HK Golfer Mag Concept

ISSUE 143 / JAN 19

HK GOLFER

TIFFANY CHAN / DUSTIN JOHNSON / BUBBA WATSON / GOLF DESTINATIONS EQUIPMENT REVIEW / WHITE TRUFFLES OF ALBA / ASTON MARTIN / GOLF FASHION

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HK GOLFER 2018 FEBRUARY

HK GOLFER 2018 FEBRUARY

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CONTENTS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION ISSUE 143 / JANUARY 2019

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HKGA NEWS Artigolle topped a field that featured 82 junior golfers, 24 of whom were from overseas. The 48th edition of the championship also featured on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

FOCUS ON TIFFANY After picking up a golf club for the first time at the age of six, Chan’s interest in golf quickly became a passion, and then a lifelong dream. She was first introduced to the Hong Kong Golf Association at the tender age of 7 in 2001.

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ASIA FOCUS CAn Wie rejoin the elite? Michelle Wie won the 2018 HSBC Women's World Championship about as dramatically as you could win a golf tournament.

10 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

DUSTIN JOHNSON Dustin Johnson places more faith in the means by which he returned to No 1 in the world than the fact he will start the second major of the year in prime position.

INTERVIEW WITH BUBBA Bubba Watson finally out of his 'dark place' and ready for the 2018 Masters. With Bubba Watson, you're never sure what you're going to get.

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EQUIPMENT The big story with these Titleist drivers is the addition of the Active Recoil Channel (ARC) to the bottom of the sole. The channel runs from the heel to the toe of the head allowing the top and bottom of the face to deflect, increasing ball speeds across the entire face and reducing spin.

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FEATURE - HKGTA Hidden from the main road the Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy (HKGTA) is one of those places that you don’t find unless you’re looking for it.

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TUTORIAL Every good golfer knows that power comes from the body, not the arms. Learn to power the club with your body instead of your arms and hands

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DESTINATION THAILAND The Thai Country Club is a haven to enjoy the ultimate golf experience. Tucked away on the outskirts of Bangkok, and managed by The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels.

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DELUXE Time management is often dictated by the split-flap display ominously clicking that your flight is cancelled or delayed.

The solution? Private aviation.

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BEVERAGE There’s more that goes into making a premium whisky than meets the eye. Colin Scott, who has dedicated nearly 30 years to being a custodian of the signature Chivas Regal style explains.

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GOURMET White truffles of Alba are not the most attractive looking culinary ingredient, but can, on their best days, fetch more than their weight in gold.

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DRIVING RANGE Aston Martin pulled the wraps off the new Vantage for the first time in Hong Kong, providing onlookers with a first glimpse of the British marque’s latest sporting icon.

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FASHION The game has evolved and is becoming more appropriate to break the old codes of convention by wearing fashionable, chic and even edgy apparel on the fairways.

The new V-Class Exclusive Edition.

Grand. Unique.

CONTRIBUTORS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION ISSUE 143 / JANUARY 2019

Leo Ffficitur

James Barnes

James Yip

Don Armitage

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John Montserrat

Colin Scott

Geoff Smith

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12 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

HKGA LOCAL

NEWS

by The Editors / Images: Tim Cheung

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s the leading local player, Artigolle will also experience the World Golf Championship-HSBC Champions in Shanghai later this year, courtesy of the Hong Kong Golf Association’s Exclusive Banking Partner, HSBC. The 17-year-old was at the second place when he tee-off with Taichi Kho, the overnight leader and defending champion, for the final round. Kho shot an impressive 66 in the second round to have a 2-stroke advantage. However, the final day saw the wind pick up making scoring condition at Clearwater Bay a lot tougher.

“The fact that I go to school in Scotland (Loretto Golf Academy) is basically always windy there. It did help a lot,” Artigolle adds, “I played against instead of with the wind to make the ball staying straighter. I just went for the middle of the green and made shots that I know how to play. I think that was the key to success.”

Artigolle finished with a total of 205 to take the victory. And this 14 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

is his second champion in two weeks – he defended his Faldo Series Hong Kong Championship title at Kau Sai Chau in late July. The 17-year-old also became the Intercollegiate Tour Players’ Champion in the United Kingdom back in May and qualified for the UK National Finals at the historic Moortown Golf Club near Leeds.

Artigolle topped a field that featured 82 junior golfers, 24 of whom were from overseas. The 48th edition of the championship also featured on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Hong Kong’s Inara Sharma was crowned girls’ champion, finishing with a final round 72 for a total of 215. She will join Artigolle for the final two days of the World Golf ChampionshipHSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club on October 28 and 29. There they will get an inside-the-ropes look at how a World Golf Championship event is staged and be treated to a coaching clinic with one of the world’s top golfers.

JAN 2019 | HK GOLFER 15

FOCUS ON

TIFFANY

by The Editors / Images: Tim Cheung

The Peninsula Hotels is delighted to announce a partnership with Hong Kong LPGA golfer Tiffany Chan for 2018, in a sponsorship deal which involves the athlete becoming an ambassador for The Peninsula brand when she travels around the world. “With over 150 years of history in Hong Kong, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels and The Peninsula Hotels are very proud of what Tiffany has achieved as a Hong Kong home-grown sporting talent,” said Mr Clement Kwok, CEO of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited.

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iffany Chan will look to begin her rookie season in the Bahamas at the end of January. The golfing community in Hong Kong and beyond, led by the Hong Kong Golf Association, are in unison with their praises and admiration for the Tuen Mun born and bred talent. After picking up a golf club for the first time at the age of six, Chan’s interest in golf quickly became a passion, and then a lifelong dream. She was first introduced to the Hong Kong Golf Association at the tender age of 7 in 2001.

“It still feels like a dream to me that I will be on the LPGA Tour this year and compete against the best golfers in the world, many of whom I consider as my idols. It has been a long and challenging journey, so it is especially heart-warming to have these results to reflect all the hard work. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to EFG Bank for their financial support, so I could pursue my golfing career in the States. When I look back at my junior and amateur careers, I am grateful for all those who have helped me, from the Hong Kong Golf 16 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

Association, which has made it so much easier in every aspect of my life over the years, to the Hong Kong Golf Club that provides me with access to excellent venues and coaches. I must also express my sincere thanks to the Hong Kong government because through the Hong Kong Sports Institute, I was offered endless opportunities as a junior amateur to compete and practice against other elites in Hong Kong as well as those across Asia. Then there are the Hong Kong Golf Club, Discovery Bay Golf Club, the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club, the Shek-O Country Club, and the Jockey Club of Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course, that have allowed me to practise when and wherever I wanted.

Golf has been an important part of my life since a young age.

My parents are my biggest supporters but neither of them have a golfing background. I hope my journey can be an inspiration to young golfers, and other athletes, to follow their passion, and there are many people in Hong Kong who can help you realise your potential.”

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I HAVE ADMIRED THE BRAND AND AM DELIGHTED TO PARTNER WITH A LUXURY HOTEL GROUP. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE PENINSULA HOTELS AS AN AMBASSADOR.

Defending champion Tiffany Chan started the final round at tied-15th but a tentative start with three bogeys in the first four holes put paid to her chances of retaining the title.

However, the 23-year-old showed her grit as she did all week and refused to fade away, clawing back magnificently with birdies at the 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th and 12th.

Hong Kong’s first golfing Olympian commented: “To have three bogeys in the first four holes is a little unusual for me on this course. I think I put a little bit of pressure on myself trying to gain some ground early on. Luckily, I scored well when I needed to get back on par, which helped a lot. I definitely have a lot to work on but overall, I am pleased with my performance this week, and the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open provided a really good experience for me as I begin my professional career.

I am a little bit disappointed but I did the best I could. I hope golf fans enjoyed my performance this week, and I would like to thank them for supporting me all the way through under such hot and humid conditions.”

Tiffany turned professional in May after rounding out her amateur career playing for the University of Southern California and signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Swiss private bank EFG before the tournament started.

EFG is no stranger to the world of golf in Hong Kong, having been the principal partner of the Hong Kong Golf Association’s elite junior development programme between 2009 and 2014. It was also during the programme in 2009 when EFG met Hong Kong’s first golfing Olympian and the winner of the golf tournament at the 2014 World University Championships.

EFG’s support of Tiffany is a long-term one and it extends beyond the elite junior development programme in which Chan was a participant throughout her teenage years. When the Tuen Mun-native made the decision to pursue her university career and improve her golf game in the U.S. in 2013, EFG offered her

financial support in the form of a scholarship. The partnership affirms the Swiss bank’s commitment to support one of Hong Kong’s best, to help kickstart her career as a professional golfer.

An avid golf fan, EFG International Head of Asia Region Albert Chiu said: “We are delighted to have Tiffany onboard as EFG Global Sport Ambassador for the next three years.

She was already a standout when I first met her at the Hong Kong Golf Association elite junior programme back in 2009.

Everyone at EFG was very impressed by her dedication, commitment, and determination to succeed, and over the years she has proven to everyone time and again that she is a real deal. We look forward to working with Tiffany, and we will do what we can to ensure she experiences a smooth and successful transition from amateur to professional.”

“I am very thankful for EFG’s support over the past 10 years. I knew very early on I wanted to make golf my career, and EFG has always been by my side, supporting me. I will never forget when they jumped in to help me kickstart my college career with a scholarship, and without a doubt, that opportunity propelled me onto the most efficient and effective track to achieving my dreams. I am honored to be EFG’s Global Sport Ambassador and will do everything I can to make EFG and Hong Kong proud,” added HK’s golfing golden girl.

Now that the local star has turned professional, she has expressed her desire to do more to give back to the local community so those who look up to her can have every chance to use sport as a means to improve social mobility and carve out their own paths to success. To achieve her goal, Tiffany has announced that she will team up with the off icial charity partner of the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open, Friends of Asia Hong Kong, to embark on a Corporate Social Responsibility course to empower and better the lives of disadvantaged youngsters through sports.

JAN 2019 | HK GOLFER 19

ASIA FOCUS CAN WIE REJOIN THE ELITE? Michelle Wie won the 2018 H S B C Wo m e n' s Wo r l d Cha mpionship about a s dramatically as you could win a golf tournament. The win was her first since taking the 2014 U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst. Wie buried a 36foot putt on the 72nd hole to get to 17 under and beat a group of four that included Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, Brooke Henderson a nd Jen ny Sh i n by one e ac h. " I t h i n k I h it t h a t h o l e pretty hard," said Wie, "but I think that has to be the best putt of my career so far."

She has been injured, struggled with swing issues and generally run the gamut of what it's like to be a professional golfer.

"I'm so proud of me and my caddie and my entire team," said Wie. "It's been a long time since I've been up here" AFP/Getty Images

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WORLD FOCUS TIGER LOOKING FOCUSED Tiger Wood s onc e a g a i n made a return to competition in the Ba hamas at the tournament he hosts. This time a round he exceeded nea rly ever y expectation, twice shooting 4-under 68 while tying for ninth among the 18-man field. Having retooled his swing following f u s i o n s u r g e r y, Wo o d s app e a re d re l a xe d , h appy and hea lthy while brief ly taking the lead during the tournament’s second round.

What lies ahead for Woods in 2018 remains uncertain, as the stop-and-start nature of this past season ser ves a s a c aut iona r y t a le. But after a harrowing arrest and another serious surgery, he seems once again focused on his game, intent on chasing down a new crop of elite ta lent, some of whom are barely more than half his age.

AFP/Getty Images

22 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

FEATURE

BANKING ON THE

RANKINS

by David Thomas / Images: AFP/Getty Images

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ustin Johnson places more faith in the means by which he returned to No 1 in the world than the fact he will start the second major of the year in prime position. Johnson’s six-stroke victory at the St Jude Classic means he has usurped Justin Thomas just days before the US Open gets under way at Shinnecock Hills. “ Wi n n i n g , I t h i n k , i s a bi g g er confidence booster than being No 1 in the world,” Johnson said. “For me, playing the way I did all week, playing t he way I did on Sunday k nowing everything that was on the line, gives me a lot of confidence.

“I think it was a big win, it was a big statement and I’m proud of the way I played, the way I handled it.”

Now for the tricky part – no player has won the week before the US Open and immediately repeated the feat in more illustrious company. “Why not be the first one to do it?” Johnson asked. “I don’t know why it hasn’t happened but the US Open, it’s a tough place to go win. I did win it in 2016 so I know what it takes.”

Joh nson’s Memph is suc c e ss wa s concluded in stunning style, the 33-yearold holing out from 171 yards and the semi-rough on the 72nd hole. Victory was secure even before his moment of nine-iron magic.

“I knew it was a really good shot,” the American said. “By the reaction from the crowd, I thought it might have gone in but I couldn’t see it because of the sun, so it was kind of tough. What a cool way to end.”

This year had been something of a slow burner for Johnson, a matter he links to putting troubles. Rounds of 67, 63, 65 and 66 at the St Jude endorsed his decision to compete in the week before the US Open.

Phil Mickelson’s closing 65 for a share of 12th did likewise as the 47-yearold attempts to complete a career clean sweep of major titles at Shinnecock. “You don’t want to go in there limping,” he said. “I feel good with parts of my game and I just need to put it all together and play some of my best golf for four days.”

Johnson found time to praise the European Tour for its innovative Shot Clock Masters, which took place in

JAN 2019 | HK GOLFER 25

Austria over the weekend. In a bid to quicken rounds and highlight the curse of slow play the event involves players having to hit shots within a certain time or face a penalty.

Johnson is one of the quickest players, so would he like a similar format in the US? “It wouldn’t bother me one bit. I liked it. I think I read they played 50 minutes faster than the average, like just under four hours and 10 minutes in threesomes. That’s how we should be playing but unfortunately it takes us five hours with three pros in a group of three.

That’s a little long. I like the shot clock.”

Tiger Woods is already at Shinnecock, the three-times US Open winner having played practice holes in the company of Jordan Spieth on Sunday. Hank Haney, Woods’s former coach, has said it will be “difficult” for his former pupil to win a US Open again because of the difficulty of courses. David Duval , a former world No 1 and now television analyst, disagrees.

“At this point, with what we’ve seen with his most recent reincarnation and comeback, I would go the opposite way.

Think back to when he won with not hitting driver at an Open [2006 at Royal Liverpool]. He has not driven the ball particularly well. He’s certainly got a lot of speed and distance but accuracy has not been there. His iron play has been up and down a little bit but I think that’s where the strength has been. So

26 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

potentially taking the driver out of his hands might actually give him a better opportunity.”

Dustin Johnson places more faith in the means by which he returned to No 1 in the world than the fact he will start the second major of the year in prime position. Johnson’s six-stroke victory at the St Jude Classic means he has usurped Justin Thomas just days before the US Open gets under way at Shinnecock Hills. “ Wi n n i n g , I t h i n k , i s a bi g g er confidence booster than being No 1 in the world,” Johnson said. “For me, playing the way I did all week, playing t he way I did on Sunday k nowing everything that was on the line, gives me a lot of confidence.

“I think it was a big win, it was a big statement and I’m proud of the way I played, the way I handled it.”

Now for the tricky part – no player has won the week before the US Open and immediately repeated the feat in more illustrious company. “Why not be the first one to do it?” Johnson asked. “I don’t know why it hasn’t happened but the US Open, it’s a tough place to go win. I did win it in 2016 so I know what it takes.”

Joh nson’s Memph is suc c e ss wa s concluded in stunning style, the 33-yearold holing out from 171 yards and the semi-rough on the 72nd hole. Victory was secure even before his moment of nine-iron magic.

JAN 2019 | HK GOLFER 27

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“I knew it was a really good shot,” the American said. “By the reaction from the crowd, I thought it might have gone in but I couldn’t see it because of the sun, so it was kind of tough. What a cool way to end.”

This year had been something of a slow burner for Johnson, a matter he links to putting troubles. Rounds of 67, 63, 65 and 66 at the St Jude endorsed his decision to compete in the week before the US Open.

Johnson found time to praise the European Tour for its innovative Shot Clock Masters, which took place in Austria over the weekend. In a bid to quicken rounds and highlight the curse of slow play the event involves players having to hit shots within a certain time or face a penalty.

Johnson is one of the quickest players, so would he like a similar format in the US? “It wouldn’t bother me one bit. I liked it. I think I read they played 50 minutes faster than the average, like just under four hours and 10 minutes in threesomes. That’s how we should be

playing but unfortunately it takes us five hours with three pros in a group of three.

That’s a little long. I like the shot clock.”

Tiger Woods is already at Shinnecock, the three-times US Open winner having played practice holes in the company of Jordan Spieth on Sunday. Hank Haney, Woods’s former coach, has said it will be “difficult” for his former pupil to win a US Open again because of the difficulty of courses. David Duval, a former world No 1 and now television analyst, disagrees.

“At this point, with what we’ve seen with his most recent reincarnation and comeback, I would go the opposite way.

Think back to when he won with not hitting driver at an Open [2006 at Royal Liverpool]. He has not driven the ball particularly well. He’s certainly got a lot of speed and distance but accuracy has not been there. His iron play has been up and down a little bit but I think that’s where the strength has been. So potentially taking the driver out of his hands might actually give him a better opportunity.”

JAN 2019 | HK GOLFER 29

INTERVIEW

30 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

IN IT TO

WIN IT

by James Yip / Images: AFP/Getty Images

Bubba Watson finally out of his 'dark place' and ready for the 2018 Masters. With Bubba Watson, you're never sure what you're going to get. "(My) life's in the right spot ... and golf's in the right spot," Watson said this week. "Golf's easy when you free it up." Thus began Masters week for one of the game's more complicated figures and his words bear remembering; when Watson has found himself in the right spot, he won the championship in 2012 and 2014. Here we find out what makes him tick...

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I JUST THINK THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT YOUR CAREER DIFFERENTLY IF YOU’VE WON OUTSIDE OF YOUR OWN COUNTRY

James: You said after winning the WGC-HSBC Champions that winning outside the US was really important to you. Why was that and do you think you’ll be playing more golf overseas as a result?

Bubba Watson: That’s a great question. I just want to win. I’ve won in the US a few times, but I just think that people look at your career differently if you’ve won outside of your own country. It means you’ve had to travel, had to get used to jetlag and had to play golf in many different places at a high level.

It’s easier in the US to go from State to State to play golf, than having to travel 16 hours by plane and learn a different kind of grass and varying conditions. So for me on a personal level it means that my career will be much better if I’ve won a few outside the States.

Tiger [Woods], Jack Nicklaus – you can go through the greats of the game – they have all won outside the US. So for me it would be a positive in my career if I can win a few outside.

J: What do you make of the quality of Asian golfers that you’ve come across and are there any players in particular that have impressed you?

BW: Ryo Ishikawa has been playing on tour for eight years and he’s still young. His short game for me is amazing. I believe Ryo, as young as he is, could be a great talent in this game. He is learning different cultures having moved to the US, but I think he’s one of the special talents.

Hideki Matsuyama is also a special player. He has proven at a young age that he can compete in the US and back in his homeland.

Before Kiradech Aphibarnrat got injured, you saw his name popping up a lot. He has proved he can play in the big events and he was showing how good a talent he is.

Those three stand out in my mind right away. I think they are all young enough to improve and become bigger names and contend a lot more in the major events.

J: You are known for your charitable involvements. How active are you in terms of helping junior golf?

BW: Here in the US I give money to junior golf, but I also hold my own tournament where I show up and watch the kids play. At the tournament in Japan (the Dunlop Phoenix event in December 2014), I gave my prize money– it wasn’t very much, I think it was something like US$10,000 – to junior golf in Japan.

I’m very active in trying to help junior golf all across the world.

The game has given me so much, so why not give back and try to help other kids follow their dreams like I have?

J: Are you a player that sets goals at the beginning of the year, and if so, what are your goals for 2015?

BW: There are two. Every year US has either a Ryder Cup or President’s Cup team. That’s the first one. If you make that team, you have played well at some point. The other goal is just to win.

To hold a trophy is a special time and so every year I want to win at least one tournament. That’s what I have my eyes on every year.

J: Is attaining number one in the Official World Golf Ranking a goal of yours?

BW: You know I have never set that goal for myself, because it’s very tough to reach it, and the way the world ranking points work you never know. The way I look at it, look at Phil Mickelson. He is one of our greatest champions of all time across the world and he has never been number one. So sometimes that world ranking doesn’t mean as much as it should.

J: How would you describe your relationship with the media?

BW: I think the media likes me because I don’t give PC [politically correct] answers. Sometimes people write different stories and twist them in ways that they want to. But, the way I live my life, I don’t read what people write about me and I don’t listen to what people say about me. My true friends and my family know who I am as a person and what my heart is all about.

The fans just see me as a small town guy who has worked hard to get where he is, and I appreciate that. I think that they see me as a guy that’s just out there having fun with the game of golf. Just like anybody else, though, I’m going to get mad when I hit a bad shot, and I’m going to be happy when I hit a great shot.

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34 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

EQUIPMENT

FACING UP TO

CHANGE

by Geoff Smith / Images: Titleist

T

it le i s t ’s 915 d r i v e r w a s i n Geoff Ogilvy’s bag during his victory at the 2014 Barracuda Championship. After putting the clubs through an extensive tour seeding and performance validation process, Titleist officially announced the arrival of its 915 drivers, fairway woods and hybrids in Hong Kong at the back end of 2014.

Titleist’s 915 line of drivers comes in two models -- 915D2 and 915D3 (Ogilvy himself used a prototype model). The 915D2 is a 460cc pear-shaped head that’s slightly forgiving and has more draw bias than 915D3; it also spins about 250 rpm more than the 915D3.

The 440cc 915D3 has a deeper, pearshaped face that was designed for players 36 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

who prefer to work the ball both ways and does not have a draw bias like the 915D2.

The big story with both drivers is the addition of Titleist’s Active Recoil Channel (ARC) to the bottom of the sole. The channel runs from the heel to the toe of the head -- just behind the leading edge – allowing the top and bottom of the face to deflect, increasing ball speeds across the entire face and reducing spin.

When Titleist initially unveiled the ARC system in both drivers, it actually worked too well, pushing the Characteristic Time -- also know as CT, the term the USGA uses to describe a club’s spring-like effect – beyond the USGA’s legal limit.

To slow down the speed in the center of the face, Titleist added a “Radial Speed Face,”

that includes a 6-4 titanium variable face thickness insert that’s thicker in the middle and thinner in the heel and toe section to maximize ball speeds on off-center shots.

Along with improving ball speeds and spin, Titleist worked on creating the ideal launch angle by lowering the center of gravity and moving it farther from the hitting area -- the ARC system added mass to the front of the sole, making the CG shift necessary -- with the addition of a lightweight 8-1-1 titanium crown, internal pockets and toplines/leading edges that were tapered to save weight.

The discretionary weight was then shifted to an internal weight pad in the back of the club head and an external weight in the sole that help give 915D2 and

915D3 a higher MOI and launch angle than its predecessor.

Both drivers once again have Titleist’s 16-way adjustable SureFit Tour hosel that allows players to change the loft and lie angle independently of each other. Loft can be increased by 1.75 degrees and decreased by .75 degrees while the lie angle ranges from 1.5 degrees upright to .75 degrees flat.

Titleist’s 915D2 comes in five lofts (7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees). The 915D3 comes in four lofts (7.5, 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 degrees). Both retail for HK$6,050 and come standard with Mitsubishi Diamana S+ Blue 70 (mid launch), Mitsubishi Diamana S+ Blue 60 (mid launch), and Mitsubishi Diamana M+ Red 50 (high launch) shafts.

The 915 line also includes two fairway wood (915F and 915Fd) models. Titleist’s redesigned 915 fairway woods feature an ARC in the sole that runs from the heel to the toe – closer to the leading edge – that increases ball speed while also reducing spin.

To increase ball speed even further, Titleist also added a Carpenter 455 face insert – the thinnest the company has used for a fairway wood.

The 175cc 915F creates slightly more spin and a higher launch angle than the more workable 160cc 915Fd. To dial-in the swing weight, both clubs come with a weight in the sole that can be adjusted to a player’s swing and shaft preferences.

Titleist’s 915F is available in five lofts (13.5, 15, 16.5, 18 and 21 degrees) while

the 915Fd comes in two lofts (13.5 and 15 degrees). Both clubs retail for HK$3,640 and come standard with the Mitsubishi Dia ma na S+ Blue 70 (mid launch) Mitsubishi Diamana S+ Blue 60 (mid launch), and Mitsubishi Diamana M+ Red 60 (mid/high launch) shafts.

Each fairway wood comes with the 16way adjustable SureFit Tour hosel that allows players to change the loft and lie angle independently of each other. Loft can be increased by 1.75 degrees and decreased by .75 degrees while the lie angle ranges from 1.5 degrees upright to .75 degrees flat.

The 915 line of hybrids (915H and 915H.d) includes Titleist’s ARC in the sole that boosts ball speeds across the entire face while also lowering spin.

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FEATURE

38 HK GOLFER | SEP 2018

IN

FULL

SWING

by The Editors / Images: AFP/Getty Images

Hidden from the main road – like many of Hong Kong’s most exclusive addresses – the Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy (HKGTA) is one of those places that you don’t find unless you’re looking for it. Driving past village houses and scrappy yards, it’s easy to wonder if you’re on the right track – until you’re right in front of the imposing gates, with the towering golf nets in view behind it.

And then you know you’ve arrived somewhere truly special.

C

omprising the world-renowned Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf and the Bruguera Tennis Academy, the Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy (HKGTA), a new holistic sports and wellness destination, has been quietly attracting families in the know since it soft-opened last year.

Its vision – to “create an outstanding communit y of sports wellness that elevates the importance of a sporting lifestyle” – is supported by a wide array of offerings, including specialised lessons, group programmes, and ancillary services from physical therapy to fine dining and overnight accommodations.

The Academy is set in a lush Sai Kung valley, and is designed to capitalise on the vast natural beauty of its mountainous landscape. Its Mediterranean-inspired architecture and immaculate interior design shimmer with newness. On a quiet weekday morning the vibe is refined – and during weekends, the influx of families and children brings a vibrant energy.

Sparing no detail, the Jack Nicklaus Academy is fully equipped with 75 hitting bays, three Coaching Studios, a 6-hole short game, and a 9-hole putting green.

Cutting-edge technology means that coaches and students can instantly review and analyse their swing, stance and ball JAN 2019 | HK GOLFER 39

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flight, with the help of finely tuned sensors and radar equipment.

Meanwhile students of the Bruguera Tennis Academy can chose from seven outdoor courts, a full-sized indoor court, a padel tennis court, and two mini-tennis courts for younger players, all featuring multiple cameras for monitoring and analysis.

But the concept here is about much more than high-tech gadgetry, or even the art of the swing. Billy Martin, the Academy’s Director of Golf, describes what sets the HKGTA apart from the rest: “It’s not just about learning to hit a ball accurately, or trying to win a championship; it’s about the whole mindset, building a strong foundation, and developing a great attitude. We’re here to help people love the game and to derive satisfaction and enjoyment from playing and improving.”

Martin is referring to the Academy’s uniquely holistic approach to sport and Bastien Liveriou, Director of Tennis, sums it up: “The usual Hong Kong model is isolated lessons, a few hours a week, with a busy trainer. But here, you have all these facilities for your use – the gym, the pools, the restaurants, wellness treatments, and beautiful surroundings. It’s important,

because proper tennis training is much more than just hitting the ball and thinking positive thoughts! It includes physical training off-court, the mental game, the student’s habits… it’s a complete offering.”

While this concept may be progressive for Asia, it’s tried and tested elsewhere, as Bastien notes: “The ‘holistic’ training phi losophy wa s a lready producing champions 30 years ago in Spain, starting with Sergei Bruguera himself. For us, it just describes how we naturally do things – that it’s not only about hitting balls, but about creating a whole lifestyle.”

The opportunity for group training is also something on which the Academy prides itself. “Students can learn among others at their level,” Bastien explains, “which encourages and motivates them.

There’s genuine interest in the training.

It’s something they really enjoy and look forward to.” And the result is more than an improved game. “It’s building a community of people with the same passions and interests, sharing moments together. It’s using sport as the foundation for building deeper connections and promoting good values.”

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Balancing out the immaculately groomed greens and Plexipaved courts is Fivelements, an onsite wellness centre that is perhaps the pièce de resistance of the whole concept. This is where the holistic approach really finds its anchor. Operated by the award-winning Fivelements wellness destination in Bali, it offers over 60 distinct treatments as well as vegetarian dining and a range of ‘sacred arts’, such as yoga, tai chi, and meditation. Many of the treatments are designed with athletic endeavours in mind; for instance, there’s aquatic bodywork that takes place in a therapy pool, where the freedom of movement in water helps free up the joints in ways that would be more challenging on a regular massage table.

Michael Hallock, the project’s Wellness Curator, is enthusiastic about the Academy’s holistic ambitions: “It’s really being revealed what enormous benefits are available when you combine sports coaching expertise with holistic practices,” he says. “We work with techniques that are very applicable to athletes, such as yoga and meditation. We explore how these practices can help them with game skills such as balance, concentration, and quicker recovery.

Needless to say, the coaches here are very excited about it!”

“Each individual wellness journey is unique,” adds Chicco Tatriele, Fivelements’ Co-Founder and Managing Director. “It’s

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about exploring the different tools that can bring you positive results. But we also want our patrons to have fun! They have busy lives with lots of external stress factors, and this is a place they can come to rebalance and revive themselves.”

Tatriele believes that patrons will notice even greater benefits over time. “They see results in their focus, dedication and attitude, but it’s not just the sports performance that improves. Athletes are people; they have families, and businesses. Whatever positive benefits they take away from here will naturally also trickle into other parts of their lives. And in this way, we are creating a positive impact – not just on the patrons that come to HKGTA, but on their daily lives and wider communities. It’s wonderful.”

It most certainly is, and Hong Kong has never seen sports training quite like this until now. Comprising the world-renowned Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf and the Bruguera Tennis Academy, the Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy (HKGTA), a new holistic sports and wellness destination, has been quietly attracting families in the know since it soft-opened last year. Its vision – to “create an outstanding community of sports wellness that elevates the importance of a sporting lifestyle” – is supported by a wide array of offerings, including specialised lessons, group

programmes, and ancillary services from physical therapy to fine dining and overnight accommodations.

The Academy is set in a lush Sai Kung valley, and is designed to capitalise on the vast natural beauty of its mountainous landscape.

Its Mediterranean-inspired architecture and immaculate interior design shimmer with newness. On a quiet weekday morning the vibe is refined – and during weekends, the influx of families and children brings a vibrant energy.

Sparing no detail, the Jack Nicklaus Academy is fully equipped with 75 hitting bays, three Coaching Studios, a 6-hole short game, and a 9-hole putting green. Cutting-edge technology means that coaches and students can instantly review and analyse their swing, stance and ball flight, with the help of finely tuned sensors and radar equipment.

Meanwhile students of the Bruguera Tennis Academy can chose from seven outdoor courts, a full-sized indoor court, a padel tennis court, and two mini-tennis courts for younger players, all featuring multiple cameras for monitoring and analysis.

But the concept here is about much more than high-tech gadgetry, or even the art of the swing. Billy Martin, the Academy’s Director of Golf, describes what sets the HKGTA apart from the rest: “It’s not just about learning to hit a ball accurately, or trying

to win a championship; it’s about the whole mindset, building a strong foundation, and developing a great attitude. We’re here to help people love the game and to derive satisfaction and enjoyment from playing and improving.” And, he adds, “The system works; you can see it from the results.”

Martin is referring to the Academy’s uniquely holistic approach to sport and Bastien Liveriou, Director of Tennis, sums it up: “The usual Hong Kong model is isolated lessons, a few hours a week, with a busy trainer. But here, you have all these facilities for your use – the gym, the pools, the restaurants, wellness treatments, and beautiful surroundings. It’s important, because proper tennis training is much more than just hitting the ball and thinking positive thoughts! It includes physical training off-court, the mental game, the student’s habits… it’s a complete offering.”

While this concept may be progressive for Asia, it’s tried and tested elsewhere, as Bastien notes: “The ‘holistic’ training philosophy was already producing champions 30 years ago in Spain, starting with Sergei Bruguera himself. For us, it just describes how we naturally do things – that it’s not only about hitting balls, but about creating a whole lifestyle.”

The opportunity for group training is also something on which the Academy prides itself.

JAN 2019 | HK GOLFER 45

TUTORIAL

IMPROVE YOUR

SWING

by James Barnes / Images: AFP/Getty Images

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

Make sure you're on-plane at the top of the swing to guarantee solid ballstriking and increased accuracy. Notice in the photo at left how my right forearm is parallel to my spine, my left wrist is f lat and my elbows and arms form a tight triangle. These are indications that I've rotated my shoulders into the backswing perfectly.

Limiting the height of the followthrough will effectively reduce the height of your shots.

The lower the hands, the lower the ballflight. Moving the ball back in your stance or choosing a stronger club and trying to swing easy are other ways to accomplish the same thing, but they're less reliable and more difficult to execute.

Ever y good golfer k nows that power comes from the body, not the arms. To learn to power the club with your body instead of your arms and hands, put the club behind the ball at address, with your body in a dead-stop position.

Without taking a backswing, try to drag the ball into the air.

Some players like John Daly swing with their elbow flying out, while others like Sergio Garcia keep it in, proving that it's possible to hit great shots with either method. However, my biomechanical studies indicate that the flying right elbow position favors a fade ballflight while a tucked right elbow promotes a draw.

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STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

STEP 8

A m ateu r s h ave problem s hitting crisp iron shots due to two fatal flaws. First, the takeaway tends to be too low to the ground, which delays the proper hinging of the wrists until too late in the backswing.

Second, in a misg u ided effort to create power, the arms tend to swing too far in the backswing.

An open face at the point of contact can cause a slice. So, too, can a faulty swing path, even if your clubface is square to the target at impact. Slicers' swing paths tend to come too much outside in (hookers, vice versa). All golfers need a path that comes just slightly from the inside.

Hookers need to stop the clubface from closing too soon.

To do this, adopt a thumbsdown approach to impact.

In the photos at right, you clearly can see the red side of the paddle with both my thumbs pointing down toward t he ground. This t y pe of movement slows the closing of your clubface.

Golf swing tips"Flippiness" (the dreaded early release) occurs if your body gets too far in front of the golf ball. When this happens, your club will drastically lag, usually with an open face. Instinctually, your hands will work to close the face at impact. This level of timing is difficult even for the pros to execute.

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DESTINATION

THAILAND IN THE SPOTLIGHT

by John Thompson / Images: Ben Sinclair

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T

he Thai Country Club opened in 1996 and is a haven to enjoy the ultimate golf experience.

Tucked away on the outskirts of Bangkok, and managed under the auspices of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, the Thai Country Club delivers exquisite service, star quality food and worldclass facilities. There is full satisfaction guaranteed to the golfer on all levels.

The Thai Country Club, a joint venture between the Phataraprasit Group and the The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited has earned a reputation for being one of Thailand’s premier golfing venues and is a founding member of The Finest Golf Clubs of the World. Its golf course, designed by Denis Griffiths, former President of the world-renowned American Society of Golf Course Architects, under USPGA international standards, it has since attracted the attention of serious golfers who have been greatly impressed

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with the course layout and unique range of challenges from all tees. The venue for the 1997 Asian Honda Classic, won by Tiger Woods, and the second leg of the 1998 Johnnie Walker Super Tour, won by Vijay Singh, the course utilises weatherresistant paspalum grass from Hawaii.

This demanding course, with both water and sand hazards, is a true test of golfers’ proficiency at all levels. The design of the 7,157-yard course adapts to everyday member use up to a very tough challenge for major international tournaments featuring the finest players in the world.

The high-tech computer designed greens make for many interesting pin placements and the entire course features immaculate conditions, a neo-classic design and variety from hole to hole. Off the course, the friendliest staff of professionals in the Kingdom of Thailand are committed to making every individual’s golf experience a memorable one.

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The Thai Country Club is held in high esteem within the golfing world, helped largely by continued televised tournaments, but also by an acquired reputation as a smooth running perfect golfing machine. The club makes an invaluable contribution to the game of golf in Thailand.

Thailand is fortunate to have so many wonderful courses for aficionados to play in their golfing lifetime, and it would be a crying shame not to experience the Thai Country Club. It is impossible to generalise about Thai golf courses, but what is certain is that the Thai Country Club is green, consistent, and fair because those are the things that all members and guests demand.

Strategically it offers an excellent course, as almost every hole presents a variety of options and like all great courses, it has excellent short holes and epitomises the old golf course architects belief that a course, where possible, should be arranged in two loops of nine holes and that there should be a large proportion of good two-shot holes, and at least four one-shot holes. There is little walking distance between the greens and the tees; the greens and fairways are sufficiently undulating, there is no hill climbing involved, every hole is different in character, and there is a minimum of blindness for approach shots. So, whether you play from the tees for 7,157 yards, or prefer a more leisurely round at 6,105 yards, or somewhere in between, the Thai Country Club offers all options.

Voted Best Course in Thailand (2001-2007), Best Par-Three in Asia (2001-2003) and Best Clubhouse in Asia (2000-2007)

by Asian Golf Monthly Magazine, the Thai Country Club has an impressive 4,000 square metre Clubhouse to complement the highly-acclaimed course.

Most recently, the Club was recognised with four major awards at the 2016 Asian Golf Awards Ceremony, namely: Best Managed Golf Club in Asia Pacific, Best Food and Beverage Experience in Asia Pacific, Best Food & Beverage Manager of The Year (Jintana Zinn), and First Runner Up Best Locker Room (Male & Female) in Asia Pacific.

All in all, the Thai Country Club is a golfer’s paradise, and a round on one of Asia’s favourite courses is a must in this lifetime.

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DELUXE

TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN

by John Montserrat / Images: Marquis

As the oft-used saying goes. But the tides of passengers at busy airport hubs can voraciously consume this most precious of business commodities. Time management, whether in the lounge or the departures hall, is often dictated by the split-flap display ominously clicking that your flight is cancelled or delayed – despite the most pernicious time-saving calculations you may have made to your itinerary. The solution? Private aviation.

T

he ma ny onerou s check-i n processes at airports across the globe (yes even at the business class desks) and the gruelling security procedures (not to mention having to virtually disrobe to pass through), ticks off additional hours to a typical scheduled flight time. After surviving the scrum, what is more annoying than being told you’ll miss your connection and therefore your hard-fought business appointments as a result of “delayed due to inbound flight” announcement? And once on board, no matter whether at the front or back of the plane, service can never be personal due to the economies of scale that commercial airlines need to operate under.

When one takes into account the stress and fatigue that this imposes on a

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company’s other precious commodity, the “human resource”, commercial travel really can make or break a deal in the boardroom. In time management parlance, it’s not the most productive use of an executive’s own resources.

There is a solution… buy your own plane.

This is not as preposterous as it first appears. Once the reserve of rock stars and monarchy, private jets are now an essential tool in the arsenal of corporations and wealthy individuals whose hours equate directly to income. Modern business jets allow you to conduct meetings, make presentations, send and receive emails, and make phone calls whilst speeding toward your destination. They are really offices in the sky, and there’s nothing more impressive for business than that.

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BUSINESS JET GROWTH In its 23rd Annual Business Aviation Outlook, major avionics supplier Honeywell is forecasting up to 9,450 new business jet deliveries worth US$280 billion between 2014 and 2024.

Operators are focusing on larger cabin aircraft classes ranging from super midsize through ultra-long-range and business liners, implying that these types of aircraft will command the bulk of the value billed from now until 2024.

This large-cabin group is expected to account for more than 75 percent of all expenditure on new business jets in the near term. Volume growth between now and 2024 will be led by these classes of aircraft, reflecting 60 percent of additional units and nearly 85 percent of additional retail value.

China is a key market in Asia for the purchase and use of business jets. The Greater China region is expected to take delivery of 2,420 business jets in the period 2013 to 2032. A significant increase in Chinese-owned corporations trading with the rest of the world and the unprecedented rise in the number of wealthy individuals in China travelling internationally is driving this growth, coupled with continued government support to drive worldwide market share through airport expansions catering to this seemingly most capitalist of travel modes.

BUY OR CHARTER: WHY NOT DO BOTH? If tapping the flaps on the airport apron is not within your budget or indeed expertise, you can always go the charter route.

Indeed, you choose the route, departure time and amenities on board that suit your own requirements, flying direct on your own schedule and destination. Many private jet owners optimise their aircraft using reputable charter management companies that recuperate potential cost of ownership losses, when the plane would otherwise lie idle between flights, by chartering to a burgeoning business and leisure class of traveller.

Business jet charters are seeing phenomenal growth as global economies recover. Corporate business is becoming more

relationship based, and the cost of utilising a private jet as a genuine expense is becoming commensurate with executive commercial travel. No longer a luxury ticket, chartering a private jet furnishes executives with time, thus enhancing performance and productivity, and in turn, becoming more acceptable to boardroom financial controllers.

What you might lose out on air miles, you may gain on the commissions and transactions that you make with the time saved being put to more profitable and constructive pursuits rather than being stuck in an airport or wasting time changing planes. In the grand time scheme of things within this 24-hour mobile world, the ability to expeditiously mobilise can clinch a deal ahead of rivals. Being in constant contact when on the move provides the f lex ibilit y to anticipate and react to any market change on the way to a meeting, and the return trip can accommodate a brief celebration of your success and a perfect environment to line up the next big deal.

The addition of the Gulfstream G650 aircraft type into the Metrojet portfolio is certainly a perfect fit to its established fleet of over 30 long-range aircraft. Aircraft Management is one of the Company’s core businesses; the entire fleet of jets are owned privately and managed by Metrojet. Asia is certainly an efficient hub for business aviation; the demands in the region are increasing, and with a more solid infrastructure in place, the industry is set to take off to greater heights.

“China is definitely a growing market for us,” says Björn Näf, Chief Executive Officer at Metrojet. “Our initiation to establish a joint venture in Zhuhai for maintenance is a perfect example to demonstrate our commitment to developing our business in China.”

According to Näf, chartering for both business and leisure purposes is quite even with short haul destinations such as Singapore and Malaysia, and long haul destinations such as New York and Paris being the most popular.

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GULFSTREAM G650 Sometimes size does matter, but in business it is duration and longevity that are the most requisite attributes demanded of a business jet. The Gulfstream G650 offers all three. Powered by two of the new Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, it offers the longest range, fastest speed, largest cabin and the most advanced cockpit in the Gulfstream fleet.

The G650’s speed and range are just two of the performance capabilities that have helped make this aircraft the industry standard since it first flew in 2012. It can climb to a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet/15,545 metres, allowing it to avoid airline traffic congestion and adverse weather. This is important to the majority of Gulfstream customers (regardless of aircraft) who are public, private and Fortune 500 companies with a desire to move quickly and efficiently around the world to pursue their business interests.

And it does so in style. The G650 is extremely spacious, comfortable and well appointed. Inside the interior is light and bright thanks to the many panoramic windows, the largest on any business jet. It is also extremely quiet.

The aircraft has the largest purpose-built business jet cabin with a number of amenities to make life on board comfortable and productive, including wider seats and more aisle room. The low cabin pressure improves comfort and reduces fatigue on long-haul flights. In addition, passengers enjoy the cutting-edge Gulfstream Cabin Management System that allows them to control the cabin entertainment, temperature, window shades and lighting with their own personal electronic devices.

LONGER RANGE: FLYING FASTER Gulfstream takes a team approach to aircraft development.

This team includes industrial designers and engineers including an Advanced Technology Customer Advisory Team. They all contributed to the design and development of the G650, ensuring that the aircraft would fly farther and faster than any other business jet on the market and ultimately define a new market segment. The G650 is unquestionably a vital business tool that allows customers to be as productive as possible.

It was technically challenging to design an aircraft that could fly long range at nine-tenths of the speed of sound. As a result, the G650 engineers had to consider shock waves and compressibility effects around the wing, tail and engines. These not only affect performance and internal cabin noise, but can be audible on the

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ground contrary to strict aviation rules, and more importantly, affect the integrity of the aircraft. In addition to making the aircraft fly fast, the engineers had to make sure that the G650 also had good low-speed performance for take-off and landing.

To meet the stringent range, speed and take-off requirements of the G650, they really had to look at an integrated solution that impacted the design of the entire aircraft.

Pilots too can enjoy flying the G650 as it features the most technologically advanced PlaneView II cockpit and uses the Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System (EVS), the Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD) system and Head-Up Display (HUD).

At Mach 0.90, the G650 can carry eight passengers and four crew at 6,000 nm/11,112 km. At Mach 0.85, its range increases to 7,000 nm/12,964 km. That equates to Beijing to New York or London nonstop. The G650 also has a city-pair speed record for flying from Shanghai to New York in just 12 hours and 32 minutes. Because it flies farther faster than any other aircraft, it can go almost anywhere in the world non-stop.

Customers can enjoy a number of design options/configurations when purchasing a G650. They can choose from a variety of floor plans or tailor the interior layout to meet their needs. The G650 cabin includes 16 panoramic windows, a high-definition entertainment system and a fully equipped galley (complete with microwave, convection oven and refrigerator/freezer). There’s also an optional state room. When it comes to fabrics, leathers, marble and other furnishings, the selections are almost endless.

Gulfstream announced the arrival of its G650ER on May 19, 2014.

The aircraft earned Federal Aviation Administration certification in October 2014 and entered service in November 2014.

Aviation Week’s resident Test Pilot, Fred George was the first journalist to fly this twin-engine, long-range business jet and he described it as follows: “It’s a pilot’s airplane. The G650ER feels so natural in your hands, you might not know that it has fly-by-wire flight controls. Well balanced and agile when needed, it’s a spirited performer, able to climb directly up to the mid-forties and cruise at nine-tenths the speed of sound. Its Plane View II cockpit is unsurpassed for situational awareness. The G650ER is the biggest, quietest Gulfstream ever built. That clearly makes it the ultra-longrange business jet class champion!”

Welcome to the trendy skies!

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BEVERAGE

BLENDED TO

PERFECTION

by James Yip / Images: Chivas

There’s more that goes into making a premium whisky than meets the eye. In fact, it’s a full time job for Chivas Regal Master Blender, Colin Scott, who has dedicated nearly 30 years to being a custodian of the signature Chivas Regal style.

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A

Master Blender’s job is creative, artistic and technical, all at the same time, explains Master Blender for Chivas Regal, Colin Scott. Scott has had a lifelong love affair with whisky, thanks to his father who ran a distillery in Scotland.

“We are able to identify the characteristics of every whisky in the Chivas Regal inventory by nose, experience and memory. We also understand the complexities and differences of flavours that are the result of blending different whiskies together to create and perfect the final taste experience.”

Scott’s most recent masterpiece is Chivas Regal The Icon; the most premium and exclusive Chivas blend yet.

Deep and complex, The Icon is crafted from over 20 of Scotland’s rarest whiskies – including single malts from Strathisla, home of Chivas and the oldest operating distillery in the Scottish Highlands, as well as whiskies from distilleries that no longer exist.

“It is the responsibility of the Master Blender to make the final decision and you mustn’t be frightened by it,” Scott explains. “It’s either ‘yes’ or ‘no’; there’s no ‘maybe’ with Chivas Regal.”

Such rarity is the reason that The Icon is produced in such limited quantities each year – in Hong Kong alone, only 10 bottles have been made available so far.

Such rarity also calls for a dignified exterior, and Chivas Regal spared no expense with the sparkling emerald-tinted bottle that houses The Icon. Inspired by the original Chivas Regal bottle, each bottle is handmade by master craftsmen at Dartington Crystal in Devon, UK, before being etched with unmatched precision and dressed with finely crafted metalwork.

On the topper that seals the decanter is the Chivas Regal ‘luckenbooth’ – a marque inspired by the ancient Scottish symbol for brotherhood, which can be found on the gates of the brand’s Strathisla distillery.

J: What makes The Icon so unique and special?

Colin Scott: The Icon is the pinnacle of the Chivas Regal family, and is a superlative blend of many different malt and grain whiskies, which we have been carefully selected in the Chivas house style.

At the heart of the blend is of course, the classic single malt from the oldest continuously operating distillery in the Highlands, Strathisla. We also selected some of our very rare and old whiskies, and within that selection there are some from distilleries that will never distil their fine spirit again. Therefore, when you taste The

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Icon, in every mouthful you will taste little nuggets of flavour from these lost distilleries that you will never taste again – this makes it truly unique.

J: How did you select some of the whiskies – including some that aren’t even in production anymore – to create The Icon?

CS: At Chivas Brothers, there has always been a tradition of having an inventory of aged whiskies, and today we have over six million casks quietly maturing in our warehouses in Scotland.

From this incredible stock, our inventory team advised us of all the casks of whiskies, both malt and grain, that were available, so that we could then select exactly the ones required to create the sumptuous Icon blend. The selection is all about the many complex flavours in each whisky, and the art of blending brings them all together, in the Chivas house style.

J: Do you have a certain philosophy when it comes to blending whisky?

CS: At Chivas Brothers, when I started working in blending, it was imperative to know and understand all the traditions and house style that is unique to, and is what makes Chivas Regal.

These traditions have been passed down over the generations from Master Blender to Master Blender, and it is important that we still uphold them today. Most importantly, it is our complete responsibility to ensure year on year, that Chivas Regal will always be of the same high quality and consistent character.

J: What should budding connoisseurs – and there are many these days – look for in a whisky?

CS: A single malt Scotch whisky is the product from just one distillery, whereas a blended Scotch whisky is when both malt and grain whiskies are brought together to create the final consistent blend.

Both single malts and blended whiskies present an amazing range of different taste profiles - I like to compare the taste of a single malt to the sound of an individual instrument, and blended whiskies to the sound of an orchestra. Single malt is like the harmonious and beautiful music of one single instrument, and the Master Distiller is the musician playing that one instrument. A blended whisky is like the sound of an orchestra where many instruments play together, and the Master Blender is the conductor.

Therefore, once they have found the flavours they like in a whisky, then that is the one to drink and share with friends.

GOURMET

UNEARTHING ALBA

by John Montserrat / Images: Marquis

White truffles of Alba, also known as ‘Alba Madonna’ are not the most attractive looking culinary ingredient. They are after all a fungus, albeit one that can, on their best days, fetch more than their weight in gold.

O

ne of the rarest and most e x p e n s i ve f o o d s i n t he world, truff les only grow underground in the roots of specific trees, namely oak, beech, hazel and chestnut. A close symbiotic relationship between truff les and the roots within which they grow is what gives the former that rich, earthy flavour gastronomes just can’t get enough of.

During t he ha r vest period from September to December, truffle foragers or trifolau set out each misty Piedmont morning with female pigs – truff les contain a compound similar to the sex pheromone in boar saliva, to which the female is attracted – or more recently, specially trained dogs, to hunt for the elusive trifola d’Alba or white truffle.

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The world of the trifolau is an ancient, secretive and highly competitive one, and prime truffle locations are closely guarded secrets passed down like treasured family heirlooms from one generation to the next.

Truff les have also been found in Slovenia and Croatia, certain US States, the Middle East and North Africa. More recently, truffles found in both Australia and New Zealand have gained precedence amongst world-class chefs. But the best truffles have been known to grow in certain regions of France and Italy, including the famed white Alba truffle which hails from Italy’s Piedmont region.

T he w h it e t r u f f le s of A lb a a re considered the finest in the world and are valued for their powerfully earthy, yet extraordinarily delicate aroma. The allure

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lies in the truffle’s combination of flavour and fable. With little to no nutritional value, never served on their own, they are a whisper of exclusive elegance, elevating the simplest of dishes to a new level of sophistication.

“Scrambled eggs with truff les. Whipped potatoes and truffles. Artichokes and truffles. Topinambours (Jerusalem artichoke) and truffles,” states Umberto Bombana in Krug’s ‘The Hunter and the Hunted’, an elegant tome dedicated to this glorious and coveted ingredient. “But for me, the best balance is with eggs. For example, eggs en cocotte with truffles. It is light, creamy and the flavour doesn’t overwhelm the truffles. So when I pair truffles and eggs, the full personality of the truffle just explodes. Of course, I do all the classic dishes as well: there is the homemade pasta with white truffle, risotto with truffle, beef tenderloin ‘Rossini’ style with a little foie gras… but simplicity is the best,” Chef and owner of 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong and Shanghai, the dignified ‘King of Truffles’ was awarded Worldwide Ambassador of the White Truffle in 2006 by the Piedmontese regional Enoteca Cavour in Italy.

“Truffles are wonders of nature, the true diamonds of the food chain,” says revered French chef Daniel Boulud, owner of celebrated three-Michelin star restaurant Daniel in New York where, during white truffle season, Boulud’s suppliers give him the culinary honour of first pick. “Or perhaps they let us think we do; every chef in New York hopes to be the first.”

In 2007, Boulud became the proud owner of a monstrous white truffle from Alba, weighing in at almost two pounds. “It looked like a prehistoric rock the size of a child’s head,” proclaims the master chef.

Boulud enjoys truffles raw or cooked. “My ultimate favourite though is to crush the inside of a baked potato with truffle

pieces, butter and salt and then cover the top with a mountain of paper-thin sliced truffles.”

But such an indulgence comes at a very luxurious price and the cream of the crop commands US$6,000 to $10,000 per pound. When white truffle season comes around every November and December, well-heeled gastronomes gather to bid for some of Italy’s largest and expensive white truffles at auctions not dissimilar to those for fine art and other rarities. In 2007, casino tycoon Stanley Ho paid a record US$330,000 for the largest Alba white truffle found in half a century, weighing an impressive 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilos), outbidding British artist Damien Hirst and Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed of Abu Dhabi for the prize. In November 2010, Ho matched his own record once again paying US$330,000 for a pair of white truffles including one weighing nearly 2.2 pounds (1 kilo). The white Alba truffle costs as much as it does because production is highly limited and fluctuations in weather conditions can result in lean crops.

But despite the hefty price tag, the demand for white truffle continues to outweigh supply and there are fewer of them, and of lesser quality every year. Tree clearance has led to France’s production plummeting from 1,600 tons a year to about 40 tons in the last 100 years.

Since the 17th Century, farmers and scientists have been testing ways to farm truffles, but to no avail. Truffles are simply too difficult, if not impossible, to cultivate, making them extremely precious, and increasingly more so over time.

In a world where essentially everything is available to everybody at any given time, the strict seasonality, scarcity and reverence is what makes the white truffle so luminous and compelling, a kind of final frontier for discerning gourmands.

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DRIVING RANGE

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

by Don Armitage / Images: Aston Martin

Aston Martin pulled the wraps off the new Vantage for the first time in Hong Kong, providing onlookers with a first glimpse of the British marque’s latest sporting icon.

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M

aking its global debut in Hong Kong in February 2018, the spectacular new Aston Martin Vantage demands a bold and distinctive design language.

Pure, sculptural forms create an athletic, predatory stance, while the minimal front and rear overhangs, muscular flanks and broad haunches express the agility and dynamism inherent within the car. New head and tail lights form dramatic new signatures giving the Vantage unmistakable road presence and contribute to a strong and individual identity within the growing Aston Martin model range.

On the inside, the new Vantage rejects long, fluid curves in favour of sharp, focused lines, denoting the more aggressive nature of the car. A high waist interior theme and lower driving position creates a more immersive driving experience, and contributes to significant gains in occupant space and headroom.

Aerodynamic performance was central to the Vantage design concept: the front splitter directs airflow underneath the car, where a system of fences channels cooling air where it is needed, and also ensures that the rear diffuser is fed with clean airflow.

The design of the diffuser creates an area of low pressure air, while simultaneously preventing turbulence generated by the rear wheels from disrupting the flow of air exiting centrally from beneath the rear of the car.

At he heart of the Vantage is Aston Martin’s potent new alloy, 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. Set low and as far back in the chassis as possible for optimal centre-of-gravity and perfect 50:50 weight distribution, this high performance, high efficiency engine returns a CO2 figure of *245g/km, yet develops 510PS at 6000rpm and 685Nm from 2000-5000rpm.

With a dry weight of 1530kg, this gives the Vantage formidable power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios - something vividly demonstrated whenever the throttle is squeezed. Detailed tuning of the induction, exhaust and engine management systems has given the Vantage a truly intoxicating character and soundtrack.

The Vantage deploys its power and torque to the rear wheels via a rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.

Capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 195mph, it employs a suite of integrated electronic systems to offer maximum control and driver enjoyment.

The new Vantage’s Electronic Rear Differential (E-Diff ) heralds an unprecedented technological upgrade as it analyses and understands the car’s behaviour, and reacts accordingly to direct engine power to the relevant wheel - from fully open to 100 percent locked in a matter of milliseconds.

Being an Aston Martin, the new Vantage naturally features exceptional standard equipment versatility thanks to the in-car entertainment system. Controlled and viewed via a centrally mounted 8-inch LCD screen, it comprises the Aston Martin Audio System, Bluetooth® audio and phone streaming, iPod®, iPhone® and USB playback along an integrated satellite navigation system.

“Vantage is the single most successful model in Aston Martin’s history. I’m enormously excited by what we’ve created, a new Vantage that’s more explicit in looks and intent, wrapping heart-pounding performance and dazzling dynamics into an everyday usable package,” notes Aston Martin President & CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer. “A true sports car with a sharper look and a keener dynamic edge, the new Vantage is the pure driving machine that enthusiasts have been waiting for.”

“I must say the newest Vantage will take your breath away.

Apart from its world-renowned design, its heart beats with a high powered 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 314kph,” adds Aston Martin Hong Kong Managing Director, Mr Gordon. “Like they said, the Beautiful won’t be tamed…”

T he ne w Va nt a ge is now on sa le a nd pric ed f rom HK$2,480,000* upwards in Hong Kong. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the third quarter of 2018.

* Estimated figures

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FASHION

WEAR TO WIN Images: Bunker Mentality / Chervò

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PREVIOUS PAGE: Full look outfits 14 & 17 from Bunker Mentality / THIS PAGE: Chervo XAREN womens glove collection with red ALMIRA polo / OPPOSITE PAGE: Outfit no. 12 from Bunker Mentality

WOMAN: Chervo white WINCET cap, JODIE dress in red / MAN: Chervo SIFONI pant in blue, white AVVOCATO polo with blue trim

NINETEENTH

GET A

GRIP

by The Editors / Image: AFP/Getty Images

When watching Ryo Ishikawa grip his golf club, you might notice that something seems odd, but you may have trouble putting your finger on it, so to speak.

I

t’s not a flaw in the young Japanese star’s technique, it’s more like a quirk. His left finger is extended, rather than wrapped flush to the right hand as it pokes through the pinky and ring fingers.

It’s no big deal really. If you share Ishikawa’s interlocking grip style however, you might want to check your own left forefinger. If it’s too relaxed, you could lose control of the club at the top of the backswing. Clearly, Ishikawa does not.

Speaking of control, Ishikawa likes to grip down about an inch for most full shots, joining Rickie Fowler among the handful of pros who do so. Gripping down (aka choking up) effectively shortens the club and enhances control. You may 78 HK GOLFER | JAN 2019

sacrifice a little distance in the process, but not necessarily.

Better clubhead control often leads to better ballstriking, which generates longer shots.

Ishikawa’s slightly strong grip – left hand cocked just a hair to his right – is an excellent model for amateur golfers: strong enough to promote a full release and generate some extra power, but not so strong as to cause big hooks.

Ishikawa’s grip on the putter is also a good one. His hands are placed neutrally on the handle and stationed a few inches ahead of the ball, leaning the shaft toward the target. His grip pressure is light, his stroke steady as a metronome…

THE LEGACY ON DISPLAY Your sense of self. It deserves to be challenged, pushed to its limits, exalted in revelry. When you’re in command of the thoroughbred power of the Lamborghini Aventador S Coupé, every driving experience will push you to surpass your current being to reach a superior version of yourself.

And to get there, you must unleash your ego.

Encounter the Aventador S Coupé on the Lamborghini stage during The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Or contact your preferred Authorized Lamborghini Dealer to reserve a private drive experience at The Quail Lodge during Monterey Car Week.

lamborghini.com LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR S COUPÉ