13

Glenmarie G&CC, Selangor

Oct 20

Horizon Hills G&CC, Johor

Nov 3

Kuala Lumpur G&CC, K. Lumpur

Nov 10 Kota Permai G&CC Selangor Dec 1

Eastwood Valley G&CC, Sarawak

Dec 15 Sutera Harbour G&CC, Sabah Meanwhile, in the second qualifying leg at Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Club on July 30, 11-handicapper Victor Soh fired a respectable three-over-par 75 to win the gross title by a single stroke over Tan Liong Hee (7) and Sin Kok Mun (6). In the nett category, Ng Hoi Phing (18) blazed the course with a round of 62 nett to defeat Leong Yoke Mun (24) by one shot. Although the players compete individually in the qualifying round, the finalists will represent their respective club as a team when they compete for the Chang Inter Club championship in Bangkok. The inaugural edition of the Chang Inter Club 2011 is supported by Thai Airways, Tourism Authority of Thailand and TaylorMade-adidas Golf Malaysia and TeeTimes.

TEE BOX

DRB-HICOM-MALGA charity event to tee-off in December

onglomerate DRB-HICOM Berhad has come forward to help Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (MALGA) by jointly organising a charity golf event at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club on December 18. The event will raise funds for the association’s activities, in particular MALGA’s Golf for Girls junior development programme. The golf tournament is opened to both male and female amateur golfers who have valid handicaps with the mode of play based on modified System 36 Stableford. There is a minimum donation of RM4,000 for a flight of four players. To get the ball rolling, DRB-HICOM Berhad announced a contribution of RM100,000 to MALGA at a press conference on September 13 at DRB-HICOM’s headquarters in Glenmarie, Shah Alam. MALGA was represented by its president Tunku Puteri Jawahir Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar and

DRB-HICOM by its head of corporate communications, Shahrul Bariah Mohd Rejab “As part of our CSR programmes, DRBHICOM is pleased to contribute to MALGA’s Golf for Girls program. Golf is often considered a rich man’s game but MALGA has challenged this perception by bringing the game to schools, right up to

rural areas such as Bario in Sarawak and Ranau in Sabah. We do hope that DRBHICOM-MALGA Charity Golf will be able to attract more corporate companies to come forward and contribute to assist MALGA in their laudable development program,”said Shahrul Bariah. Interested participants may register their interest by calling MALGA at 03-20321577.

Rahman Putra hosts Ramadhan do for orphans

orty-five underprivileged children from Rumah Kasih Harmoni were invited for a buka puasa function at Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia during the recent Ramadhan month. Besides a delicious buffet spread, the children were entertained by the resident Artist Azree. Club president Arthur Wang and other club committee members were also present, handing out duit raya and goodies to the children and the home’s caretaker. “This is our annual event where we do our part as good corporate citizens for the less fortunate. We are going to do the same for other festivities as well,” said Wang.

Kota Permai test for media pack

ota Permai Golf & Country Club recently hosted a Media Golf after the completion of the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters at the end of July. A total of 70 participants including members of the media and guests teed off after a sumptuous breakfast. They got the chance

to experience the same fast green speed of 12 feet on the stimpmeter as played by the professionals a few days earlier. Sulaiman Jamain (20) of RTM claimed the first prize in the media category, accumulating 37 Stableford points. Md Sharif Omar and Aziz Hassan were second and third respectively on countback after both had finished on 36 points. The media event was held as a sign of goodwill and gratitude for the media reporters who covered the US$400,000 Asian Tour event.

TEE BOX

STOP PRESS!

McIlroy date for Marshidi, Tajuddin

arshidi Adnan and Tajuddin will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tee-off alongside US Open winner Rory McIlroy this September after emerging as the grand lucky draw winners of the King of Skin Malaysia tournament recently. Organised by Transview, the two-day event held in late July attracted an overwhelming support, with both days of the event at the MINES Resort & Golf Club fully subscribed. The grand winners were chosen via a lucky draw among the top 10 stableford point’s earners of each day. Seven-handicapper Son Ton Leong scored 41 points to emerge as the champion of day one, one point ahead of Azman Dahan and Marshidi. Lee Pak Hong took the second day title on countback ahead of Lee Wen Tze after both had accumulated 40 points. Tajuddin, who was placed sixth on the day proved lucky as he booked the last berth to Belfry in Scotland.

Himmat claims maiden Asian Tour title

India’s Himmat Rai claimed an enthralling five-way play-off victory with a glorious 25-foot birdie putt on the sixth extra hole at the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic on September 11. The 21-year-old Rai was one of five players who tied on nine-under-par 271 in regulation play - the largest number of competitors in a play-off in Asian Tour history. Dutchman Guido Van der Valk, South African Tjaart Van der Walt, and Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva all bowed out on the second extra hole, leaving Rai to battle it out with Filipino veteran Elmer Salvador at the Orchid Country Club.

The two were in a toe-to-toe battle until Salvador - who had only stayed in the contest with a monster 50-footer at the second extra hole - finally succumbed in fading light.

Dyson rekindles Dutch love affair

Sub-continent team cruise to Johor title

ndia’s PSPB Eagle sauntered to the gross title at the fifth qualifying round of the World Amateur Inter Team Golf Championship (WAITGC) in Johor recently. Led by best individual gross player Khalin Joshi, the quartet was made up of single handicappers Sidharth Semwal (2), Simarjeet Singh (4) as well as 11-handicapper Amandeep Bhath. The group chalked up scores of 223 and 217 in the first two rounds at Ponderosa Golf & Country Club. They proceeded with rounds of 213 and 232 at Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club for a four-day team total of 885, 26 strokes ahead of local team Red Berry. The team powered by Nasaruddin Bashir (2), Mohd Saiful Firdaus (3), Azmi Mahmud (3) and Abdul Rashid Hashim (3) totalled 911. Arun Golf Club from Indonesia consisting of Ramli Ibrahim (16), Tripoli (18) as well as sixhandicappers Roland and Syukrizal, came in third place with a combined total of 975. The jolly Australian quartet Bad Girls, made up of Alan Wong (16), Warren Seta (17), Robert Asanuma (17) and George Chong (18) claimed the nett title with a total of 452 Stableford points ahead of team Sakura from Japan (Yoshizo Suzuki (7), Shinichiarai (8), Susumu Ono (9) and Dr. Shu-Ichiniwa (14)), who managed 437 points.

Englishman Simon Dyson won the Dutch Open for the third time in six years here on Sunday after shooting a fine final round of four under par 66. The 33-year-old, who joins greats Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer in winning the title three times, edged out compatriot David Lynn by a stroke with a tournament total of . Northern Ireland’s US Open champion Rory McIlroy shot a 68 to take third spot while world number two Lee Westwood shot a 66 like Dyson to jump from 18th spot to fifth. Playing percentage golf, Dyson did brilliantly to stave off McIlroy’s challenge as the talented 22-year-old fired in three early birdies. However, he failed to build on that and his two birdies on the last two holes were too little and too late.

Yani continues hot streak in Arkansas

World number one Yani Tseng earned a ninth victory of 2011, rolling in a four-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff to defend her NW Arkansas Championship title on September 11. Taiwan’s Tseng holed the winning putt on par-five 18th hole to edge past Amy Yang, who failed to convert a six-foot birdie of her own at the Pinnacle Country Club course. The 22-year-old Tseng had her own putting woes on the final hole in regulation after failing to make a five-foot putt. She closed with a threeunder 68 to finish tied at the top with her South Korean challenger on 12-under 201.Tseng leads the LPGA Tour with five wins this season, including major titles at the LPGA Championship and Women’s British Open.

GOLF DIARY

September 23 -25 Terengganu Amateur Open Kuala Terengganu GR, Terengganu

October 13 -16 Indian Open Delhi GC, Delhi, India US$1,500,000

Sept 29 - Oct 02 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada US$4,400,000

October 20-23 CJ Invitational hosted by KJ Choi Haesley nine Bridges GC, Jeju, Korea US$750,000

October 06 - 09 Frys.com Open CordeValle GC, San Martin, California US$$5,000,000

September 29 - October 2 Asian Amateur Championship Singapore Island Country Club, Singapore October 18-20 Faldo Series Malaysia Championship Royal Selangor GC, Kuala Lumpur

September 22 - 25 PGM-MIDF-KLGCC CLASSIC Kuala Lumpur GCC, Kuala Lumpur RM200,000 October 17-20 PGM Lanjut Classic Lanjut GC, Pahang RM125,000

October 13 - 16 Palembang MUSI Championship Padang Golf Kanten, Palembang, Indonesia US$75,000

September 15 - 18 Macau Open Macau GCC US$750,000 September 22 - 25 PGM-MIDF-KLGCC Classic (ADT) Kuala Lumpur GCC, Kuala Lumpur RM200,000

October 13 - 16 The McGladrey Classic Seaside Course, Sea Island, Georgia US$4,000,000

October 6 - 9 Kolon Korea Open Woo Jeoung Hills CC, Seoul, Korea US$1,000,000 October 13 - 16 Midea China Classic Royal Orchid International GC, Shunde, China US$1,000,000

September 22-25 Austrian Golf Open Diamond CC, Atzenbrugg,Austria €1,000,000 Sept 29 - Oct 2 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland $5,000,000 October 6 - 9 Bankia Madrid Masters El Encín Golf Hotel, Alcalá de Henares, Spain €1,000,000 October 13 - 16 Portugal Masters Oceânico Victoria GC,Vilamoura,Portugal €2,500,000 Oct 20-23 Castello Masters Club de Campo del Mediterr·neo, Valencia,Spain €2,000,000

September 22 - 25 Asia Pacific Panasonic Open Biwako CC, Shiga Japan US$1,700,000 October 6 - 9 Yeangder Tournament Players Championship Linkou International GCC, Taipei, Chinese Taipei US$300,000

October 20 - 23 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic Magnolia GC & Palm GC, Lake Buena Vista, Florida US$4,700,000

September 23 - 25 Solheim Cup Killeen Castle, County Meath, Ireland October 7 - 9 LPGA Hana Bank Championship Sky 72 GC, Incheon, South Korea US$1,800,000 October 13 - 16 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Kuala Lumpur GCC, Kuala Lumpur US$1,900,000 October 20-23 Sunshine LPGA Taiwan Championship Sunrise GCC, Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei US$2 million

September 23 - 25 Solheim Cup Killeen Castle, County Meath, Ireland September 29 - Oct 2 Lacoste Ladies Open de France Paris Int’l GC, Baillet-en-France, France €250,000 October 7 -9 Sicilian Ladies Italian Open Il Picciolo GC,Catania, Italy €200,000

September 22 - 25 Tour Championship by Coca-Cola East Lake GC, Atlanta, Georgia US$8,000,000

Oct 28th - 30th Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open Suzhou International Golf Club, Suzhou, China €300,000

WHERE TO GOLF - MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE KUALA LUMPUR

TANJUNG PUTERI GOLF RESORT

KINTA GOLF CLUB

MIMPIAN JADI GOLF CLUB

KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(54 holes) Tel: (607) 271 1888

(18holes) Tel: (605) 366 7270

(18 holes) Tel: (088) 787 122

(36 holes) Tel: (603) 2093 1111

PULAI SPRINGS RESORT

TAIPING GOLF RESORT

MOUNT KINABALU GOLF CLUB

ROYAL SELANGOR GOLF CLUB

(36 holes) Tel: (607) 521 2121

(18 holes) Tel: (605) 883 7500

(18 holes) Tel: (O88) 889 445

(36 holes) Tel: (603 ) 9206 3333

PORESIA COUNTRY CLUB

KUALA KANGSAR GOLF CLUB

NEXUS GOLF RESORT KARAMBUNAI

KELAB GOLF PERKHIDMATAN AWAM

(36 holes) Tel: (607) 510 1812

(9 holes) Tel: (605) 776 2396

(18 holes) Tel: (088) 480 888

(27 holes) Tel: (603) 7957 1958

STARHILL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

BUKIT JALIL GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT

(36 holes) Tel: (607) 556 6325

(18 holes) Tel: (603) 8996 1468

IOI PALM VILLA GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT

BUKIT JAWI GOLF RESORT

LAHAD DATU GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

KELAB REKREASI ANGKATAN TENTERA

(27 holes) Tel: (607) 599 9099

( 36 holes) Tel: (604) 582 0759

(18 holes) Tel: (089) 889 288

(9 holes) Tel: (603) 2141 1113

THE LEGENDS GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT

PENANG GOLF RESORT

SABAH GOLF COUNTRY CLUB

KELAB GOLF TITIWANGSA PDRM

(27 holes) Tel: (607) 652 4388

(36 holes) Tel: (604) 578 2022

(18 holes) Tel: (088) 247 533

(9 holes ) Tel: (603) 2693 4964

AUSTIN HILLS GOLF RESORT

BUKIT JAMBUL COUNTRY CLUB

SANDAKAN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: ( 607) 352 4300

(18 holes) Tel: (604) 644 2255

(18 holes) Tel: (089) 660 557

SELANGOR

BUKIT BANANG GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

PULAU PINANG

KEDAH

KENINGAU GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (087) 331 113

SHAN SHUI GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT

GLENMARIE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 428 6001

(36 holes ) Tel: (603) 7803 9090

DAIMAN 18 GOLF CLUB

HARVARD GOLF COUNTRY CLUB

KINABALU GOLF CLUB

KELAB GOLF NEGARA SUBANG

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 351 6813

(27 holes) Tel: (604) 458 8888

(9 holes) Tel: (088) 251 615

(36 holes) Tel: (603) 7876 0388

HORIZON HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

KULIM GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT

TAWAU GOLF CLUB

KELAB RAHMAN PUTRA MALAYSIA

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 232 3166

(18 holes) Tel: (604) 403 2828

(9 holes) Tel: (609) 765 555

KUKUP GOLF RESORT

BLACK FOREST GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 696 0950

(18 holes) Tel: (604) 922 2222

CHRISTINE RESORT

CINTA SAYANG GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

KELAB GOLF LABUAN

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 387 3000

(18 holes) Tel: (604) 441 4666

(9 holes) Tel: (087) 412 810

ORCHARD GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT

DARULAMAN GOLF COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 897 7934

(18 holes) Tel: (604) 917 0001

PONDEROSA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

GUNUNG RAYA GOLF RESORT

(KELAB GOLF SARAWAK

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 354 9999

(18 holes) Tel: (604) 966 8148

(36 holes) Tel: (082) 440 966

JOHOR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

PERMAIPURA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

BINTULU GOLF CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 223 3322

(18 holes)Tel: (604) 459 4000

(18 holes) Tel: (086) 252 001

SEBANA COVE GOLF & MARINE RESORT

ROYAL KEDAH GOLF CLUB

DAMAI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 826 6655

(9 holes) Tel: (604) 731 9405

(18 holes) Tel: (082) 846 088

TIOMAN ISLAND GOLF CLUB

SG.PETANI GOLF CLUB

EASTWOOD VALLEY

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 419 1000

(9 holes) Tel: (604) 422 4894

GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(36 holes) Tel: (603) 6156 6870 SAUJANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (36 holes) Tel: (603) 7846 1466 BANGI GOLF RESORT (27 holes) Tel: (603) 8925 3728 KELAB GOLF SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH (27 holes) Tel: (603) 5519 1512 TASIK PUTERI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (27 holes) Tel: (603) 6034 4722 TROPICANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (27 holes) Tel: (603) 7804 8888 BKT BERUNTUNG GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 6028 1841 BKT KEMUNING GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT (18 holes) Tel: (603) 5121 6552 BKT UNGGUL COUNTRY CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 8920 2888 DANAU GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 8925 8953 KAJANG HILL GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 8723 9668 KELAB REKREASI TENTERA UDARA (18 holes) Tel: (603) 5513 0998 KINRARA GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel : (603) 8076 2100 KOTA PERMAI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 5122 3700 KUNDANG LAKES COUNTRY CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 6034 2725 MONTEREZ GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 7846 5989 PALM GARDEN GOLF CLUB (18holes) Tel: (603) 8948 7160 PERANGSANG TEMPLER GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 6091 0022 PORT KLANG GOLF RESORT (18 holes) Tel: (603) 3176 1323 IMPIAN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 8734 4195 SERENDAH GOLF LINKS (18 holes) Tel: (603) 6081 1077 SSG BERINGIN GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 6460 0016 SUNGAI LONG GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 90762233 THE MINES RESORT & GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 8943 2288 TEMPLER PARK GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (603) 6091 9630 PADANG GOLF UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA (18 holes) Tel: (603) 8946 7996 KELAB DARUL EHSAN

BATU PAHAT GOLF CLUB (9 holes) Tel: (607) 432 9221

PERLIS

HORNBILL GOLF & JUNGLE CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (082) 577 930

(18 holes) Tel: (604) 976 9660

KELAB GOLF SIBU

KLUANG COUNTRY CLUB (9 holes) Tel: (607) 771 8840

MELAKA A’FAMOSA GOLF RESORT ( 27 holes) Tel: (606) 552 0888

KELANTAN KELANTAN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (609) 748 2102

TERENGGANU

(18 holes) Tel: (084) 801 119 MIRI GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: (085) 416 787

SINGAPORE SELETAR COUNTRY CLUB

AYER KEROH COUNTRY CLUB

AWANA KIJAL BEACH & GOLF RESORT

(18 holes) Tel: +65 6486 0801

(27 holes) Tel: (606) 233 2000

(18 holes) Tel: (609) 864 1188

CHANGI GOLF CLUB

ORNA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

GREEN ACRES GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(9 holes) Tel: +65 6545 5133

(27 holes) Tel: (606) 521 0333

(18 holes) Tel: (609) 616 3500

SEMBAWANG COUNTRY CLUB

TIARA MELAKA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

KELAB GOLF DESA DUNGUN

(18 holes) Tel: +65 6751 0320

(27 holes) Tel: (606) 231 1111

(18 holes) Tel: (609) 848 1041

SENTOSA GOLF CLUB

KUALA TERENGGANU GOLF RESORT

(36 holes) Tel: +65 6275 0022

(18 holes) Tel: (609) 666 6836

TANAH MERAH COUNTRY CLUB

NEGERI SEMBILAN NILAI SPRINGS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (27 holes) Tel: (606) 850 8888

PAHANG

(18 holes) Tel: +65 6592 0343 ( Garden) / 6592 0345 (Tampines)

STAFFIELD COUNTRY RESORT

AWANA GENTING HIGHLANDS

WARREN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(27 holes) Tel: (603) 8766 6117

GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT

(18 holes) Tel: +65 6586 1240

ERA GOLF &COUNTRY RESORT

(18 holes) Tel: (603) 6436 9000

ORCHID COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (6019) 255 3059

BERJAYA HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(27 holes) Tel: +65 6750 2111

GEMAS GOLF RESORT

(18 holes) Tel: (609) 288 8180

RAFFLES COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (607) 948 2687

KELAB GOLF SULTAN AHMAD SHAH

( 18 holes ) Tel: +65 68617649

ROYAL PALM SPRINGS GOLF CLUB

CAMERON HIGHLANDS

SAFRA RESORT & COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (606) 661 9599

(18 holes) Tel: (605) 4911126

( 27 holes) Tel: +65 542 8288

PORT DICKSON GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

ROYAL PAHANG GOLF CLUB

JURONG COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (606) 647 3586

(18 holes) Tel: (609) 567 5811

(18 holes) Tel: +65 5 6560 5655

ROYAL SRI MENANTI GOLF CLUB

KELAB GOLF BENTONG

KEPPEL CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (606) 497 9600

(9 holes) Tel: (609) 222 2585

(18 holes) Tel : +65 6375 1818

SEREMBAN 3 PARADISE VALLEY

KELAB REKREASI TUDM KUANTAN

LAGUNA NATIONAL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (606) 633 5033

(9 holes) Tel: (609) 538 4282

(36 holes) Tel: +65 5 62481 777

SEREMBAN INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB

LIPIS VALLEY GOLF CLUB

SINGAPORE ISLAND COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (606) 677 5277

(9 holes) Tel: (609) 312 1963

(81 holes) Tel: + 65 6466 2244

PERAK

SABAH (27 holes) Tel: (088 ) 318 888

MERU VALLEY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

TAWAU HOT SPRINGS GOLF CLUB

(27 holes) Tel: (605) 529 3300

(18 holes) Tel: (609) 765 555

DAMAI LAUT GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

BORNEO GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(18 holes) Tel: (605) 685 9333

(18 holes) Tel: (087) 861 888

PALM RESORT GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

ROYAL PERAK GOLF CLUB

DALIT BAY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

(54 holes) Tel: ( 607) 599 6222

(18 holes) Tel: (605) 542 3266

(18 holes) Tel: (088) 791 188

JOHOR

(18 holes) Tel: (085) 421 010

(9 holes) Tel: (607) 552 2202

(27 holes) Tel : (605) 366 7433

(9 holes) Tel: (603) 3289 1069

SARAWAK

PUTRA GOLF CLUB

SUTERA HABOUR GOLF COUNTRY CLUB

ROYAL KAMPUNG KUANTAN CLUB

LABUAN

IMPIAN EMAS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

CLEARWATER SANCTUARY GOLF RESORT

(9 holes) Tel: (603) 4257 2333

(18 holes) Tel: (089) 916 888

Help us keep this list accurate! Please send additions, corrections and updates to info@theclubhouse.com.my

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