Post on 04-Apr-2016
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gainful employment to about 10,000 people. Her main business is in
banking and she is widely recognized as being amongst the wealthiest
people in Vietnam.
56 APGS 2014 Set To Show New Ways To Keep Golf Vibrant And Growing!Golf in the developed world is said to be in the doldrums with hardly any
signs of change or improvement. While the developed world struggles with
the untold challenges that it faces, Asia is bucking the trend and showing
tangible signs of hope and growth for the game of golf. The atmosphere
and mood at the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit will be one of promise and
hope based on sound business foundations.
60 Club Industry Poised For Education Boost! The CMAA-Asia Pacific Pte Ltd’s primary mission is to provide holistic
ISS
UE
169OCTOBER 2014
SPECIAL FEATURES
COVE
R S
TORY
12The Hills Are Alive If US golf is in the rough and the sport in the UK is trapped in a bunker, then
Asian golf appears to be cruising along just fine, nestled safely in the middle
of the fairway. But brothers Ken and Tenniel Chu are doing even better –
they have reached the green on the monster par-five in two and are staring
at a very makeable eagle putt. In short, they are leading the field.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS
24 Martin Kaymer – Back From Golf's Wilderness!A quick introduction to Martin Kaymer, the best golfer from Germany
since Bernhard Langer. A winner of two major championships and a
one-time number one ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking
for eight weeks in 2011.
28 PING's Point Of View: Turbulators: The Future Of FastPING’s G30 series has created tremendous reaction amongst golfers
on a global scale. Besides being revolutionary in technology, the new
generation of clubs have also been doing very well on Tour. The G30
series places emphasis on significantly increasing ball velocity and
accuracy through a combination of advanced aerodynamics, plus new
face designs and materials. PING’s John K. Solheim discusses how the
G30 series represents the “future of fast” in club technology.
46 Say Hello To The "Gator Chomp"!Forget about Tiger Wood’s adrenaline-charged fist pumps! The new way
to gesticulate the ecstasy of victory is to show the “gator chomp” which
is how Billy Horschel announced to the world that he whipped world
number one Rory McIlroy to bag the US$10 million FedEx Cup play-off.
50 Australian Initiative To Grow The GameAustralia’s Golf Industry Central has launched a new initiative called
Grow The Game Central that aims to create a world-wide community
of like-minded people banding together to encourage people of
all ages and backgrounds to play the game of golf or increase their
participation.
52 Asia's Most Powerful WomanShe is one of the most dynamic women business entrepreneurs in
Vietnam. Through her diversified business interests, she provides
3432 Exotics Get Even Better!If you have not laid your hands on clubs that carry the “Exotics” branding
from Tour Edge, you should make an effort to do so. Why? Well, the simple
answer is that “Exotics” are really kickass good – that’s why!
34 The Banzai Boys Are Back!Top quality products. Very tradition bound. Conservative. All of these
descriptions are a perfect fit for Mizuno Golf. In the years that Asian Golf
has covered this venerable Japanese equipment manufacturer, it has
never known the company to step out of its conservative mould. But
all this has suddenly changed and taken on a whole new complexion!
Mizuno Golf has smashed tradition and is poised to boldly
position itself as a manufacturer who dares to push
innovation beyond known industry boundaries. 2015
will see the Japanese manufacturer hit the fairways
with an arsenal of products that is guaranteed to
draw the attention of golfers everywhere!
40 Srixon Rolls Out Some "Heavy Metal"!The pace of new product launches which normally hits
REGULARS6 Asian Golf Editorial Team 8 Shared Thoughts From Publisher 72 Next Issue
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
66 Black Hat Tips: Practice Using A Wall "Time To Go A-Wall!"Greetings from Thailand!
This is a very good tip that
my father taught me when
I was real young because
the weather in Illinois is not
always sunny. And, you
can practically find a big
“wall” space anywhere if
you really look for it.
66
42
68
68 Pro Tour Golf College: How Do You Know If You Are a Good Enough Golfer to Go to Tour School?It is always inspiring to see motivated and serious golfers wanting to
achieve their big aim in life playing golf successfully on a pro tour, because
many of them have grown up watching their golf stars on TV hitting
winning shots to win the big cheques, and achieve a level of golfing glory,
and they want some of the same.
programmes that are customized to advance the profession of
club management within the Asia Pacific region by fulfilling the
educational and related needs of its members.
62 Father & Son Golf Tournament: Vietnam Gets Ready For A Family Shoot-Out!The Fathers and Sons golf tournament concept has been around for
some time and perhaps the best known event in this tournament
genre is the Annual U.S. National Father and Son Team classic. This
three-day family event has become the largest father-son golf
event in the world. Last year’s 54-hole competition drew over 900
players from 46 states and 7 foreign countries - 24 flights in all.
The tournament’s motto is: Any man can be a Father but it takes
someone special to be a dad. Asia now has its own Father and Son
tournament which will be held in Vietnam.
6246
a frenetic pace at this time of the year, seems
a little subdued. This is probably due to the
gloomy conditions in major markets like North
America. However, one brand that seems to be
bucking the trend is the Japanese giant Srixon.
42 New Products An introduction to a collection of some
of the latest golf products available
throughout the region.
MIKE SEBASTIANChief Executive Officer/Managing Editor
[ mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]
ANGELA RAYMONDPresident [ angela@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]
RAQUEL M. ARCEGAArt Director & Ezine Development[ raquel@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]
WAYNE LWEEVideo Editor/Streaming services[ wayne@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]
MYRA PARASAccounts Executive
[ myra@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]
LAWRENCE YOUNGEditor (New Equipment)
[ lawrence@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]
ALICE HOMarketing Executive
[ alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]
SAIFUL SUFIANArt Director
[ sufian@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]
Photographers GETTY IMAGES
Contributing Professionals IMG ACADEMY, TONY MEECHAI, CHRIS SMEAL, DAVID MILNE & LAWRIE
MONTAGUE (PRO TOUR GOLF COLLEGE), NICK RANDALL, STEVEN GIULIANO
Correspondents ROBIN BARWICK (EUROPE), RISHI NARAIN (INDIA)
Contributing Editors TERRY ANTON, ALAN CAMPBELL, KATHERINE ROBERTS, AAERISHNA SHAHSTHY
Printer SPECTRUM ZONE INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD
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06 07 ASIAN GOLF
SHARED THOUGHTS From The Publisher
8 9 ASIAN GOLF
Finally, golfers can expect to see skirts fluttering around the hallowed hall-
ways of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
In an historic announcement, the staid and conservative custodian of
the game of golf has relented to allow members of the fairer sex to mingle
with men in what is believed to be the bastion of power in golf. This has
been a very, very long time coming and whatever one thinks, this is a good move!
Peter Dawson, the out-going secretary of the R&A said that the club had voted
overwhelmingly in favour of welcoming women members – some 85% of its members
globally voted for women to be allowed into the ranks.
One wonders how much of a factor wives of the members who voted in favour of
this decision caused the swing?
Asian Golf salutes the R&A for discarding its steadfast “ancient outlook” towards
women and to back down from its resolute stand against women members since
1754. We see this as being more than yet another wall of discrimination being dragged
down by rapidly changing times. We recognize this initiative as a bold move which
hopefully will send positive signals to an industry that is currently ailing.
In an apparent move to show how the R&A is trying to make up for lost time,
Dawson said, “The membership has also acted to fast-track a significant initial number
of women to become members in the coming months”.
Jolly good show gentlemen or should we say, “darn it, you took long enough guys!”
Footnote: Wonder if a name change can be considered as part of this change
process? Just consider this – “Royal” smacks of elitism while “Ancient” speaks for
itself. How about a vote on the name? Peter Dawson
AsiAn Golf – A Product of disruPtive innovAtionPushing The Boundaries Of Change Beyond The Limit! A member of the Asia Pacific Golf Group
Print Digital On-line Apps Video Streaming Conferences Education
It’s quite an achievement to have
landed exclusive interviews with
the men and women who are at
the pinnacle of the golf industry
today.
The movers and shakers of golf
who have spoken to Asian Golf
include Callaway Golf’s CEO Chip
Brewer, PING’s Chairman, John
Solheim Sr.; Bob Philion, President
of Cobra Puma Golf; Cindy
Davis, President of Nike Golf; Bob
Bettinardi President of Bettinardi
Putters and Tim Clarke, President of
Wilson Golf.
Powerful men and women who
have shared with us their thoughts,
views and perspectives of the
state of golf today. These are the
people who are moulding the
future of golf and no one can read
the pulse of the industry better
than these industry captains.
Only Asian Golf has been able to
bring you this treat – yet another
measure of our standing in the
global golf industry.
Look Who Is Talking To Us!
Only The Captains Of The Golf Industry – That’s Who!
www.asiapacificgolfgroup.comNo Wonder Golf’s Industry Captains Talk To Us!
John SolheimBob Bettinardi
Tim Clarke
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12 13 ASIAN GOLF
COVER STORY Mission Hills
If US golf is in the rough and the sport in the UK is trapped in a bunker, then
By Viv Best
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 201
Artist Impression Shenzhen Centreville - Mission Hills Mall
14 15 ASIAN GOLF
COVER STORY Mission Hills
While the global game
struggles with multiple
challenges – reduced par-
ticipation levels, course
closures and competition
from other sports that
are less expensive, more
inclusive and quicker to
complete – the Chus’ two
giant Mission Hills resorts
in China are bucking the trend.
Not only are their courses staying busy, but both venues are
undergoing massive commercial developments that propel Mission
Hills into the heady worlds of retail, tourism and entertainment and
don’t so much underscore the company’s “Golf and More” philosophy
as brand it in huge capital letters with several exclamation marks at
the end.
Ken Chu, Chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group, acknowl-
edges they have invested heavily but is typically bullish about the
future. “No pain, no gain,” he says simply. “Golf is still in its infancy in
China, but we see Mission Hills as taking the lead role and promoting
a new lifestyle, writing the rules and methodology for golf and leisure
development. We are offering something for everyone. You don’t
have to be a golfer to visit Mission Hills. If one member of the family
chooses to go for a round, other members can find plenty of alterna-
tive things to do.”
China’s booming middle class – with its desire to travel, spend and
enjoy new-found leisure time – is a key factor in the Chairman’s opti-
mism. “Look at domestic tourism,” he says. “Chinese make three billion
journeys annually, spending US$235 billion as they do. By 2020 it will
be six billion journeys with US$470 billion expenditure. There are now
300 million middle class Chinese, by 2020 this will be 600 million. This
means 40 per cent of the population will be middle class.” Impres-
sive numbers that include millions of potential new golfers and their
families – and Mission Hills aims to be the venue of choice.
Mission Hills Mall Night View
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
To this end, it is already well equipped. Mission Hills Shen-
zhen-Dongguan, just north of the border with Hong Kong, is
famously the biggest golf facility in the world, with a dozen 18-
hole courses – all designed by legends of the game, including
Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Ernie Els and Sir Nick Faldo.
The sister complex, Mission Hills Haikou, is located on
Hainan, China’s only tropical island. With 10 courses, it is the
largest public golf facility in the world and welcomes players of
all abilities and, crucially, income levels. “We ensure a round at
Haikou is affordable. Golf is no longer a rich man’s sport,” says
Ken emphatically. The Haikou resort also boasts the world’s
largest spa and mineral springs, covering an area of 176,284
square metres. The spa includes 90 treatment facilities and is
surrounded by 168 hot and cold springs plus an aquatic theme
park with two man-made volcanoes, a swimming pool and a
man-made beach.
But it is what the Chu brothers are adding to these two
resorts that is truly mind-boggling and gives the naysayers in
world golf a lesson in ambition and vision.
On the original Mission Hills site, construction work is
Artist Impression Mission Hills Mall – Interior
16 17 ASIAN GOLF
COVER STORY Mission Hills
nearly complete on Mission Hills Centreville Shenzhen,
a 500,000-sqm “HOPSCA” – Hotel, Office, Parks, Shop-
ping facilities, Convention centers and Apartments –
development featuring China’s first Hard Rock Hotel and
the lavishly-designed MH Shopping Mall.
Nearby, after years of planning and research,
together with considerable investment in procuring
historic and relevant golfing artifacts from around the
world, the finishing touches are being applied to the
Dr. David Chu Golf Museum. This is sited in the former
office building of the late Dr. David Chu – Ken and
Tenniel’s father – fondly remembered as the Founder
and Chairman of Mission Hills Group and the visionary
known as “The Father of Golf in China”. It will be the first
golf museum in China and, in keeping with Dr. Chu’s
ideals, admission will be free to all.
Down in Haikou, the scale of construction is even
bigger. In June, the curtain was raised on a giant new
tourist attraction, Movie Town, a three-way collabora-
tion between Mission Hills, mainland film industry icon
Feng Xiaogang – the only Chinese director to have his
star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame – and the country’s
biggest movie producers, Huayi Brothers Media.
one square kilometre and involves total investment of
US$300 million. It includes vintage street settings from
Feng’s most famous movies, four huge state-of-the-art
film studios, an array of shopping and dining options
and countless other entertainment and leisure features.
It is expected to attract five million visitors per year.
Next door, the clocking is ticking towards the
opening of another mammoth commercial develop-
ment, Centreville Haikou, a business, entertainment and
leisure hub that comes complete with duty-free shop-
We ensure a round at
Haikou is affor-dable. Golf is no longer a rich man’s sport.” – Ken Chu
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
Mission Hills Mall – Exterior
Artist Impression Haikou LanKwaiFong
18 19 ASIAN GOLF
COVER STORY Mission Hills
ping mall, multiplex cinema, ice skating rink, two residential areas
and three hotels – a Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance and another Hard
Rock Hotel. The jewel in the crown of this ambitious project is Mis-
entertainment, cultural and dining attractions.
more Chinese students to gain Western-standard
Tenniel, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills
Asia in general, and Mission Hills in particular, are
showing old-school markets a bold new golfing
-
attitude to the game and we can adapt more
-
golf to create integrated resorts, we are far re-
Haikou Hotel
Yao Ming
Kenny G
Jessica Alba
Chris Evans
Golf is still in its infancy in China, but we see Mission Hills as taking the lead role and promoting a new lifestyle, writing the
rules and methodology for golf and leisure development. We are offering something for everyone. You don’t have to be a golfer to visit Mission Hills. If one member of the family chooses to go for a round, other members can find plenty of alternative things to do.” – Ken Chu
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
Movie Town
The Chus’ expansive vision is in stark contrast to the grim news
coming out of golf’s traditional heartlands. A Bloomberg report in
May this year stated: “Once the go-to activity for corporate bonding,
[US golf ] is suffering from an exodus of players, a lack of interest
among millennials and the mass closure of courses.”
The figures quoted in the report were alarming. About 400,000
players in the US left the sport last year, according to the National
Golf Foundation. While almost 260,000 women took up golf, some
650,000 men quit. The biggest decline was among the younger
generation, with 200,000 players under 35 abandoning the game.
Only 14 new courses were built in the US last year, while almost 160
shut down – making it the eighth straight year that more courses
closed than opened.
The news is not much better across the Atlantic. A KPMG report
entitled “Golf Participation in Europe 2013” revealed that the
number of junior golfers in the continent’s largest markets – the UK,
Ireland, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands – dropped by 7,760
last year.
The report added: “While it is encouraging that golf participa-
tion is increasing in several emerging markets, such as Lithuania,
Bulgaria or Serbia, more noteworthy and alarming is that member-
ship levels in the UK and Ireland have been continuously falling
since 2007. Considering this impact in absolute numbers over
the past five to six years, approximately 228,000 players have not
extended their membership.”
Ken and Tenniel Chu have no time for such gloom. Amid their
myriad construction projects – and we should not forget about the
three new clubs Mission Hills is planning at other locations in China
– they are also busy preparing for the third edition of their World
Celebrity Pro-Am in Haikou on 24-26 October. The event, pairing 24
stars from entertainment and sports with professional golfers, fits
in perfectly with their “Golf and More” philosophy. You might not
normally watch golf, but you would watch Nicole Kidman, Morgan
Freeman, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Kenny G or Yao Ming – to
name just a few of the contestants – play the sport.
“The World Celebrity Pro-am is a crossover between pro and
amateur, male and female players, golf pros and celebrities from
sports and entertainment,” confirms Ken. “The aim of this tourna-
ment is to bring together all the stars and celebrities to popularize
and promote the development of golf in China.”
It is clearly a winning formula, since fans flocked to watch
20 21 ASIAN GOLF
COVER STORY Mission Hills
previous editions of the event featuring the likes of Hugh Grant,
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Matthew McConaughey and Adrien Brody.
Last time the tournament was held, it garnered 300 hours total
TV broadcast in China and attracted coverage in 125 newspapers
across the country.
Of course, watching the World Celebrity Pro-Am on TV is one
thing, actually visiting Mission Hills is another entirely, but the
Chu brothers believe they have two factors weighing massively in
their favour. The first is tourism – not only domestic, but inbound.
Earlier this year, Mission Hills Haikou hosted the third annual Asia
Golf Tourism Convention, a wildly successful event that highlighted
China’s huge potential as a golfing destination for players from
other Asian countries and beyond.
Peter Walton, Chief Executive of the International Association
of Golf Tour Operators, was moved to comment: “Hainan was rela-
tively unknown to our golf tour operators so this convention was an
opportunity to put it on the map. Mission Hills Haikou, with its 10
golf courses, stands out as the flagship golf resort of Hainan Island
and is, for me, the most spectacular golf and spa resort in the world.
Delegates were able to play three of the 10 courses and 160 of them
visited other courses on the island for an additional three days, so
we are fairly certain that international golf holiday sales to Hainan
will more than double over the coming 18 months.”
The Chu brothers’ second ace up their sleeve is junior golf. Talk
about investing in the future, Mission Hills runs the most compre-
hensive junior programmes of any golf club, anywhere. The club is
hosting a record 43 junior tournaments this year, including signa-
ture events supported by Sir Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus and Annika
Sörenstam. Indeed, the Chief Executive of the R&A, Peter Dawson,
recently went on record as saying: “Mission Hills, by far, is doing the
most for junior golf development in the world.” A big statement,
one backed up by the fact that Mission Hills allows all golfers aged
16 and under to play free of charge on three of its 22 courses all
year round.
While the numbers are impressive and the future is bright, the
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
siblings running Mission Hills remain thoroughly grounded and
aware of their responsibilities. Ken Chu quotes the “three Ps” as
he outlines the values to which they adhere. “People – meaning
we cannot be the sole winner, it must be all win, and this includes
Mission Hills, our customers, the Government and the country,” he
explains. “Profit – we cannot be a liability and, while we need to be
profitable, so does the local community. And planet, we must think
about the environment and promote sustainable tourism.”
The latter point is extremely important to the Chus. Of the
countless awards Mission Hills has collected in the past two de-
cades, the environmental ones give them particular satisfaction. Re-
use of wastewater, energy saving, air quality monitoring, ecosystem
protection, biodiversity conservation, tree planting and eco trails
are all high on the agenda.
“Profit is not the only ingredient for success,” insists Ken. “Inves-
tors are concerned about short-term earnings but our goal is not to
please investors, it is to change perceptions about leisure tourism.
You must protect the environment and then grow the economy.”
Last year, an independent market research report, “Growing Golf
in the UK”, concluded that 8.5 million people in that country were
keen to take up the sport and that over half of these were in the
15-39 age brackets. The report also stated exactly what would make
this happen – friendly, flexible and family oriented golf clubs. Like
Mission Hills.
Ken and Tenniel Chu, the brothers with the “Golf and More”
approach, have opened their doors and welcomed in men, women
and children – whether they be golfers or not – from all walks of life.
This is the future of golf.
Ken & Tenniel Chu
THE GLOBAL LABORATORY FOR CHANGE.
SINGAPOREHelping The Golf Industry TO Help Itself To Deliver The Best!
On-line registration IS OPEN NOW! VISIT WWW.GOLFCONFERENCE.ORG
Singapore, one of the most dynamic and forward thinking countries in the world will be the staging point for the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit. Innovation and cutting edge thinking will lead the thrust of the Summit and it will be powered by a theme that calls for a “New Drive. New Energy. A Revitalised Industry!”
Some of the most innovative minds in golf will be descending on Singapore to share their revolutionary thoughts on the future of the game at the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit.
APGS 2014 is the perfect platform for this exciting discourse on how golf should be managed in the rapidly changing growth dynamics of the region.
Singapore, the host nation for APGS 2014, a truly dynamic and forward thinking global hub is the perfect setting for the event’s theme which calls for a “New Drive. New Energy. A Revitalised Industry”.
APGS 2014 is the ideal event for like-minded executives from the golf club industry and golf trade to come together
and network for the common good of golf.
The venue for APGS 2014 is the spectacular Marina Bay Sands Resort, one of the true wonders of the modern world. To share in new knowledge and discover new ways to grow golf in Asia, there’s no better conference anywhere in the region than APGS 2014.
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24 25 ASIAN GOLF
SPECIAL FEATURE Martin Kaymer Q&A
Strange things seem to happen
to champion golfers. Some hit
the very pinnacle of success and
then drop right off the cliff and
disappear into golf oblivion. Then
there are others who just lose their hunger
to hold on to their winning streak. And then
there are those who tinker around with their
game only to bring about total failure.
One such champion is Martin Kaymer,
one of the best new talents to have emerged
on the global golfing scene. German by
nationality, Kaymer is an exciting player who
went on to ascend the Official World Golf
Rankings and hit the very top back in 2011.
Many felt that he was going to be dominant
at the top of the game for a long time to
come but instead, he slipped from the top
spot only after eight weeks and went on to
virtually disappear from the game.
The apparent cause for the slippage?
Well, you guessed it! Kaymer felt he needed
a swing change and this decision marked
a dismal end to his meteoric rise in world
golf. He became a forgotten champion. An
also ran. A name cast away into golf’s limbo,
perhaps never to return again.
But being German and imbued with
the national characteristics of that nation to
be the best of the best, Kaymer embarked
on a journey to return stronger, better and
determined to be ranked amongst the best
in the world again.
What he has achieved in 2014 stands
full testimony to Kaymer’s return to big
time golf. The guy’s back and has picked
up some impressive scalps along the way.
He signaled his thirst for victory when he
displayed his new game and power
when he romped home the winner
at The Players Championship in
May – the flagship event of the
PGA Tour. Barely a month later,
he stamped his supremacy
on the game when he led
wire to wire at the U.S. Open
to win by a thumping eight
strokes!
After a two year haitus,
the best that Germany has
to offer has again surfaced to
the very top echelons of golf. Martin
Kaymer is back!
Asian Golf met up with Kaymer and
conducted a wide-ranging discussion with
the come-back kid and asked him what
prompted the swing change when he was
already on a career high. Following are
excerpts from that discussion:
As a major winner at the 2010 PGA Championship, and as world number one in
2011, why did you want to change your game?
MARTIN KAYMER: The expectations
A quick introduction to Martin Kaymer, the best golfer from Germany since Bernhard Langer. A winner of two major championships and a one-time number one ranked
M A R T I N
changed
once I won
the PGA Champi-
onship. A few months
later I became number one
in the world, and all of a sud-
den I had won a major and reached
number one and it was a strange
feeling. They were career goals and I
had reached them at the age of 25.
It was a positive thing but it was not
that easy and I had to set myself new
goals. I was not really prepared.
Then at the Masters the spotlight
was on me but I missed the cut again.
I was in the car going back to Atlanta with
my coach [Gunther Kessler] and I was so
disappointed, and I said to him, ‘How can
I be number one in the world if I cannot
even hit a draw, and I cannot play that golf
course?’ Gunther responded, ‘Yeah’. He also
said that I can improve and become a more
complete player.
It was not that I changed my swing,
but I improved certain parts of my game.
I just wanted to play Augusta the way it is
supposed to be played, and to make it a bit
easier for me. Before, I always had to play
a long iron into the 10th green because I
could not hit my drive down the left side,
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
and it was impossible
for me to reach the green
on the par-five 13th in two
because I could not draw the
ball around that corner.
When did you feel your new and improved game was
complete?
MK: At the end of March I practiced with
my coach at Scottsdale. I hit five drives at
every hole: two draws, two fades and then
a straight one, and afterwards we sat down
and realised that I hardly missed any shots
out there. There were one or two, but there
was proof for me right there that I could hit
any shot I needed. It is just a matter of being
brave. Everyone can talk positively, and think
positively, but you have to put it into action,
and you can only really put that to the test in
tournaments. When you play the right shots
in tournaments, in difficult situations, that is
when the confidence develops, and you gain
from that immensely.
I knew in Scottsdale that everything was
there, and I knew it would just be a matter
of time.
Having won two out of the four biggest tournaments of 2014 so far, how
disappointed have you been with the results since US Open?
26 27 ASIAN GOLF
MK: No, not really. To play a tour event in
Cologne is always very difficult for me. It is
difficult to enjoy the event when everyone
makes so many demands of my time. In
France I played decent and I think I had a
top-10 finish there, or just outside, and then
at the British Open I was on the wrong side of
the draw for the first two rounds. I didn’t play
well enough to make up for the advantage
the golfers had on the other side of the draw.
Over the weekend I tried really hard to have a
good finish, but after I was not really able to
climb up the leaderboard on the Saturday, I
thought, okay, just enjoy the last round, enjoy
what I have achieved over the past couple of
months, and it is the best crowd at the British
Open, so I just enjoyed the occasion.
targets for the remainder of the season?
MK: The only target I have is to win the Ry-
der Cup. Obviously it would be nice if Paul
McGinley would consider Bernhard Langer
as a wildcard pick for the team. It would
be fantastic for me, it would be great for
German sports and it would be brilliant for
the European team. It would be very nice if
we can win the Ryder Cup again this year,
but in terms of goals beyond that, I just
hope I give myself a chance to win over the
next few weeks. They are all very big events,
and if I can win then the Race to Dubai and
FedEx Cup will take care of themselves.
Are you convinced Langer still has the game to compete in the Ryder Cup?
MK: Absolutely. There is no doubt in
my mind. I think Paul McGinley should sit
down with Bernhard and ask Bernhard
what he honestly thinks, because the way
I know Bernhard, if he has any doubts
about whether he is capable of taking
on the challenge, or if he did not feel 100
percent comfortable playing in the Ryder
Cup, he would say so. If I were McGinley I
would ask Bernhard if he wants to play at
Gleneagles or not because from my point
of view, Bernhard could only be a help to
the European team. I don’t really know
which other European players are just in
the team or just out, so it depends on that
as well, but if Bernhard wants to play for
the European team, I do not see any reason
why he should not.
It is a tricky decision for McGinley to
make, and it would be a brave decision to
pick Bernhard. Look at the World Cup when
Louis Van Gaal, the Dutch coach, brought
on a substitute goalkeeper just for the pen-
alties; that was a brave move and it turned
out well, so then it looked brilliant. I would
leave it up to Bernhard to decide whether
he wants to play in the Ryder Cup or not.
I have not spoken to Paul about it, but I
definitely think he should consider whether
Bernhard should be part of the team.
I guess it would be a dream come true for you to partner Bernhard in the Ryder Cup?
MK: Just imagine the first tee on the Friday
morning at Gleneagles, with Bernhard Langer
on the tee. I do not think it could get any
better for us.
Bernhard thinks your best is yet to come. What is your reaction to that?
MK: Bernhard and I have a lot of respect for
each other. It is difficult to find the words to
do justice to what Bernhard has achieved in
his career, and what he is still achieving today.
I certainly have a lot of respect for Bernhard,
and while there is a distance between us in
some ways we are still very close. I think it
can be difficult for a lot of people to get that
balance right, but I think Bernhard and I have
a good balance and that is very important.
You are in great shape physically. Can you give us a
MK: I go running three or four times a week,
and I go to the gym for about 45 minutes to
an hour about the same number of times
each week. I don’t do special golf exercises, I
just go with what I am comfortable with and I
listen to my body, so when I feel I need to do
more on my upper body I will, or on my lower
body. There are no secrets – I keep it very
straight forward. I have a fitness trainer who I
see when I am at home.
Is it a weight off your mind that you are virtually certain to play in the Ryder Cup this
year?
MK: No, not at all. I am just concentrating on
each tournament for next two months, until
we get to Gleneagles, and then it will all be
about the Ryder Cup. There are a lot of
important tournaments between now
and then.
You can’t really focus on what might
happen two steps ahead. In order to
get into the Ryder Cup team you need
to play well every single week. My
advice to the players who are not yet in the
team is to focus only on the day they are in
now. They can’t think about how they need
to do this, that and the other, or worry about
being overtaken in the ranking. You just need
to try your best and hope that it is enough.
If you get stressed about the Ryder Cup then
you will get distracted from the job of playing
well every day.
It is not an easy thing to do, but golfers
need to find their own way to achieve it. For
me that is the only way to become successful.
You cannot think too far ahead.
SPECIAL FEATURE Martin Kaymer Q&A
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
Everyone can talk positively, and think positively, but you
have to put it into action, and you can only really put that to the test in tournaments. When you play the right shots in tournaments, in diffi-cult situations, that is when the con-fidence develops, and you gain from that immensely.”
BY JOHN K. SOLHEIMPING VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING
28 29 ASIAN GOLF
EQUIPMENT FOCUS PING’s Point Of View
PING’s G30 series has created tremendous reaction amongst golfers on a global scale. Besides being revolutionary in technology, the new generation of clubs have also been doing very well on Tour. The G30 series
and accuracy through a combination of advanced aerodynamics, plus new face designs and materials. PING’s John K. Solheim discusses how the G30 series represents the “future of fast” in club technology.
w w w. p i n g . c o m
At PING, innovation means more than doing something
new or different; to us, true innovation takes technology
forward. We have long been a leader in this effort by engi-
neering products that deliver meaningful results through
a unique approach. An example is our new G30 driver,
already a big success on pro tours. In addition to our usual methods of
increasing distance by optimizing the Centre of Gravity (CG), and in-
creasing forgiveness by raising the Moment of Inertia (MOI), we’ve ad-
vanced driver head design. By integrating turbulators (raised ridges)
onto the crown of the G30 driver, we’ve reduced aerodynamic drag
through impact, which leads to faster clubhead speed and ball
velocity for greater distance. Wind-tunnel testing has substanti-
ated the turbulators’ effectiveness. Out on tour, the yardage
gains have been eye-opening, and players of all abilities are
likewise picking up speed and distance.
Tour-player validation has been swift, and PING pros
across the U.S. and Europe have seen immediate results
with the G30 driver. Kevin Sutherland recently recorded
the first 59 in Champions Tour history playing the driver.
Angel Cabrera won with the driver and a G30 3-wood
in their first week on the PGA Tour (the fairway woods
also have turbulators). With his pink G30 driver,
Bubba Watson, the longest hitter in the game,
unleashed a 424-yard drive at a tournament, at this
writing the longest drive of the year on the PGA
Tour. And PING Pro Billy Horschel has increased
his clubhead speed and gained more than 12
yards in distance since switching to the
G30 driver. He recently won the BMW
Championship in the FedExCup
Playoffs playing the model.
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
While Turbulator Technology has stolen
the spotlight, the G30 driver’s performance
stems from multiple design attributes
working in sync. This highlights a key point
of difference with PING: We don’t incorpo-
rate “features” into a golf club and focus
exclusively on distance, for example, at the
expense of other benefits like forgiveness,
trajectory, or sound quality. Ours is a bal-
anced approach that optimizes total perfor-
mance (no sacrifices) so golfers can hit the
ball farther and straighter more consistently.
A key source of the G30 driver’s distance is
a hotter new T9S titanium face material that
is made more responsive by PING’s patent-
pending heat-treating process that relieves
stress from the face. T9S is inherently
stronger than Ti 6-4 with the same elasticity,
which allowed us to thin the hitting surface,
resulting in maximum face deflection, faster
ball speeds and increased distance. Four
grams saved from the face were utilized to
add crown turbulators while simultaneously
moving the CG lower and farther back to
raise the MOI, making the G30 driver ex-
tremely forgiving and accurate. And straight
drives fly farther.
TURBULATOR TECHNOLOGY PROVEN IN WIND-TUNNEL TESTING
Without Turbulators With Turbulators
CROWN TURBULATORS HELP GENERATE CLUBHEAD SPEED AND BALL VELOCITY
d es y a t e .
Without Turbulators
The G30 driver also offers greater loft adjustability. Trajec-
tory Tuning+ Technology offers five settings for fine-
tuning ball flight up to 1º prior to a round for maximizing
distance. Settings are Standard, -0.6º, -1º, +0.6º, and +1º.
We were able to expand adjustability without adding
weight to our streamlined, aerodynamic hosel -- another
example of “No Sacrifices”.
Because PING is also an innovator in custom fitting, we
offer a second G30 driver, the G30 SF Tec (Straight Flight
Technology) to fit players whose shots typically end up
right of the intended target. The combination of a sole
weight positioned closer to the heel and a lighter swing
weight produce a right-to-left ball flight that helps steer
the ball back into the fairway. In player testing, the G30
SF Tec driver improved right-to-left shot bend by 12 yards
when compared to the G30 standard driver.
Whether your game is better suited for the G30
standard or the G30 SF Tec driver, either can benefit your
game in multiple ways. I invite you to visit your favorite
golf shop and get fit for our proven new technology. I’m
confident you’ll find the distance, accuracy and consisten-
cy you need to improve your tee shots, your confidence
and your scores.
32 33 ASIAN GOLF
EQUIPMENT FOCUS Tour Edge Exotic E8
If you have not laid your hands on clubs that carry the “Exotics” branding from Tour Edge, you should make an effort to do so. Why? Well, the simple answer is that “Exotics” are really kickass good – that’s why!
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
Asian Golf has been testing “Exotics” for a
few years now and these clubs have been
permanent favourites. Tour Edge, the
company behind “Exotics” has hit the market
again with two new products – the E8 driver and the E8
fairway woods.
The new E8 drivers deliver distance-dominating
speed with adjustability options that allow players
to fine tune power and control, and bring Exotics to
the forefront of the driver category. At the core of E8
driver’s technology is the centre of gravity location and
its ability to increase ball speed for legendary Exotics
length.
“Our engineers positioned E8’s CG slightly lower
and forward for a higher launch, and faster ball speed
with less spin,” said David Glod, founder and president
of Tour Edge. E8 drivers are available in two options
– E8 (460cc titanium head) and E8 Beta (440cc with
a titanium face) – both feature superior adjustability
with loft modifications and an interchangeable sole
weight. According to Glod, “The Beta utilizes a higher,
more forward CG position to produce a more penetrating
trajectory, increased ball velocity, and minimal spin.”
Variable face thickness technology offers multiple
levels of thickness that maximize the spring-like effect
from more points on the face, especially in the heel and
toe areas.
The E8 collection showcases an added adjustability
option by incorporating an interchangeable sole
weight. The driver comes standard with a 7-gram
weight in the sole, but can be changed with the
purchase of an optional weight kit. The three-
piece weight kit includes a 5-gram, 10-gram,
and 12-gram weight.
Complementing the new drivers
are Exotics notorious reputation
for engineering ‘the best’ fairway
woods in the business. “The
E8 fairway wood delivers an
easy-launching, high trajec-
tory accompanied by Exotics
legendary distance and this
is accomplished with the
upgraded 475 carpenter
steel cup face combo-
brazed to the hyper-steel
body. The shallow face
design also delivers
a high launch with
less spin increasing
distance and ease
of use off the deck,”
explained Glod.
The E8 fairway
woods are available in
the following configu-
rations: 3 (13 degree),
3 (15 degree), 4 (16.5
degree), 5 (18 degree), 7
(21 degree). E8 Beta model:
3 (12 degree), 3 (13 degree),
3 (15 degree), 4 (16.5 degree), 5
(18 degree).
Our engineers po-sitioned E8’s CG
slightly lower and for-ward for a higher launch, and faster ball speed with less spin.” –– DDaviid GGlodd
EQUIPMENT FOCUS 2015 Mizuno Line Up
Top quality products. Very tradition bound. Conservative. All of these
-
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ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
36 37 ASASASIASIASIASISISIIAANANANANANANANNN GOLOLGOLGOLGOLGOLGOLGOLGOLFFFFFFFF
he last two years have not been the best
years for the global golf industry – it has
been a period of doom and gloom. This past
year has especially witnessed a great deal of
blood-letting with major players being pum-
meled in the market including some brands
even throwing in the towel in absolute desperation.
Giant equipment retailers like Dicks Sporting Goods
have ducked out of the golf trade and when something like
this happens, the casket merchants smack their lips and
wait in anticipation to bury the mortally wounded. It’s not
a particularly pleasant scenario but this is telling it like it is,
warts and all!
Against all of this business mayhem, one wonders
what would have prompted Mizuno Golf to tear out of its
conservative epidermis and charge forth into a crestfallen
business climate screaming Banzai!
We think we have the answer to what may seem like a
highly irrational and badly timed business decision. We see it as a
leap of faith based on the company’s implicit belief in the superior
quality and performance of its 2015 range of products.
With the year-end fast approaching, most of the major manu-
facturers would have already started gearing up for their new
product launches but so far, this has been muted this year. PING is
the only major manufacturer which has announced its 2015 offer-
ings headlined by the revolutionary “Turbulator” G30 driver.
It is odd that both PING and Mizuno, noted for their conserva-
tism, have elected to buck the trend and launch game-changing
products. Again, it goes to reason that both the companies have
so much belief and a boatload of confidence in their respective
new technologies, that they have just gone ahead with the intro-
duction of their new clubs.
Well, at least we know that there are major industry players
who are not hanging their heads in despair and are courageous
enough to bring to market their new, state-of-the-art products.
Back to Mizuno Golf and its 2015 clubs. It’s a slew of new
EQUIPMENT FOCUS 2015 Mizuno Line Up
products alright and every single new line is a stun-
ning beauty. The glittering showcase features the
following:
JPX 850 driver JPX 850 woods and hybrids JPX 850 irons MP-15 irons MP-H5 driving irons MP-H5 irons MP-T5 wedges
Darn it – it took our test team a whole month to
go through all of the new-comers from Mizuno. This is
not an expression of exasperation – it is more a reflec-
tion of the joy, excitement and the pure unadulterated
pleasure of being able to play equipment that proved
to be virtually flawless!
Here’s a thorough peek at golf clubs that will keep a
lot of golfers, plus the competition talking for some time
to come. First off, let’s check out the JPX 850 driver. Man,
Mizuno Golf should have been in the motor racing trade
– they certainly know how to pick an adrenaline boosting
colour! The JPX 850 is an absolute he-man of a driver with a club
head cloaked in a piercing blue paint that would make a US$4.5
million Lamborghini Veneno roadster look menacing!
The JPX 850, first seen on tour in April 2014, uses twin
8-gram weights which can be located on either the central slid-
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
ing rail, or two lateral slots. With 10 unique settings, players
of all head speeds can dial in their perfect launch and spin.
In combination with Mizuno’s Quick Switch shaft release
system, the JPX 850 also offers lofts from 7.5 to 11.5 within
one head for the ultimate in adjustability and a compact,
powerful 440cc head that utilizes a Hot Metal face and Re-
bound Crown to maximize ball speeds.
In describing the new driver, Chuck Couch, vice president
for product management said, “The genius of the new Fast
Track is that it adds the dimension of launch angle and spin
rate. Now we’re truly in control of maximizing all aspects of a
player’s ball flight off the tee.”
Asian Golf’s Equipment Editor, Lawrence Young, who
is not normally easily impressed with equipment, was very
effusive in his appraisal of the JPX 850. He said, “It may not
be the longest driver out there but let me tell you that it
is extremely friendly and easy to handle and it keeps ball
dispersion to a very narrow range.”
Next in line is the JPX 850 fairway woods and hybrids –
again adorned in the same striking blue livery as the driver. It
features a proprietary Mizuno innovation called “Shockwave
Technology”. This enables the entire club head to contract and
expand on impact – delivering an additional energy source to
the clubface. The additional mass also lowers the head’s centre
of gravity, maintaining high ball speeds directly off the turf.
For the fairway woods, there is a 4-degree range of
loft adjustment possible within each fairway head (3/5/7)
through the use of Mizuno’s Quick Switch shaft adjustability.
These are clubs that will add serious distance on the fairways
and they have already earned their rightful place in the Asian
Golf bag of tricks for 2015!
Part of the revolutionary JPX 850 family is the forged
irons which feature the introduction of BORON into Mizuno’s
revered grain flow forging process. It gives the irons a sense
of an out-of-this-world feeling and technically this is a cor-
rect assumption because boron is a chemical element that
is found in meteorites. The addition of boron has helped
Mizuno increase the strength of its forged material, thus
allowing its R&D engineers greater design freedom which
translates into more distance from iron to iron.
The Asian Golf verdict – “It’s a very well balanced and
stable set of clubs that automatically inspire confidence and
it will definitely prove to be a massive hit with high handicap-
pers,” declared Young.
From the Boron-based JPX 850 irons, we shift our focus to
the MP-15 irons – a definitive blend of tradition and technolo-
gy. It’s a purpose-built iron suited for the stronger ball striker
- it is compact with clean lines, designed to enhance both
feel and workability. Forged directly inside the 1025E steel
framework is a re-engineered Titanium Muscle insert, which
maintains thickness behind impact for a solid feel, while al-
lowing weight to be shifted to the perimeter to provide “full
cavity” forgiveness.
“The MP-15 blends the best elements of two great tour
irons – the MP-59 and MP-64. A really compact tour player
type iron, but with stability from off centre strikes. Even good
players need forgiveness when it’s packaged correctly,” ex-
plained Mizuno’s senior research and development manager
Tetsu Kanayama.
Asian Golf’s Young was full of compliments for this classic
Mizuno set of irons and according to him, “These irons are
sleek and very understated in their appearance – they make a
quiet statement but don’t let this fool you … the MP-15s are
one helluva strong set of irons in the hands of a good player.”
Moving along, we come to the MP-H5 driving irons which
feature Mizuno’s “Hollow Flow Construction”. The ‘hollow
flow’ concept is in response to the demands of modern golf
courses – with longer approaches to tighter pin positions on
firm greens.
“MP-H5 will suit players who have grown up on traditional
irons, but don’t want to be left behind on distance and stop-
ping power. In another 10 years we think the majority of tour
players will be using irons like this,” said Couch.
Asian Golf’s Young was quick to agree. “It’s
both revolutionary and a ravishing beau-
ty. I love it! It comes packed ready
for explosion and if you
are the type of player
who has problems
with a driver, I
strongly suggest
that you swap
the big stick for
a Mizuno MP-H5
#1, #2 or # 3 iron.”
Young goes on to
add, “Heck, I was
hitting the #1 iron
well past the 200
metre mark and in my books, that’s some serious distance!”
Young was equally complimentary about the MP-H5 irons.
“Let me tell you – this is the crème dela crème of irons! The MP-
H5 has got to be the iron of choice for low handicappers and it
is a friendly and forgiving performance club – it’s a life-saver on
off-centre hits and this makes it a serious game-changer.”
The final clubs on the test bed are a bevy of eye-popping
beauties – the MP-T5 wedges. Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forged
heads combine the softest touch with a backspin rate only
possible through the use of loft specific grooves. Mizuno’s Quad
Cut Groove concept utilizes a wider, shallow groove from 54-
62 degree lofts (to grab softer, partial strikes) and a narrower,
deeper configuration from 49-53 degrees (for fuller shots). All
grooves are precision CNC milled to ensure exact manufactur-
ing consistency from wedge to wedge.
A new lush Black IP (plated) finish is designed to maintain
its looks over time. The alternative white satin finish is also
permanent.
“The challenge with MP-T5 was to find a way to increase
spin. It came down to square-ness of hit, which is achieved
differently depending on your technique. So we added a huge
variation of loft and bounce options,” explained Chris Voshall,
Mizuno’s senior engineer.
Asian Golf’s Young concurred, “You can use the 56 degree
wedge inside 80 metres by shaping it to suit the distance and
this is made possible because Mizuno has created bounce
angles to accommodate this. All the wedges perform incredibly
well and they are great on feel,” Young pointed out.
Reviewing the 2015 range of Mizuno clubs has been a truly
satisfying experience and this has been made possible because
of the manufacturer’s revolutionary engineering and technology.
It is very apparent that Mizuno has paid a great deal of attention
to player feedback and this is very evident in the way the clubs
have been built and the manner in which they perform.
“Every single club is a class act and the MP-T5 wedges are
from a different planet and I dare say that golfers are in for a
treat when these new models hit the stores in Asia,” concluded
Asian Golf’s Young.
Mizuno has entered a new era with its new technical break-
throughs. 2015 will mark a year of remarkable innovations – all
industry firsts, aimed at increasing ball speed and distance.
Mizuno, we say to you - Subarashii!
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EQUIPMENT FOCUS 2015 Mizuno Line Up
40 41 ASIAN GOLF
EQUIPMENT FOCUS Srixon’s new Z Series
The pace of new product launches which normally hits a frenetic pace at this time of the year, seems a little sub-dued. This is probably due to the gloomy conditions in major markets like North America. However, one brand that seems to be bucking the trend is the Japanese giant Srixon.
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
Asian Golf has just received word that Srixon will be
releasing the new Z Series made up of driver, woods
and irons – the same gear being used by Tour stars
Graeme McDowell, Keegan Bradley, Hideki Mat-
suyama, as well as many others professional staffers
competing on the various professional tours across the globe.
Srixon’s new Z Series clubs offer tour-influenced performance,
real innovation and stunning design, according to the company.
“We’re thrilled to introduce the new Z Series woods and irons,”
said Tomihiro Ieda, managing director of Srixon Sports Asia. “At Srixon,
we approach products like our tour players approach their game. It’s a
constant journey to be better. Designing the game’s best products is
always about raising the bar, and we believe the new Z Series woods
and irons are the best the game has to offer,” Ieda added.
The compact 430cc Srixon Z 745 driver is designed for skilled
players who like to work the ball with maximum distance and pen-
etrating ball flight. The Z 745 driver features Dual Speed Technol-
ogy, which helps maximize rotation efficiency to deliver more club
head speed for increased distance, according to the company.
Srixon’s Quick Tune System offers 36 unique settings for loft,
lie, face angle and centre of gravity. The Z 745 driver’s cup-face
construction, helps create an even larger sweet spot, according to
Srixon, for added forgiveness on off-centre hits.
Complementing the Z 745 is the Z 545. This driver has a sleek and
aggressive design and is meant for players who desire maximum
distance and a mid-high launch in a larger, more forgiving shape. The
Z 545 driver also features Dual Speed Technology, which increases
ball speed and distance by maximizing the driver’s rotation efficiency.
Srixon’s Quick Tune System offers 36 unique settings for loft, lie, face
angle and center of gravity is also incorporated into the Z545.
Srixon’s Z F45 fairway wood has a mid-size design, which is en-
gineered to maximize launch conditions from all lies. It too features
Dual Speed Technology and Srixon’s proprietary Quick Tune System
offers 36 unique settings for loft, lie, face angle and centre of gravity.
An ultra-hot HT1770 maraging steel cup face has raised the club’s
COR by 15 points for maximum ball speed.
Srixon’s new Z H45 hybrid features redesigned shape for
smoother turf interaction and a more confident look at address. The
Z H45 hybrid also features Dual Speed Technology.
Srixon’s new Z 745 irons sport a muscle cavity design while fea-
turing a thinner top-line and a more compact shape for a pleasing,
traditional look. The new Z 745 irons are forged from 1020 carbon
steel using the highest quality, most premium process available. A
redesigned Tour V.T. Sole decreases turf resistance through impact
for tighter dispersion.
Next in line is Srixon’s Z 545 irons which combine hot flight and
incredible feel in a slightly larger, more forgiving cavity-back profile,
the company promises. Forged also from 1020 carbon steel, the new
Z 545 irons feature a thin, high-strength SUP10 steel face, which
increases COR for higher ball speed. A redesigned Tour V.T. Sole
decreases turf resistance through impact for tighter dispersion
and Double Laser Milling on the face of the Z 545 irons increases
surface roughness for additional spin and trajectory control.
Finally, the Srixon Z U45 utility sports a refined, iron-like
head shape that helps find fairways off the tee and adds play-
ability on aggressive shots into the green. The Z U45 utility
features a compact top-line and more compact flange
with a slimming mirror chrome finish, which generates a
compact address view that smoothly transitions to iron
sets. The Z U45 utility’s lower and deeper centre of
gravity also helps to promote higher launch and
increased playability.
42 43 ASIAN GOLF
FASHION TREND New Balance 574B Spikeless Golf Shoe
Coming off a successful spring
introduction of the classic 574
golf shoe, New Balance has
announced the addition of the
men’s 574B spikeless golf shoe.
The new 574B is built on the same New Balance
design last used in its popular 574 lifestyle
running shoe and cleated golf shoe. The 574B is
designed for golfers looking for a modern clas-
sic style with a spikeless outsole.
“The 574 golf shoe has been one of our
top selling shoes in the current line,” said Bruce
Schilling, general manager of Golf and Tennis.
Gets Serious About Golf ShoesNew Balance needs no introduction when it comes to athletic shoes but golf shoes? Well, that’s a whole new proposition! The new-est kid on the golf shoe block is ramping up as though to make up for lost time.
“This model has tremendous appeal to the
younger golfer who is already wearing our clas-
sic suede 574, and the mesh upper and spikeless
outsole of the 574B will increase the appeal of
the shoe to even more players. We have also ex-
panded our widths to 2E and 4E in select styles
based on initial feedback we received on the
574,” added Schilling.
The 574B features a mesh upper with no-sew
Fantom Fit technology for ultralight support and
fit, an Ndurance® rubber outsole for maximum
durability in high-wear areas, and a REVLite®
10mm drop* midsole for lightweight cushion-
ing and premium responsiveness. Golfers will
enjoy the same style, comfort, and fit they are
accustomed to from New Balance footwear, plus
performance technologies designed to help
enhance their golf game.
EQUIPMENT FOCUS New ProductsISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
How about this - now you can
get out on the fairways with
golf bags to match your cool
Loudmouth oufits. Loud-
mouth Golf and Molhimawk
(“Molly-MOCK’) Inc have introduced their
line of stylish cart bags to their European
customers. The Loudmouth Cart Bag by
Molhimawk measures 35” tall and features
a single putter tube, 14-way top, and anti-
slip rubber feet. The cart bags are currently
available in some of Loudmouth’s most
popular patterns – Oakmont Houndstooth,
Drop Cloth, Shagadelic Pink, Shamrocks and
Magic Bus.
The partnership between Loudmouth
and Molhimawk will produce the first
licensed product available in Europe and rep-
resent an exciting milestone for the future of
Loudmouth Golf in the European market.
“The Loudmouth Molhimawk golf bags
have been a huge success in the US and
Canada, so we’re delighted to bring them
to Europe. Customers have been enquir-
ing constantly for them,” said Loudmouth
Golf CEO, Larry Jackson. “We worked with
Molhimawk to deliver a quality bag for the
discerning golfer who wants the ultimate in
convenience, organisation, functionality and
of course, likes to have fun.”
“We are tremendously excited to an-
nounce the launch of the hugely popular
Loudmouth Golf Bag Line to the European
market”, said Molhimawk co-founder
Richard “Mitch” Mitchell. “These fantastic
bags have already been a huge hit glob-
ally - and we are confident Europe will be
no different.”
Just when golf equipment manufac-
turers are being pushed up against
the ropes, one company decides to
hit the market with something new –
a new golf ball.
Enter Medicus – an equipment
manufacturer who is looking to break into
the golf ball category. The company hired
Golf Laboratories, Inc., out of San Diego to
review its Kick X TourZ ball which is being
matched against the Srixon Z Star, the Cal-
laway SR3 and Titleist’s ProV1, ProV1x and
NXT Tour S. According to the test, the new
ball by Medicus traveled up to four yards
longer in a set of controlled drives from a
robotic hitting machine.
The TourZ features a Metal Fuzion Core,
which Medicus says, creates an exceptionally
high coefficient of restitution, which is the
“spring effect” found in premium golf balls.
Thanks to a fusion of three proprietary metals
that concentrates mass in the centre of its
core, the ball rebounds more quickly when
compressed at impact of a clubface, produc-
ing additional launch speed and distance.
The Kick X TourZ is part of a new line
of performance golf clubs and products
created by Medicus Golf, which for more
than 20 years has been a leading developer
of golf swing training products, including its
best-selling hinged club.
“We believe that our training aids, clubs
and balls make it easier for people to play
golf, play it better faster, and ultimately get
the maximum enjoyment out of the game,”
said Medicus Founder Bob Koch. “It’s very
rewarding to see the TourZ ball stand out in
the distance challenge.”
Established in 1989, Golf Laboratories
has developed leading standards for test-
ing clubs, shafts and golf balls. It provides
complete and often confidential tests that
inform research and development projects
within the industry. For this particular ball
test, the computer controlled robotic hit-
ting machine was programmed to launch
drives with a 110-mph swing speed. While
a Trackman analysis system measured spin
rates, launch angles and speed, 10 balls
from each model were hit and then mea-
sured on Golf Laboratories’ grass range.
“With exactly the same swing, the TourZ
had longer distance than all of the others,”
said Koch. “We chose several popular and
high quality golf balls for the comparison.
As a result, we’re now even more convinced
that the TourZ is one of the game’s leading
premium balls.”
EQUIPMENT FOCUS New Products
44 45 ASIAN GOLF
ust when everyone thought that
Adams Golf would disappear from the
golf scene after its parent, TaylorMade
announced that it would shut down
its headquarters in the Lone Star
state, the company is back in action.
It has announced a new version
of the “Tight Lies” for 2015 - the new “Tight
Lies” fairway woods and hybrid features
the company’s fifth generation of its Slot
Technology. In contrast to previous models
designed with both a sole slot and a crown
slot, the 2015 models according to Adams
Golf, are enhanced by new Ghost Slot
Technology, which masks the crown slot to
create a clean look at address.
It is a new crown slot that is nearly
invisible and features a refined “barbell” cut-
through slot design, which reduces stress
on the face while promising even faster ball
speeds and higher launch, according to the
company. Also another new addition to the
“Tight Lies” family is the Titanium fairway
wood, featuring a Titanium face and crown
with a stainless steel sole.
For the first time, the upside down shap-
ing and the low-profile design are being
put to use in a hybrid. “Tight Lies” stainless
steel fairway woods and hybrids will come
stock with the KuroKage graphite shaft by
Mitsubishi Rayon. Tight Lies Titanium will
feature the Mitsubishi Bassara Eagle Series
graphite shaft.
The Tight Lies fairway wood are available
in lofts of 14.5°, 16°, 19° and 22°. “Tight Lies”
Titanium will be available in lofts of 13.5°, 15°
and 18°. The Tight Lies Hybrid will be avail-
able in lofts of 17°, 19°, 21°, 23° and 26°.
New Tight Lies From Adams Golf
uuu
AA
g
a
it
st
Things are certainly hotting up at Cal-
laway Golf. Last month, the company
announced a brand new driver. Early
September, they launched fairway woods
(featured in this issue) and just as this
issue was going to print, word got out about a new
set of irons.
The latest irons from Callaway are the Apex
Musclebacks which were designed and built in direct
response to Tour players who asked for a classic
muscleback iron built to the exacting specifications
that a blade demands with some playability, too.
The musclebacks are made of soft, 1020 Carbon
steel irons and are intended for elite golfers, with a
Tour-inspired shape and style in a premium forged
design.
Callaway advises that they’re also packed with
game-enhancing technologies like the high perfor-
mance wide-spaced grooves, which deliver more
control and consistent spin out of a variety of playing
conditions. An Optimised Sole Camber enables excel-
lent turf interaction from any lie for more playability
than you’d expect from a muscleback.
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
The New Product Floodgate Has Opened At Callaway!
46 47 ASIAN GOLF
SPECIAL FEATURE TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the FedExCup Playoffs
Forget about Tiger Wood’s
new way to gesticulate the ecstasy of victory is to show the “gator
Billy Horschel announced to the world that he
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 14: Billy Horschel of the United States poses with his parents Bill and Kathy on the 18th green after winning both the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the FedExCup Playoffs at the East Lake Golf Club on September 14, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
This is what golf needs to pick it up from its state of slumber.
We need players with the kind of swagger that Horschel
brings to the game. We like the way he walks (almost
similar to that of the big Wild West cinematic hero John
Wayne). We like the way he looks and talks (strong and
powerful). And he’s got the perfect poster-boy looks for golf! In one
word, Horschel displays a brand of panache that golf needs badly.
Horschel’s dramatic win at the FedEx Cup play-off was no accident.
He was a hot favourite having already won one-leg of this winner-take-
all tournament. In the final round of the battle, he thrashed Jim Furyk
and McIlroy to be declared the undisputed “king of golf” for the 2014
season.
With back-to-back playoff titles (and a share of second place at the
Deutsche Bank), Horschel has won not only the US$10 million but
also the US$1.44 million first-place paycheck at the Tour Cham-
pionship. Prior to this week, he had less than $8 million in career
earnings.
SPECIAL FEATURE TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the FedExCup 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48 49 ASIAN GOLF
While all of the focus and adulation was on Horschel, let us not
forget the sterling performance put up by the “old man” Furyk. He
has had a whole bunch of close calls this year and although he
had a chance to put pressure on Horschel, he faltered and had
to settle for a share of second place, his fourth runner-up this
season.
Horschel has been playing the best golf over the past several
weeks leading up to the play-off. Although he was barely a fac-
tor in the biggest tournaments in 2014, Asian Golf had picked
him as a future star a year ago for the very reasons stated earlier
in this report.
In an interview with ESPN, Horschel said that there was the
time he dreamed as a kid he’d get hit in the head with a baseball
bat -- and did. And then there was the time months ago that
Horschel woke up in a fog, having dreamed he had won the
FedEx Cup.
“It was very faint, but I remember holding up the FedEx Cup
trophy,” Horschel said. “As the season went along, I never thought
about it, and figured maybe it was just a dream that wasn’t real.
“But I thought about it last week after I won. I’ve thought
about it this week a little bit that maybe this is supposed to hap-
pen. And maybe that’s why when I woke up this morning I was
calm knowing that this is my chance to win the FedEx Cup trophy.”
And that is the stuff of dreams.
It was very faint, but I remember holding
up the FedEx Cup trophy... and as the season went along, I never thought about it, and figured maybe it was just a dream that wasn’t real.”
50 51 ASIAN GOLF
SPECIAL FEATURE Grow The Game
Golf Industry Central’s direc-
tor Mike Orloff, said he
created the website www.
GrowTheGameCentral.
com to tackle challenges
such as declining participation and the age-
ing demographic of players and to attract a
new generation of golfers.
“Many grow the game initiatives being
trialled today have great merit but don’t
garner enough financial support to get
off the ground,” said Orloff. “Our Grow The
Game Central web platform has
been designed to connect
anyone who is serious about growing the
game and making a difference.”
According to him, “We are at an evo-
lutionary stage in the game’s existence.
Now is the time to foster the creativity and
entrepreneurship of a strong community
network. The strength, motivation and pas-
sion of many individuals working together
can be very powerful and will eventually
impart change.”
“We can leave our dependency on grow-
ing the game to the governing bodies or
we can get involved and personally make a
difference,” Orloff pointed out.
Australia’s Golf Industry Central has launched a new initiative called Grow The Game Central that aims to create a world-wide community of like-minded people banding together to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to play the game of golf or increase their participation.
Grow The Game Central is targeted at
anyone who loves golf, makes a living off the
game and wants to grow the popularity of
the game.
“It’s time individual golfers, clubs, facilities
and commercial entities all take a more active
role in promoting and ensuring the ongoing
health of our sport,” pointed out Orloff. “Grow
The Game Central is all about taking a ‘grass
roots’, ‘bottom up’ approach to supporting the
numerous grow the game initiatives happen-
ing worldwide.”
“We are utilising modern approaches
such as “crowdsourcing” and “crowdfunding”
to help overcome some of the problems and
move closer to achieving our vision. “A world
with too many golfers”
The project will leverage off Golf Industry
Central’s large international network of indus-
try contacts in Australia, New Zealand, Asia,
Europe and the USA.
To get involved in Grow The Game Central,
anyone can join the on-line forum to discuss
what is happening locally and internationally,
contribute news or best practices, and support
initiatives happening around the world. .
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
We are at an evolutionary stage in the game’s existence. Now is the time to
foster the creativity and entrepreneurship of a strong community network. The strength, motivation and passion of many individuals working together can be very powerful and will eventually impart change.”
52 53 ASIAN GOLF
SPECIAL FEATURE Madame Nguyen Thi Nga
For her entrepreneurial spirit and
drive and for her passionate at-
tachment to golf, Madame Nga
will be honoured at the 2014
Asia Pacific Golf Summit with
the prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Woman
Entrepreneur Of The Year Award. This
award will be presented to Madame Nga
at the Asian Golf Awards in Singapore on
November 15.
Madame Nga serves as the Chairman
of Southeast Asia Joint Stock Commercial
Bank (SeABank), which has more than 155
branches in Vietnam which collectively
employ more than 2,100 staff with total
assets exceeding S$4.7 billion.
Besides her hectic schedule as a top
banker, she is the Chairman of King’s
Valley Corporation, and the Chairman of
BRG, a group of companies doing diversi-
fied businesses which include real estate
She is one of the most dynamic women business entrepreneurs in Vietnam. Through her
Madame Nguyen Thi Nga
development, golf courses, resorts, hotels,
construction, infrastructure, retail chains,
and automobile distribution. Madame Nga
also serves on the ASEAN Business Advisory
Council and actively contributes to the
activities of the Council.
Amongst the golf properties that she
owns is the award winning Kings’ Island Golf
Resort in Hanoi and the Doson Seaside Golf
Resort in the city of Haiphong. “Both these
golf courses are of international standard and
Kings’ Island is widely regarded as the most
popular and best golf course in Hanoi,” said
Madame Nga.
Her passion for golf continues to play out
in Vietnam as she is now anxiously awaiting
the completion of her newest golf course, the
Legend Hills Golf Resort which is located in
a spectacular setting in the province of Soc
Son in Hanoi. The Legend Hills Golf Resort is
Jack’s Nicklaus’ first golf course in Vietnam.
“I wanted Jack to design my course because
I wanted it to be ranked as the best course in
Vietnam,” said Madame Nga.
According to her, this brand new 18-hole
golf course will feature “twin greens” on
every hole, thus offering a golfer the unique
experience to play 36-holes on an 18-hole golf
course. The new course is expected to be open
for play in 2015.
More than US$100 million has been invested
in the Legend Hills Golf Resort and some of its
other features besides the golf course will be a
sports entertainment centre, restaurants, hotels,
eco clubs, villas, parks, public services and lakes.
Commenting on the Legend Hills Golf
Resort, Madame Nga said, “Jack Nicklaus is
not only a legendary golfer but also has a
reputation for designing very unique and
impressive golf courses and we know that he
will deliver a golf course that will be the pride
of Vietnam.”
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
Madame Nguyen Thi Nga
SPECIAL FEATURE Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2014
56 57 ASIAN GOLF
Golf in the developed world is said to be in the doldrums with hardly any signs of
change or improvement. While the developed world struggles with the untold chal-
lenges that it faces, Asia is bucking the trend and showing tangible signs of hope and
growth for the game of golf. The atmosphere and mood at the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf
Summit will be one of promise and hope based on sound business foundations.
The 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit is truly living up to its
mission which is an emphatic and declared commitment
to help golf grow in Asia.
While golf in most of the developed world is in a lan-
guid state, Asia, especially the emerging parts of this giant
Continent, is showing tremendous promise of growth.
Living up to this promise is perhaps Asia’s golfing flagship – the
Mission Hills Group. What this group is doing to grow golf in Asia is
nothing short of being truly spectacular (read the cover story).
The group’s “golf and more” philosophy will be showcased at APGS
2014 by its vice-chairman, Tenniel Chu who will share his thoughts
on how Mission Hills has invested heavily and is very bullish about the
future. “No pain, no gain,” is how his brother, Dr. Ken Chu, chairman of
the group views the future.
“Mission Hills is taking the lead role and promoting a new lifestyle,
writing the rules and methodology for golf and leisure development.
We are offering something for everyone. You don’t have to be a golfer
to visit Mission Hills. If one member of the family chooses to go for a
round, other members can find plenty of alternative things to do.”
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
The Asia that we know today is young and vibrant
and totally ready for change and growth and this is fertile
ground for new ideas and innova-tive thinking to attract new play-
ers to the game and to keep the industry on the right
path towards growth. – Mike Sebastian
SPECIAL FEATURE Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2014
58 59 ASIAN GOLF
Stadium Golf is a platform that brings golf indoors utilising advanced golf sim-
ulation techniques – the primary thrust of this concept is to create a realistic and immersive experience for all level of players, especially juniors and beginners using the best golf sim-ulation technology in the market made avail-able through our exclusive technology and equipment partners.” – Balwant Grewal
So, the stage for the future of golf in
Asia is set! It is an exciting future and yet
another tangible sign of how Asia is leading
the way for golf’s growth.
In keeping with the theme of APGS
2014 which is “New Directions. New Energy.
A Re-vitalised Industry” – the programme
has been structured to look at trends and
solutions designed to help the industry in
Asia stay ahead of its challenges.
“All of us in the industry know what
the challenges are and we don’t need to
be reminded of the problems. Instead, we
need to get excited and engaged with the
opportunities that abound to help all of us
seize the moment and grow the game of
golf in Asia,” said Mike Sebastian, chief ex-
ecutive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group,
the producer and owner of APGS 2014.
“The Asia that we know today is young
and vibrant and totally ready for change and
growth and this is fertile ground for new
ideas and innovative thinking to attract new
players to the game and to keep the industry
on the right path towards growth,” he added.
Innovations that will be launched at
APGS 2014 include a revolutionary concept
called “Stadium Golf”. Conceptualised and
developed entirely in Singapore, Stadium
Golf is the brain-child of golf entrepreneur
Balwant Grewal, Managing Director of Sta-
dium Golf. “Stadium Golf is a platform that
brings golf indoors utilising advanced golf
simulation techniques – the primary thrust
of this concept is to create a realistic and
immersive experience for all level of players,
especially juniors and beginners using the
best golf simulation technology in the mar-
ket made available through our exclusive
technology and equipment partners.”
“Our concept creates a TOTAL golfing
experience that is designed to be very ac-
cessible, affordable, fun, easy to learn and
play and our commitment is to introducing
golf to the masses and to ensure that it is
sustainable.” Grewal added.
According to Director of Stadium Golf,
Gane Ramachandra, “Stadium Golf will
be a 24/7 facility and the plan calls for
Stadium Golf to be available in areas of high
population density and plans are in place
to roll this business model out throughout
the region very soon. In that regard we are
seeking regional partners as part of our
development and expansion plans.”
Central to Stadium Golf’s programme
will be its method of teaching the game to
juniors and beginners. “We have developed
an accelarated teaching system that is guar-
anteed to help juniors and beginners play
golf at our Stadium Golf facilities within
four-hours of being exposed to the basic
principles of the game,” said former LAGT
professional, Nicole Liu Xiaoyan, a Director
of Stadium Golf. Her teaching technique is
based on her exclusive programme which
enabled her to learn golf in 18 months prior
to turning professional on the Ladies Asian
Golf Tour.
Another innovative programme is Au-
thentiGolf, a Singapore high-tech company
that is the first in the world to provide
authentication of golf clubs.
The developers, Leonard Wee and Ste-
ven Tan, keen golfers themselves saw an op-
portunity to help put an end to counterfeit-
ers producing fake golf clubs. “There are too
many counterfeit golf clubs in the market.
There is a need for a company to be the au-
thentication bureau of choice for consumers
to have peace of mind when purchasing new
or used golf clubs,” said Wee.
The revolution that the Mission Hills
Group together with Stadium Golf and Au-
thentiGolf are just some of the examples of
the exciting trends that are taking place in
the evolution of golf in Asia. “Everywhere in
the region, exciting new ideas, innovations
and change initiatives are being launched
and this activity only goes to prove that
golf is not only growing in Asia but is also
serving as the beacon for the future of the
game,” added Sebastian.
24/7 REDEFINEDMARINA BAY SANDS® SINGAPORE
60 61 ASIAN GOLF
SPECIAL FEATURE CMAA –Asia Pacific Chapter
Club Industry Poised For
The club management industry is in for exciting times
ahead as the CMAA-Asia Pacific rolls out its training and
education programme for 2015.
The programme which is going to be very com-
prehensive will be delivered by CMAA-Asia Pacific in
partnership with best-of-breed education and training partners.
“We have invested a great deal of time working on plans with
our education partners to ensure that we are in a position to
provide top quality programmes on a sustainable basis to the club
industry in the region,” explained Lawrence Young, director of edu-
cation for CMAA-Asia Pacific.
The education partners who have entered into agreements with
CMAA-Asia Pacific include:
Training Vision
http://www.trainingvision.com.sg/
Singapore Training & Development Association (STADA)
http://www.stada.org.sg/
SDH Institute
http://www.sdh.edu.sg/
Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI)
http://www.shri.org.sg/_about_shri.asp
STADASTADA is a forty-two old organization which was established in 1972
by a group of training professionals from diverse industries who are
both committed and passionate to learn and share best practices.
STADA fulfils this role through community of practice in different
Human Capital Development domains, offering professional devel-
opment opportunities and networking activities.
“By partnering with CMAA-Asia Pacific, we hope to bring growth
to the human capital development community in the club and hos-
pitality industry as we push boundaries by using technologies, best
practices and knowledge to achieve thought leadership in the field
of learning across generations and to meet the diverse needs of the
learning community,” said Robert Yeo, STADA’s chief executive officer.
“This partnership is a significant milestone because it reflects
STADA’s efforts to partner with professionals to provide solutions
to organizations in the areas of change management, organization
development, employee engagement, cultural change, leadership
development, professional certification, coaching and mentoring,
and team innovation,” stated Lim Khia Tat, president of STADA’s
management committee.
SDH INSTITUTESDH Institute is a forward looking school with a clear focus on
hospitality education which strives to develop its students in a
holistic manner. SDH’s programmes not only equip its students with
the professional and business knowledge and skills for the global
hospitality industry, but also aim to inculcate an attitude of service
excellence and entrepreneurship.
According to Chia Tuck Keong, managing director of SDH, “Our
comprehensive range of Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma,
Post-Graduate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree and professional
learning programmes, unique learning approach and caring student
support, create a truly distinctive educational experience which we
believe will stand to benefit all those engaged in the club industry
in the region.”
With a strong presence in the hospitality industry, SDH has pow-
erful industry linkages with leading hotel chains, integrated resorts
as well as top food and beverage establishments.
“With the formalisation of this agreement, CMAA-Asia will be
able to fulfil its mission objective to help upgrade the human capital
employed in the club industry in the region,” added Murali Nair,
executive director of SDH Institute.
TRAINING VISIONTraining Vision is a leading training institute that specialises in pro-
viding an integrated and holistic approach towards the design and
methodology of workforce development training programmes.
“We are delighted to be working with CMAA-Asia to bring top
quality training and education to the club industry in the region and
it is our hope that together, we will be able to make a significant
contribution to the future growth of the industry in our region,” said
David Kwee, Training Vision’s chief executive officer during the sign-
ing of the official memorandum of understanding today.
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
CMAA-Asia Pacific will collaborate with Training Vision to of-
fer various training and education modules in service related areas
including the co-creation of specific programmes to address special
needs of the club industry.
“We elected to partner with Training Vision because of their solid
track record and the shared vision that both our organisations have to
help upgrade service standards in the region and they are an organ-
isation that will bring a lot of value to the table over the long haul,”
said CMAA-Asia Pacific’s Young.
Training Vision has been established since 1991 and includes
among its clients top international corporations and various organisa-
tions from the government and public sectors in the region.
SINGAPORE HUMAN RESOURCES INSTITUTEThe Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) represents over
3,000 human resource professionals. Founded in 1965, SHRI is com-
mitted to promulgating and maintaining high standards of profes-
sionalism in human resource management and development.
“SHRI assists organisations to relate training to their bottom lines
and through collaborations with a global network of consultants,
practitioners and trainers, SHRI can effectively blend training and con-
sulting services to deliver complete, integrated and holistic solutions
to meet corporate and people development needs,” explained Kao
Beng Lee, SHRI’s executive director.
“With these four partners coming on board with CMAA-Asia
Pacific, we now have alliances with world class education and training
organisations to help us deliver quality training and learning experi-
ences to the club and hospital industry and most importantly, most of
the programmes that we will be offering together with our education
partners will come with valid and recognized certification,” Young
pointed out.
Young concluded by saying, “Going forward, the club indus-
try in the region can expect to have top quality education which
they can use to upgrade their manpower and at the same work
towards improving the entire club experience for members and
other users.”
David Kwee (left), CEO of Training Vision with Mike Sebastian
62 63 ASIAN GOLF
SPECIAL FEATURE Father and Son Tournament
The Fathers and Sons golf tournament concept has been around for some time and perhaps the best known event in this tournament genre is the Annual U.S. National Father and Son Team classic. This three-day family event has become the largest father-son golf event in the world. Last year’s 54-hole competition drew over 900 players from 46 states and 7 foreign
motto is: Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a dad. Asia now has its own Father and Son tournament which will be held in Vietnam.
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
We are delighted to be organizing and hosting this prestigious event and we hope to make
this an annual tournament.” – Nguyen Huu Thanh
MR. LE VAN KIEM
Owner: Long Thanh Golf Resort
he Inaugural Asia Pacific Father and Son Golf Tourna-
ment is scheduled to be held in Ho Chi Minh City and
will be hosted by the award-winning Long Thanh
Golf Resort. “We are delighted to be organizing and
hosting this prestigious event and we hope to make
this an annual tournament,” declared Nguyen Huu Thanh, general
manager of the Long Thanh Golf Resort.
The tournament will be played on the resort’s challenging Hill
Course on December 6 and 7. It will be a total family affair and is
open to any father/son type relationship, from grandfathers and
grandsons to uncles and nephews and an exception will also be
made to include daughters.
“It’s all about having fun and enjoying a great vacation with
family members,” said Huu Thanh. The entry fee per player is
US$450 and this includes a package involving airport-hotel trans-
fers, transfers to the golf course daily, lunch and dinner on the
first day and lunch and a gala awards dinner on the final day plus
goodie bags and prizes.
Accommodation will be at the Sheraton Hotel in Ho Chi Minh
City and special arrangements have been made for very attrac-
tive rates.
“We want all of our guests to feel totally at home while they are
in Vietnam and we are doing everything within our power to make
their stay and play in Ho Chi Minh City a memorable one,” said Huu
Thanh.
Space will be limited so register early!
The winning father and son team will take home the Challenge
Trophy presented by Vietnamese philanthropist and owner of the
Long Thanh Golf Resort, Mr. Le Van Kiem. Besides this prestigious
trophy, there will be other prizes.
The following can be downloaded at:
Entry forms / Hotel reservation
http://tinyurl.com/fsgt2014
Tournament rules and regulations
http://tinyurl.com/fsgt-rr2014
The inaugural Asia Pacific Father and Son Golf Tournament is on the cards. Fathers and sons or direct related members of a family will do battle to see who emerges as the best of the best in the region.
This prestigious tournament will be staged on December 6 and 7, 2014 and the host venue is the award winning Long Thanh Golf Resort in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The tournament is open to any combination of family members – father and daughter, uncle/aunty and nephew and niece. This arrangement provides for a wider family involvement and participation.
The winning team will walk away with the Asia Pacific Father and Son Trophy presented by Vietnamese philanthropist Le Van Kiem.
In Celebration Of Fathers And Sons
DECEMBER 6 & 7, 2014LONG THANH GOLF RESORT, HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
Entry fee is set at US$450 per player and this will include: Daily two-way transfer from the Sheraton Hotel to the golf course. Lunch, refreshment and dinner on both days. Prizes and goodie bags. One practice round on December 5.
The Father and Sons Tournament is designed to promote greater family involvement in golf and clubs are encouraged to enter club teams to participate in that promises to become an annual tournament.
Organised by: Long Thanh Golf Resort
Come and be part of the region’s first ever total family golf event ... The Inaugural Asia Pacific Father and Son Golf Tournament!
ONLINE Registration is open at: http://tinyurl.com/fsgt2014
For enquiries, please contact Alice Ho at alice@asiapacificholfgroup.com or call +65-63232800
DOWNLOAD PDF – RULES & REGULATIONS: http://tinyurl.com/fsgt-rr2014
Recently, I’ve had students inquire about their weekly practice schedule.
During the bonding phase of the TMG Academy’s International Prepara-
tory Programme, it’s imperative to assess the player’s daily routine in or-
der to advise on a productive practice schedule. This is very important,
especially in the Bangkok area where the traffic is unpredictable.
Therefore, having a tip that makes sure both your backswing and through
swing are intact creates a good confident feeling. And, if you can randomly do the
following tip throughout the day in the office or in your home, you will be able to
take your confident swing to the golf course on your next round!
Greetings from Thailand! This is a very good tip that my father taught me when I was real young because the weather in Illinois is not always sunny. And, you can
anywhere if you really look for it.
GAME IMPROVEMENT Black Hat Golf Tips
66 67 ASIAN GOLF
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
Born and brought up in the United States, Tony Meechai won his first golf tournament at the age of nine. He began working in the golf
industry when aged 15 and competed in various Mini Tour and PGA Tour qualifiers after turning professional in 1994. Armed with a Bachelor’s
degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University and a degree in Marketing and Professional Golf Management, he has
made a name for himself in Asia over the past decade, during which time he has served as Director of Instruction at Thailand’s Heartland Golf
Schools and Springfield Royal Country Club as well as presenting tips on numerous region-wide golf television shows. Recently, he founded the
Tony Meechai Golf Academy that combines a curriculum including academics and golf education for aspiring Tour professionals. Programmes
are in conjunction with international institutions throughout the world. For further information, please visit www.tmggolfeducation.com
ABOUT TONY MEECHAI
www.tonymeechaigolf.com
Doing this drill successfully
also demands that the golfer be bal-anced at all times, another benefit that will serve the golfer well when he goes back to hitting balls.”
Why is this tip so good? Golfers don’t
have a real good sense of where the club
is because the club is out of sight during
much of the swing. Many players have no
sense of where it is positioned in relation
to the hands, arms and body. Players often
swing the club too much around the body
on the backswing and, on the forward
swing, heave the club outside the target
line and cut across the ball from outside to
in. The following drill makes these move-
ments impossible and will improve both
your back and through swings.
Here’s how I use this drill with students:
I will point out a wall size that is appropriate
for the golfer. Using a golf club, I will have
the student stand with his back to the wall.
The heel is several inches from the wall. I
will have the student make his normal
backswing and try to avoid hitting the wall.
If the club strikes the wall on the way back,
the student is swinging too much around
his body. If the golfer strikes the wall on the
forward swing, it is evident that he swung
excessively from outside to inside the target
line on the downswing.
Ideally, the player should cock the
club upward when his backswing is about
half completed. This will help him avoid
hitting the wall at the top. On the forward
swing, try to swing from inside the target
line, making the club swing toward the
target. If the club doesn’t hit the wall on the
follow-through, then the golfer knows he is
making progress.
Doing this drill successfully also demands
that the golfer be balanced at all times,
another benefit that will serve the golfer well
when he goes back to hitting balls.
Remember, you can find a wall any-
where! Make good use of it to improve your
golf swing!
It’s that time of the year again when ambitious male and female golfers start planning to go to a tour school in an attempt to earn playing rights to play on a professional golf tour.
They want to live their dream of becoming a highly paid professional golfer like Adam Scott, earning their income playing in professional golf tournaments.
and professionals ranging in age from 18 to 50 from all over the world, all with the same big goal in mind.
They want to earn the right to play on a professional golf tour.David Milne (left) and Lawrie Montague (right).
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE A GOOD ENOUGH GOLFER TO
GO TO TOUR SCHOOL?
GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College
68 69 ASIAN GOLF
It is always inspiring to see motivated
and serious golfers wanting to achieve
their big aim in life playing golf suc-
cessfully on a pro tour, because many
of them have grown up watching their
golf stars on TV hitting winning shots to win
the big cheques, and achieve a level of golf-
ing glory, and they want some of the same.
In today’s article we will explore the
important question “how do you know if
you are a good enough golfer to go to tour
school?”
We hope that by the end of our article
you will have a clearer idea about whether
you are really ready to compete on tour, or
that possibly you need to work at your game
for a little longer to get ready.
Now as I’m sure you already know all
tour schools operate in a similar way in that
they publish dates on their website for the
stages of their tour school, which is usually
from 2 to 4 stages.
Each stage is usually 4 rounds of golf and
the amateur or professional golfer who has
entered tour school will play the first stage
of tour school at a golf course/s chosen by
the respective tour, and hopefully they will
play well enough to continue on to stage 2.
For example at the European Tour
School they have three stages, with the first
and second stages being 4 rounds each and
the final stage 6 rounds.
At most tour schools you will have
to compete over at least two stages, or 8
rounds of golf to get to the final stage, and
you will have to play to a very high standard
to earn your card.
And keep in mind just getting a tour
card isn’t really enough, as in most cases
you will need to finish high enough in the
final standings to gain entry into most of
the tour events.
To enter tour school you will also need
an official handicap of around scratch (0) to
enter most tour schools, although you can
enter the Australasian Tour School with a
handicap of 2.5, however we suggest that
if you don’t have a true scratch handicap or
better, then keep practicing because you
won’t be good enough to get through the
qualifying stages.
So How Good Do You Really Have to Be?
How good do you have to be to really
have a good chance of earning your tour card?
It’s the only question that you need to truly
consider and quite honestly unless you have
a competitive score average of par or better
in national ranked tournaments over a whole
season playing at least 50 rounds of golf, you
are best to keep working at your game.
The simple fact is that every tour school
is geared to this minimum standard of excel-
lence.
Think about this for a moment, you will
play a minimum of eight rounds to qualify
for a small tour like the Australasian Tour, and
as many as 17 rounds to qualify for a major
tour like the Web.com Tour, and you will be
required to play to much better than par in
all kinds of weather conditions on the bigger
tours to secure your card.
The majority of players entering tour
schools are not nearly at this standard, and
the results show in the final analysis every
year. Yes many of these tour hopefuls can
score well around their home course, and
maybe even around the local courses in their
district, but tour school is a different animal
altogether.
At the 2013 Web.Com Tour School final
stage Zach Fischer finished 31 under par
for 6 rounds, (averaging 5.1 under par per
round) and won the tour school earning his
card to play on the Web.Com Tour in 2014
which was a phenomenal effort.
Now you would think with that standard
of play he would do really well on the Web.
Com Tour but as of the end of August 2014
he had earned just US $65,000 dollars, rank-
ing him 77th on the money list, (from the 18
ISSUE 169 OCTOBER 2014
events he had competed in) and he made
the cut in 11 events and missed the cut in 7
(61 percent).
His score average (actual) at the end of
August 2014 was 70.68 ranking him 87th in
this category. So it just goes to show that
even qualifying for the Web.Com tour in
spectacular fashion doesn’t guarantee you
anything, as you still have to play to a very
high standard every day you compete, if
you want to learn how to become a success-
ful tournament professional.
To give you an idea of just how good
you have to be, to earn last card at the Web.
Com Tour School in 2013, you needed to
finish at 16 under par for the final 6 rounds,
which is averaging 2.6 under par each day.
This is after successfully qualifying
through the first 3 stages.
4 TOUR SCHOOL TACTICSSo how do you develop you game to a high
enough standard that you give yourself the
very best chance of playing on a pro tour,
and more importantly, to develop your
game to a level where you can stay on tour
for years to come?
Here are our 4 tour school tips for any
serious amateur or professional golfer con-
sidering developing their game with the sole
purpose of competing at a tour school, and
winning a card to play on a professional golf
tour.
Tour School Tactic 1. Score Average is the Big DealUnderstand that your competitive score
average over at least one full season (and
a minimum of 50 rounds) in national and
international ranked tournaments (amateur
or pro events) is the only real barometer of
whether your standard is good enough to
go to tour school.
Playing to par or better in local club
events, and district tournaments, is just
not going to be nearly good enough for a
serious crack at tour school; you need to
compete and consistently contend in major
amateur tournaments to be sure.
Don’t be misled by well-meaning family
and friends who tell you that because you
hit the ball like a top tour player, and you
play great on your home courses that it is
your guarantee of success at tour school.
Over the years many home town heroes
have gone to tour school and come home
with their tail between their legs.
Let me say it again, your long-term com-
petitive score average playing hundreds of
holes at lots of different golf course venues,
on different golf course styles, in all kinds of
conditions, and to a very high standard, is
all that matters.
Tour school and tour golf will always be
about how well you can score over hundreds
of holes, and it’s not about anything else.
Tour School Tactic 2. It’s Not About Mental ToughnessYou don’t just need ‘Mental Toughness’ to
succeed in qualifying and playing success-
fully on a pro tour, what you really need is
The Mental Toughness Endurance Factor,
which is not exactly the same thing.
GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College
70 71 ASIAN GOLF
Any golfer can be mentally tough
enough to play decently for a round
or two, but the true test of whether
you can make it on a pro tour is go-
ing to get down to your emotional
endurance and grit over hundreds
of holes.
Emotional endurance describes
your ability to completely maintain
and manage your emotional state
to no more than a slightly frustrated
level in every type of condition imag-
inable, over hundreds of holes.
How many holes can you play
when things are not going the way
you want before you get frustrated
and angry?
Can you play at least 90 holes
of competitive golf without letting
poor performances derail your scor-
ing ability?
Emotional endurance is the key
tour player factor that helps you to
keep your score around par over
long periods of time, and many miles
of golf course travelled.
The Sprint Golfer and The Ultra Marathon GolferAt Pro Tour Golf College we describe to our
students the crucial difference between
what we call a sprint golfer, and what we
call an ultra-marathon golfer.
Sprint golfers are good for 18 holes—
maybe 36 holes, and then they run out of
gas. The true tournament golfer however is
someone who can play to a very high stan-
dard over 72 holes or more, week-in-and-
week-out without suffering from depression
or anxiety because of a run of poor play.
In our experience you have to be an
ultra-marathon golfer than a sprint golfer,
and your goal should be to train to become
an ultra-marathon golfer if you want to suc-
ceed as a professional tour golfer.
18 holes of golf is a walk of roughly
7100 yards from the men’s tee’s which
equates to about 4 miles, or 6.4 kilometres
of walking.
Now how many rounds of golf, and
miles of golf holes do you need to walk to
become a top tour golfer?
Hundreds of miles is the only answer
that makes sense, and what this essentially
means is that you must learn how to man-
age and maintain a low golf score average
over hundreds of miles of golf holes.
I’m sure that you can see that your
emotional endurance combined with well-
developed golf skills specifically developed
for playing golf on tour is going to be essen-
tial for your success?
Tour School Tactic 3. Develop Your ‘Tour Skills’ to Tour GradeTour golf skills are the golf skills you will rely
on when your tee to green long game is go-
ing a little haywire.
Tour golfer’s average around 12 greens
per round in regulation, from round to
round, which means that on their good days
they miss about 4 greens in regulation, and
on their bad days they miss 8.
Believe me when I tell you that you will
have more bad tee to green days than good
ones.
The tour skills you need to develop to
what we call tour grade, and they will be
the high and soft flop shots, and a variety of
spinning and releasing pitch shots, as well as
bunker shots from all types of lies to access
tight pin placements which are the norm on
a pro tour.
And you will also need to be able to ac-
complish this in wet and dry conditions, and
from all types of surfaces and lies.
You will also need to be proficient with
your recovery techniques from the different
types of grasses surrounding the greens.
On top of this you will also need to be a
fearless putter on severely sloping and fast
greens, and have the nerve to keep holing
the tough putts inside 5 feet, from hole to
hole, and from round to round.
Have you noticed when you watch tour
events on TV how good the scrambling skills
of top tour golfers are, and how this ability
helps keep them in contention?
You will see the tour skills they rely
on that keep them on top of their score
management from round to round, and you
need to be constantly working and devel-
oping your tour skills to tour grade to help
you keep your score average down around
par or better to have any chance of making
it through tour school.
Tour School Tactic 4.Finally you will need to be a full time golfer
to consider going to tour school. This means
that playing golf is your full time job, and
playing, practicing and developing your
golf skills is what you do for a minimum of 5
to 6 hours per day, for 5 to 6 days per week.
Tour school is not for part-time golfers,
or for those who “just want to give it a try to
see if they’re good enough.”
Before you go to a tour school you will
have invested literally thousands of hours
into your game, and you will have earned
the special level of confidence that you
need, to know that you have made the right
choice in your life.
Going to tour school is serious business
for serious golfers, and will require your
highest standards of excellence for you to
have any chance of obtaining your card.
So if you believe with all your heart and
mind that you have what it takes to go to
tour school, and you have maintained a par
or better average in important tournaments
for a season or more, then you just might
have a chance of winning playing privileges
to play on a professional golf tour.
And live your dream.
We wish you the very best.
For all the latest news and views from the Asian golf scene, subscribe to Asian Golf – Asia’s most powerful golfing voice! www.asiapacificgolfgroup.com72 ASIAN GOLF
NovemberASIAN GOLF ISSUE 170
The prestigious Asian
Golf Awards will feature
prominently in the
November issue of
ASIAN GOLF. This issue
will highlight the top
three nominees in
each category for 2014.
The winners will be
honoured at the Gala
Awards Banquet during
the staging of the 2014
Asia Pacific Golf Summit
scheduled to be held in
Singapore.
New From Nike GolfNike Golf has begun stirring and the “swoosh” team is expected to announce its 2015
Nike Vapor Flex Driver. Leaked documents from Nike Golf reveal that there will be three
versions of the new driver. The most interesting of the three models is the upcom-
ing Vapor Flex Driver, which features its own version of cavity-back technology along
with Nike’s new Flex Flight Module. More to come!
Singapore All Set To Rock With APGS 2014! The region’s top summit on golf is just weeks away
and the 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit promises to
be the best in the series. This year’s event, the eighth
in the series will be staged at the iconic Marina Bay
Sands Resort. The theme of this major golf knowledge
event is “New Directions. New Energy. A Re-vitalised
Industry”.
The golf industry in Asia awaits the release of the first-ever comprehen-
sive industry survey conducted by the Asia Pacific Golf Group in con-
junction with the CMAA-Asia Pacific Pte Ltd and Golf Business Advisory
Services Pty Ltd of Australia. Conducting the survey which includes
three special reports, has been a major undertaking but more impor-
tantly, it has now paved the way for more such surveys to be done on
the golf industry in the region, especially Southeast Asia.
Asian Golf Awards – The Top Nominees
Golf Industry Survey Completed!
WorldWide Holdings selangor MastersWinner: CHapCHai nirat
WINNER: MI JUNG HUR
YOKOHAMA TIRE LPGA CLASSIC
WINNER: coNNIE chEN
tENERIfE opEN dE EspaNa fEmININ
WINNER: Hyo-Joo KIm
EVIAN CHAmPIoNSHIP
WINNER: BILLY HORSCHEL
TOUR CHampIONSHIp BY COCa COLa - FEdEX CUp
WINNER: JOOST LUITEN
THE WALES OPEN
WINNER: PAUl CASEY
KlM OPEN
WINNER: EUROPERYDER CUP
Team Europe was just too good and proved that they had the best golfers in the world when they completely steam-rolled Team U.S.A. to retain the Ryder Cup for the third time in a row.
Team Europe had everything going for them when they ran riot to pull off a 16½-11½ triumphant win in a tournament that had everything on dis-play – total determination, burning passion and unmatched team spirit. It all came together to create a powerful will to win.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy set the tone when he got Europe off to a flying start in the singles action and Jamie Donaldson put the finishing touch some two hours later to grab the Ryder Cup for Team Europe.
Trailing 10-6, Team U.S.A. needed to win 8½ points out of the possible 12 available in singles but after an early run of good play, it could only win four matches and earn 5½ points.
Captain of Team U.S.A., Tom Watson acknowledged defeat graciously when he declared, "The U.S. players responded early, but they just couldn't keep it going - but the credit goes to Europe. They are stacked with great players …. we came here thinking we could win, knowing it would be a great challenge, but we fell short.”
Reacting to the win, Team Europe’s Captain Paul McGinley exclaimed, "Proud is the first word - I want to say as captain it's been a real honour to get these 12 players, they have all been Colossus, and all of them, the caddies, the backroom team, five vice captains, it's been a huge team effort."
WINNER: EUROPEEUROPEaNs PULL OFF a TOTaL ROUT OF THE YaNKs!
WINNER: PRom mEEsaWat
YEaNGDER touRNamENt PlaYERs ChamPIoNshIP
1st Runner-up 2010 & 2011
Best Clubhouse in AsiaEight times since 2000
Best Championship Course in Asia2008
Best Course in Thailand2002 – 20101st Runner-up 2011 & 2013
Best Par-3 Signature Hole (#6)2001 – 2003
Website: www.thaicountryclub.com E-mail: inquiry@thaicountryclub.com Tel: (66 38) 570 234 Fax: (66 38) 570 225
Long Thanh Golf Resort is a true paradise for any golfer.
Two world-class golf courses – one that traverses hilly terrain while the other meanders through spectacular lakes.
Both the Hill Course and the Lake Course are fascinating showcases of breath-taking landscapes
populated by a wide array of flora and fauna.
Golfing in Long Thanh Golf Resort is an experience of world-class golf combined with a unique brand of service and the warmth and friendliness of Vietnam.
All this delivered in a tranquil setting located in the southern economic triangle and just 40 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City’s centre.
National Highway 51, Tan Mai 2 Hamlet, Phuoc Tan Village, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam Tel: +84 61 3 512 512 Fax: +84 61 3 512 513
Long Thanh Golf Resort -A Golf Paradise Like No Other!
Come and Discover What Playing Golf in Paradise Really Feels Like
www.longthanhgolfresort.com
GolfersParadise
h l l d