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38 The Master’s Back – It’s GOLO Time!The legendary master craftsman Scotty Cameron has launched two new series of putters – the GOLO family and the Select range. Both families of putters have been tour tested and validated. If you have never played a Scotty Cameron putter, now’s the time to put these flat-sticks to work for you!

42 PING Point of View: Glide: A New Wedge Approach How often have you been told that the key to a terrific short game is all locked up in your hands. It’s all about “soft” hands and “feel”. Many of golfers have difficulty understanding what soft hands and feel have to do with the short game. PING has the an-swers and the man who knows it all is John K. Solheim, PING’s vice president of Engineering.

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ANIRBAN LAHIRI

COVER STORYThere’s A Posse Of New Sheriffs In Town

The professional golf scene is going through a major transformation. What was once an arena dominated by mature players, we are now seeing younger players perculate through the ranks and boil up to the top. It’s all a showcase of youngsters – from Rory McIlroy to Patrick Reed to Anirban Lahiri. All very exciting and hopefully good for the growth of golf!

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6 Asian Golf Editorial Team 7 Shared Thoughts From Publisher 68 Next Issue

ISSUE 175 APRIL 2015

GAME-IMPROVEMENT58 Can An Emotional Caddie Improve Your Golf Game?The small, almond-shaped part of your brain called the amygdala is the troublemaker, pushing you around on the golf course and causing you to lose your cool. Even if you play like Rory McIlroy on one hole, an amygdala hijack can make you play like Charles Barkley on the next.

62 Black Hat Tips: Master The Bucket of Water Drill!It’s hot and Thailand, once again, is celebrating Song-kran Festival! An absolutely fun and exciting tradition of splashing water on each other. Think about it…over 60 million people using buckets filled with water and splashing it at each other!

64 Pro Tour Golf College: The 4 Golf Success Factors That Will Fast-Track High School and College Golfers to the Pro Tour (Part4)Well we’ve come to the final article in our 4 part series for high school and college golfers, and this is the last of our golf success factors which will put all other factors we’ve shared into perspective for you.

SPECIAL FEATURES14 Golf “Oscars” Fever Set To Sweep Asia!The annual Asian Golf Awards poll for 2015 starts on April 1 and hundreds of golf clubs in the region are expected to start jostling for top results to score big in what is widely re-garded as the most prestigious awards programme for the golf club industry in the region.

18 2015 U.S. Masters: Expect A Dogfight At Augusta!April is when all the big guns of golf will prepare for the annual shoot-out and the hunt for the winner’s green jacket at the U.S. Masters begins. Current world number one, Rory McIlroy will be hoping to create history. McIlroy says his ambition for the first part of the golfing year is to become the sixth man to complete a career grand slam of all four current majors. For a preview of what to expect at Augusta, Asian Golf commissioned its special correspondent, Robin Barwick to conduct an exclusive interview with veteran champion golfer Bernhard Langer for a pre-tournament overview.

24 FootJoy – A Golf Powerhouse!The DNA of FootJoy harks back to a rich pedigree based on quality, comfort and excellence in footwear. This is a 158 year old heritage and like an exquisite wine, the company has ma-tured with age spanning three centuries. Today, it ranks as the world’s leading manufacturer of golf shoes and golf gloves. To understand what makes FootJoy endure the test of time, Asian Golf spoke with Steve Gale, the company’s Vice President for International Sales

GROW THE GAME50 Renovation - Time For Change!Baffled? If you are a golfer, you shouldn’t be! A middle-aged golf course

is a facility that begins to show its age and its fault lines – tell-tale signs like fairways that are as hard as concrete, bunkers that have lost

both definition and sand and greens that are infested with mutant species of grass.These are the conditions on a number of golf courses spread out throughout the

Southeast Asian geography. They are ready for renova-tion and for an expert appraisal of the matter, Asian

Golf spoke with award winning golf course architect, Brian Curley, co-founder and princi-pal of Schmidt Curley Design.

56 Non-Conforming Equipment Gets The Nod From USRGAThe recent Japan Golf Goods Association (JGGA) deci-

sion to permit the use of non-conforming golf clubs has received the full support of the United States Rec-

reation Golf Association (USRGA). It’s founding president, Dave Felker, in full support of the bold Japanese decision declared, “It is refreshing to see that the JGGA has decided to lead the charge of sensibility and encourage Japanese golf equipment manufacturers to develop non-conform-ing products.” Get the full details from this exclusive report.

24

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GROW THE 550 Renovation - Time0BaB ffled? If you are a golfer,

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STEVE GALE

MIKE SEBASTIANChief Executive Officer/Managing Editor

[ [email protected] ]

ANGELA RAYMONDPresident [ [email protected] ]

RAQUEL M. ARCEGAArt Director & Ezine Development[ [email protected] ]

WAYNE LWEEVideo Editor/Streaming services[ [email protected] ]

MYRA PARASAccounts Executive


LAWRENCE YOUNGEditor (New Equipment)


ALICE HOMarketing Executive


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Contributing Professionals IMG ACADEMY, TONY MEECHAI, CHRIS SMEAL, DAVID MILNE & LAWRIE

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Correspondents ROBIN BARWICK (EUROPE), RISHI NARAIN (INDIA)

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14 15 ASIAN GOLF14 15 ASIAN GOLF

SHARED THOUGHTS From The Publisher

I recently had an opportunity to at-

tend a coaching session for junior

golfers and what struck me was the

importance attached to honesty

and integrity in the game of golf. I

was very impressed by the coach

for stressing upon the youngsters the role

that golf can and will play in developing

and moulding their characters. Mind you,

this was done well before the kids were

even taken out to the range to begin their

journey in learning golf.

How often are you reminded that the

game of golf serves as the bedrock for great

human values like honesty and integrity. It

is the only game known to man where no

referee is required to keep a player honest.

After what I witnessed at this coaching

The Game Of Golf Must Distance Itself From

TAINTED SPONSORSsession, I could not help but reflect on some

of the shocking shenanigans that some

major sponsors of the game are involved

in when it comes to corporate honesty and

integrity. I don’t have to point fingers in

this instance because what is playing out

with regard to massive tax frauds is not only

shocking but it is also immoral, dastardly

and shameful!

Imagine, while great pains are be-

ing taken to imbue strong moral codes in

juniors through the game of golf, we as an

industry welcome these rogues to support

the game of golf through their sponsorship

of golf events. What an oxymoron!

Just imagine what could be going

through the minds of these youngsters when

they start associating the names of these

tainted corporations with the game of golf.

What is even more shocking is the

fact that the powers that be in golf remain

absolutely quiet. There should be a code

of ethics that safeguards the game from

being scarred and tainted by corporations

that have run foul by the law. To stand by

and continue accepting support from these

sponsors amounts to the game of golf con-

doning and supporting whatever despi-

cable practices that are brought to light.

Alas, like so many things in life today,

size, power and money can buy pardon and

forgiveness. It’s a pity that golf’s good repu-

tation as a game with a rich heritage and

tradition should be dragged through the

cesspool of disgrace by blemished spon-

sors. Golf deserves better!

“Money, it’s gonna ruin sports.” – O.B. Keeler, a reporter for the Atlanta Journal

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10 11 ASIAN GOLF

COVER STORY The Future Of Golf

Whether you like it or not, the era of Tiger Wood’s total dominance in golf is over. Don’t expect the great super-star, perhaps the greatest golfer who ever lived, to regain his lofty position as the world’s number one player. Inasmuch as it is a sad fact of life, the pathway of sports history is marked by the decline and ultimate fall of sporting titans. It’s only human so let’s resign to accept that Tiger will remain as a unique legend in golf and let that memory stay on for as long as history wants to keep it under its spotlight.

With the passing of the Woods era, golf

is set to herald the dawn of a new era.

Many pundits are rooting for young

Rory McIlroy to ascend to the majestic

throne and take over the mantle from

the man whom he once idolized. While his current perfor-

mance indicates that he is the new north star of golf, one

wonders if he has the qualities, endurance and pull power of

Tiger Woods. Only time will tell. McIlroy is operating under

different circumstances which will make it quite a struggle

for him to stay at the pinnacle of the game for too long.

Remember that when Tiger roared onto the world golf

stage, he was a powerful young stud with a game that

struck fear in the hearts and minds of most of the guys who

plied their trade on the professional tours.

A good many of them were in their late thirties and

early forties. Many led life-styles that were not necessar-

ily controlled by strict physical fitness regimens or diets.

Tiger changed all of that and in fact he set the standard by

which professional golfers had to prepare themselves to be

competitive week in and week out on tour. There’s no more

tolerance for players who don’t meet the stringent physical

and mental requirements.

In fact, Tiger threw open the door to younger players

to enter the game and challenge for the game’s highest

honours. He was single-handedly responsible to bring on

board youngsters, all wide-eyed and bushy-tailed and with

no inhibitions or fear to take on the best in the world.

A quick glance of the various professional tours will re-

veal that almost all players in the top ten rankings are aged

below thirty five years old. McIlroy himself is still a tender

25 years old and then there are even younger upstarts

like Jordan Spieth (21 years) and Patrick Reed (24).

If you glance over at the women professionals,

age takes a huge beating – the current world

number one, Lydia Ko is only 17 years and

she has already rocketed up the ranks in

under one year since she turned profes-

sional! Down the ranks of the top ten

players on the LPGA leaderboard, all

are young and under 30 years of age.

At this juncture, it may be worth

understanding that the largest number

of qualifying players on the US PGA and Eu-

ropean Tours fall into the 30 to 35 years of age category.

This would seem to indicate, through sheer weight of

numbers, that most golfers reach their peak in their early

thirties. By virtue of their position at the head of the US

PGA and European Tour money lists, these players are

the best in the world. So the fact that a good major-

ity of them are aged between 30 and 35 year of age is

significant.

So, back to the thrust of this article – who are the new

sheriffs in town? Well, we feel that these are the young

guns who will be dominating the sport for the next few

years.


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12 13 ASIAN GOLF

COVER STORY The Future Of Golf

■ Rory McIlroy (no surprise)

■ Jason Day

■ Patrick Reed

■ Ricky Fowler

■ Jordan Spieth

■ Hideki Matsuyama

■ Brooks Koepka

■ Daniel Berger

However, we hasten to add that

no one should expect to see the sort

of strangle-hold dominance that Tiger

had during his reign. The aforemen-

tioned youngsters will share mo-

ments of glory and expect to see more

youngsters come forth to challenge for

top honours. This will be the changing

landscape on the professional tours and

youth with prevail always.

It is worth noting also that last year,

more than 50 percent of the winners on

the PGA Tour were under 30 years of age and

this trend will no doubt continue in 2015 and

beyond.

How about the Asian professional golf scene?

Well, with the exception of veteran Thai superstar

Thongchai Jaidee who is well over 40 years, the rest

of the field in the Top Ten Order of Merit are in their 30’s.

The current top dog on this ranking is India’s Anirban Lahiri

who is 27 years old and is on a big winning streak at the

moment.

Asian Golf first met Lahiri about four years ago and we were

impressed with what we saw then. We recognized the young

Indian as being the total golf package. He had a good game that

showed tremendous promise. He had the right breeding that helped him dis-

play excellent manners, good personality and he possessed the flair necessary

to be an international star.

Fast forward to 2015, and Lahiri is now poised to be the continent’s big su-

per star. As the No. 1 player on the Asian Tour, he has already notched up four

victories in the past 11 months, including the Malaysian and Indian Opens. He

is currently ranked 35th in the world, and this places him two spots ahead of

the 2013 Fedex Cup winner Brandt Snedeker who was once ranked 4th on the

Official World Golf Rankings.

Why do we think that Lahiri is going to be Asia’s flag-bearer on the global

golf scene? The answer is simple. He has an incredibly solid game and he

is very marketable. Let’s not forget also that he is world class – he is ranked

above Tiger Woods, Louis Oosthuizen, Jason Dufner and Webb Simpson which

says a lot for the young Indian professional.

The son of an Indian military doctor, Lahiri took up the game when he was 8

years old. He is following in the footsteps first blazed open by Jeev Milkha Singh

and Arjun Atwal. Both Singh and Atwal were India’s first two big stars who went

on to build solid careers playing on the European and PGA Tours respectively.

In a recent report Atwal is reported to have told Lahiri: “You know, we have

done all these things that everyone looks up to. You have the opportunity to

do that at 27, 28. We did it at 35, 36. So you’ve got that much more time to

outdo us and outdo yourself.”

The report went on to add that Lahiri was moved, and motivated, by

Atwal’s words. He said he wanted to create a ripple effect that created greater

participation in the game and higher expectations. “I’m getting the opportuni-

ties at a much younger age than they did, and for me, that is the greatest gift

- time,” Lahiri said.

With the Presidents Cup coming up later this year, Nick Price, the Inter-

national team captain is said to be watching Lahiri with some intense inter-

est. If Price picks him for the team, Lahiri will become the first Indian player to

compete in the biennial event in South Korea. Commenting on Lahiri during the

recent WGC Cadillac Championship, Price said, “Looks like he can make a big putt

on a big occasion …. he’s very calm, collected, and I think he’s going to be an asset

to our team.”

Lahiri’s rise to the top has even resulted in the European Tour naming him as the

golfer of the month for February 2015. In a statement, the tour said, “Anirban Lahiri

has been named The European Tour Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month following the

incredible run of form that saw the 27 year old Indian win the Maybank Malaysian

Open and the Hero Indian Open in the space of three weeks.” It went on to add,

“Three months ago Lahiri was battling to win a place on The European Tour at the

Qualifying School Final Stage, but his extraordinary February exploits have cata-

pulted him to 34th place on the Official World Golf Ranking and guaranteed

him a place at The Masters

Tournament.”

So, with Lahiri lead-

ing a young brigade of

top stars, it is hoped

that this will inspire

more young Asians

to aspire to shoot for

the stars and aim for

top honours at the

highest level of the

game of golf.

ISSUE 175 APRIL 2015RORY MCILROY

JASON DAY

PATRICK REED

LYDIA KO

RICKIE FOWLER

JORDAN SPIETH

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

BROOKS KOEPKA

DANIEL BERGER

14 15 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATUIRE 2015 Asian Golf Awards

The Asian Golf Awards is the most prestigious awards in the golf

industry across the Asia Pacific Region. It brings honour to the award winning organization, and it especially encourages much more initiatives to be created to enhance the golf industry’s developments.”

As the longest established

and most respected awards

programme throughout the

Asia Pacific, on-line polling

is expected to be frenetic. If

the polling last year is any-

thing to go by, voting for 2015 is expected

to smash the record set last year where

more than 70,000 votes were cast.

The polls for the Asian Golf Awards are

now open on-line and voting can be conduct-

ed at http://tinyurl.com/agmawards2015

The awards programme is jointly orga-

nized by the Asia Pacific Golf Group (APGG)

in conjunction with the Club Managers

Association of Asia (CMAA).

“This is the second year where APGG, the

owner of the programme is collaborating

with the CMAA and this collaboration is firm

testimony of the high regard and respect

that the club industry in the Asia Pacific

accords the Asian Golf Awards, “said Mike

Sebastian, chief executive officer of APGG

and concurrently president of the CMAA.

The voting for thirty-eight categories

will go on for three months and will close

on June 30. The results of the 2015 polls

will be announced during the Asian Golf

Awards Gala Banquet at the 2015 Asia

Pacific Golf Summit which will be staged in

Singapore. The final date will be announced

in mid-April.

“In keeping with tradition, we will

honour and celebrate the awards at a

grand gala banquet befitting its status as

the “Oscars” of the Asian golf club and golf

industry and the venue that we have se-

lected to stage this spectacular show will be

The annual Asian Golf Awards poll for 2015 starts on April 1 and hundreds of golf clubs in the region are expected to start jostling for top results to score big in what is widely regarded as the most prestigious awards programme for the golf club industry in the region.

16 17 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATUIRE 2015 Asian Golf Awards

It’s the “Oscars” of golf where excellence is

recognised within the industry.” – Stacey Walton director of Banyan Golf Club and Resort in Hua Hin

We proudly showcase the awards for our accom-

plishments and look forward to many more in the years to come.” – Brian Curley principal, Schmidt-Curley Design

befitting of the grand occasion,” said Angela

Raymond, executive director of APGG and

the CMAA.

There is no denying the regard and

respect that the Asian Golf Awards enjoys

in the Asia Pacific. Perhaps its value and

importance is best summed up by the man

universally considered as “Mr. Golf Asia”,

Dr. Ken Chu, chairman of the Mission Hills

Group.

This is how he views the awards: “The

Asian Golf Awards is the most prestigious

awards in the golf industry across the Asia

Pacific Region. It brings honour to the

award winning organization, and it espe-

cially encourages much more initiatives to

be created to enhance the golf industry’s

developments.”

Another strong proponent of the pro-

gramme is John Blanch, general manager

of the prestigious Thai Country Club in

Bangkok who said, “The Asian Golf Awards

are the pre-eminent awards for the golf in-

dustry in the region. Having been involved

with many clubs in many different countries

in the region I know that each one of those

clubs holds success in these awards above

all others. At Thai Country Club each award

is cherished as the industry gold standard.”

As interest in the Asian Golf Awards is

getting more global attention, the organ-

isers have decided that the gala awards

banquet and the results of the 2015 awards

programme will be telecast “live” via video

stream worldwide.

Recognising the importance of the

awards programme, Stacey Walton, director

of Banyan Golf Club and Resort in Hua Hin,

Thailand said, “It’s the “Oscars” of golf where

excellence is recognised within the industry.

I was applauded by our owners, members,

visitors, tour operators, colleagues and

team at Banyan Golf Club when we made a

big sweep of the awards last year.”

He continued, “The awards are extreme-

ly inspirational for owners and managers

to invest in making quality improvements,

implementing change by finding new and

innovative ways for a golf club to stand out

and be unique. Providing a memorable golf

experience to each member and every visi-

tor will certainly result in gaining more well

deserved votes!”

The nations that will be covered by this

year’s poll will include Japan, South Korea,

Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Philip-

pines, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia,

Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Sin-

gapore, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan,

Bangladesh and the Middle East.

In scope and scale, the Asian Golf

Awards is generally considered the biggest

programme of its kind anywhere in the

world. World renowned golf course de-

signer and architect, Brian Curley, principal

of the award-winning firm of Schmidt-Cur-

ley Design concurs: “The Asian Golf Awards

have been very instrumental in our success

and ability to showcase our talents to

new clients and users. With what can be a

fragmented and difficult exercise to identify

multitude of courses and businesses in a

large and diverse Asian market, the Asian

Golf Awards help to identify the cream of

the crop and give order to the vast array

of choices made available to the end user.

We proudly showcase the awards for our

BANYAN GOLF CLUB AND RESORT , HUA HIN THAI COUNTRY CLUB


Winning or being placed in one of the categories

is not only a great achievement and honour, but provides each recipient with great recognition that is of considerable benefit to their business.” – Harald Elisson manag-ing director, Black Mountain Golf Club

ASIAN GOLF AWARDS EXPANDS

The 2015 Asian Golf Awards is in a growth mode and

this year will witness the addition of new award categories.

The total number of categories now stands at forty-

four and the new additions include the following:

■ Best Golf Club Experience in Asia Pacific

■ Best Managed Golf Club in Asia Pacific

■ Best Locker Room/Male or Female in Asia Pacific

■ Best Professional Golf Coach in Asia Pacific

■ Best Golf Equipment and Services Supplier (Agronomy) in Asia Pacific

■ Best Golf Club Equipment and Accessories Supplier in Asia Pacific

accomplishments and look forward to many

more in the years to come.”

Harald Elisson, managing director of

the award winning Black Mountain Golf

Club and voted the Best Golf Club General

Manager in 2014 looks upon the Asian

Golf Awards very favourably and this is

what he thinks about the programme, “We

regard the Asian Golf Awards as the best

and most credible in the region. The fact

that they have been in existence for 15

years is testament to their importance and

stature in the golf industry in Asia Pacific.

They provide a benchmark for golf clubs

throughout the region. Winning or being

placed in one of the categories is not only

a great achievement and honour, but

provides each recipient with great recogni-

tion that is of considerable benefit to their

business.”

The Asian Golf Awards just does not

recognize service standards. It recognizes

a myriad of operational aspects of a golf

club and the golf industry. One such area is

the general maintenance of a golf course.

Last year, for the first time, the programme

recognized the Best Golf Course Superin-

tendent and the award went to Minachai

Srichanya from Banyan Golf Club and Resort

in Hua Hin, Thailand. “I was honoured to

be given this award and I hope that this

will start a trend where owners pay more

attention to the general state of their golf

courses,” said Srichanya.

The next ninety-days will be the

measure of how well golf clubs in Asia

fare. Now is the time to rally the support of

club members and patrons alike to come

together to vote for their favourites. Poll-

ing will only be conducted on-line. Kindly

ensure that each vote comes fully docu-

mented with the name of the voter, e-mail

and or telephone contact detail which are

required for verification purposes. Voting is

now open and it’s time to show your sup-

port for the golf clubs of Asia and the men

and women who work so hard at keep-

ing everything humming like a well-oiled

machine.

BLACK MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB

18 19 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE 2015 U.S. Masters Preview


Here is a Bernhard Langer sta-

tistic that will surprise some:

in the 1985 Masters, over

72 holes, the German golfer

totaled just a single three-

putt on the lightening-fast,

bent-grass greens of Augusta National. Put-

ting of that consistency at Augusta is usually

worth its weight in green wool and brass

buttons, and that week Langer won by two

from Seve Ballesteros, Curtis Strange and Ray-

mond Floyd. The more senior readers among

you might be disheartened to be reminded

– apologies in advance - that Langer’s first

Masters triumph was now 30 years ago.

Langer made a much less remarkable

debut among the towering pines of Augusta

three years earlier, in 1982, when the polar op-

posite of a putting performance sent the curly-

haired rookie heading the wrong way down

Magnolia Lane on the Friday afternoon.

“When I first played at Augusta I had 11

three-putts in 36 holes,” recalls Langer with

surprising clarity for a 33-year-old statistic

you’d think he would want to forget. “That

could have become 22 three-putts if I had

played four rounds!”

Management of those Augusta greens

can’t be achieved in a crash course.

“I had to putt better on those greens,

and just as importantly, I had to figure out

where to hit my second shots into the

greens. I learned that lesson the hard

way,” reflects Langer, who putted

with a conventional blade in 1985,

with regular length shaft, but with

a cross-handed grip. The combina-

tion cracked Augusta’s code. “Just one

20 21 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE 2015 U.S. Masters Preview

I had to putt better on those greens, and just as importantly,

I had to figure out where to hit my sec-ond shots into the greens. I learned that lesson the hard way,” reflects Langer, who putted with a convention-al blade in 1985, with regular length shaft, but with a cross-handed grip.

The combination cracked Augus-ta’s code. “Just one three-putt

was a huge improvement. I holed out well from six feet and in and that was key.”

three-putt was a huge improvement. I holed out well

from six feet and in and that was key.”

The Masters is famed for its exciting finishes, as the

players navigate around the most famous back nine in

golf, with Amen Corner its beating heart. Another final

flourish was duly enacted in 1985.

“As I came off the ninth I saw that Curtis was

four shots ahead,” recalls Langer, who partnered

Ballesteros, with Floyd and Strange behind in the

final pairing. “I had played the front nine in even

par but I had lost ground by two shots. So I ap-

proached the 10th tee thinking I did not care if

it meant I finished 30th, I was going to play as

aggressively as possible and go for every flag.”

While Strange stalled, Langer accelerated.

He targeted the back-right pin position on 12,

knocked his ball close and marched off with a

two. More birdies flew in at the 13th, 15th and

17th, while Strange found water with his sec-

ond shots at both 13 and 15.

“I was five under par from the 10th to the

17th, but then I bogeyed the last to come

back in 32,” says Langer, 27 years old at the

time, and now 57. “I went from four behind at the

turn to two in front in the space of eight holes.”

A pair of 68s was the lowest weekend return

in the field, and saw Langer – dressed from top to

bottom in pillar-box red – slip his arms into the

Green Jacket. “Someone quipped that I looked like a

Christmas tree,” adds Langer. They never?

Another statistic you might not know: in 31

Masters appearances Langer has played 108 tourna-

ment rounds; more than any other European ever

to tee up there, and 14th among all Masters golfers

(he skipped over Byron Nelson’s 106 last year). At

the age of 56 last year, he finished 8th. Win or lose,

Langer continues to make his mark.


Amen Corner’ incorporates holes 11, 12, and

13 at Augusta National, which loop their

way around the southernmost end of the

course. American writer Herbert Warren

Wind coined the nickname ‘Amen Corner’

in reporting on the 1958 Masters for Sports

Illustrated magazine. They became the most

famous two words he ever wrote.

“Amen Corner is a very special place,” says

Langer. “The difficulty is that water comes

into play on every hole. It is a crucial part of

the golf course, where you could come out

one or two under par, but you could also

blow up and go three or four over.”

11 ‘White Dogwood’, par 4, 505 yards“The 11th has become such a hard hole,”

starts Langer. “Augusta has planted many

trees to the right so it is much more narrow,

and lengthened it to 505 yards.

“You are also faced with water to the

left of the green and behind it,” continues

Langer. “I have to come into that green with

a very long club, and there is often gusting

wind to contend with. The wind seems to

switch very often down there.

Often you see the flag on 11 blowing

from left to right, yet 80 yards away you can

see the flag on 12 blowing in the opposite

direction. Then you throw some grass into

the air and it comes back straight into you.

There is something weird about the wind at

Amen Corner.”

12 ‘Golden Bell’, par 3, 155 yards“It is the way the green is angled on the 12th

Bernhard Langer’s Tour Around Amen Cornerthat makes it such a hard hole,” explains

Langer. “If the green ran straight across from

one side to the other it would not be an

issue, but the green is angled from front-left

to back-right, and so is Rae’s Creek. If you pull

your tee shot your ball flies over the green on

the left or if you push the tee shot it will drop

into the water on the right.

“Having made both of those mistakes

over the years, I started to think Jack

Nicklaus’s advice is the safest strategy: to

play over the bunker [in front of the central

section of the green], even though that is

the narrowest part of the green. With the

swirling winds that is a tough tee shot.”

13 ‘Azalea’, par 5, 510 yards“The 13th may be my favourite hole in

the world,” declares Langer. “It is a risk and

reward hole. Ideally you want to hook the

tee shot, to hug the left-hand side of the

fairway, along by the creek, because that

shortens the hole and gives you a flatter

lie. No matter what, the second shot will

be played from a hanging lie [above the

right-hander’s feet], which means the ball

should naturally hook. This means the line

for the approach is to the right of the green

and into the creek, and then you must wait

for the ball to turn left into the green. That is

something a lot of players don’t like to do –

we don’t like aiming into a hazard – in case

the ball does not hook. If you over-hook

the approach there is more trouble waiting

- maybe even an unplayable lie among the

azaleas.”

Amen Corner is a very special place,” says Langer. “The difficulty is that wa-

ter comes into play on every hole. It is a cru-cial part of the golf course, where you could come out one or two under par, but you could also blow up and go three or four over.”

Asia Pacific Father and Son Golf Tournament is back again. 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 November 1 & 2, 2015 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, daughter, uncle/aunty and nephew/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

NOVEMBER 1 & 2, 2015LONG 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 Saigon Hotel to the golf course. Lunch, refreshment and dinner on both days. Prizes and goodie bags. One practice round on October 31.

The Father and Son Tournament is designed to promote greater family involvement in golf and clubs are encouraged to enter club teams to participate in what promises to be a fun tournament!

ORGANISED BY: LONG THANH GOLF RESORT

Come and Be Part of the Region’s Only Total Family Golf Event ... The 2015 Asia Pacific Father and Son Golf Tournament!

ONLINE Registration is open at: http://tinyurl.com/fsgt2015

For enquiries, please contact Alice Ho at [email protected] or call +65-63232800

DOWNLOAD PDF – RULES & REGULATIONS: http://tinyurl.com/fsgt-rr2015

24 25 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Focus On FootJoy

The DNA of FootJoy harks back to a rich pedigree based on quality, comfort and excellence in footwear. This is a 158 year old heritage and like an exquisite wine, the company has matured with age spanning three centuries. Today, it ranks as the world’s leading manufacturer of golf shoes and golf gloves.


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Besides a dominant share of the golf shoe

and glove markets, FootJoy has branched

out with the launch of its apparel and

outerwear range and it has rapidly risen

to become one of the biggest players

in the golf accessories and apparel

business.

This is the mark of FootJoy – a

company that is renowned the world over for its never

ending quest for excellence in all of its pursuits and this

push to be the best amongst the best manifests itself in

the fact that millions of FootJoy golf shoes, gloves, ap-

parel and accessories have been sold and this phenom-

enal demand continues to rise globally.

As part of its mission statement, FootJoy maintains

that it is committed to enhancing a golfer’s on-course

experience through the development of superior golf

shoes, gloves, apparel, outerwear, socks and accessories. The

company prides itself that its products exceed expectations in

all weather and playing conditions through advanced technical

innovation, performance, and supreme comfort.

Call it what you may, FootJoy is all about passion and this is re-

flected in everything that the company does. It has kicked off 2015

with what is arguably one of its most impressive milestones – the

introduction of the revolutionary HyperFlex golf shoe. Not only is it

a product of cutting edge technology, it is also a work of art.

The HyperFlex prompted ASIAN GOLF to request for an

exclusive interview with the company and we got a chance to sit

down and discuss the company’s exciting products and its future

with Steve Gale, FootJoy’s Vice President for International Sales.

The following are excerpts of the interview:

ASIAN GOLF: FootJoy has launched itself into 2015 with a major game-changing trend – the launch of the revolutionary HYPERFLEX golf shoe. Whichever way one y g y

26 27 ASIAN GOLF

TM

looks at this product, it is not only going to be a game changer for FootJoy but the industry in general. Can you talk to this?

STEVE GALE: We agree. HyperFlex is a great combination of func-

tion and athletic inspiration and a look that golfers haven’t seen from

FootJoy in the past. The player that is interested in this look can now

get it from FootJoy along with the performance we are known for.

AG: Over the years, we have witnessed numerous



cutting edge technology. However, the excitement generated with the launch of HYPERFLEX has been exceptional. It’s like the company has discovered the elusive “Ah-ha” moment for golf shoes! It’s going to be a hard act to follow - that’s what we think? What are your thoughts?

SG: We thought the same thing last year after the introduction of

DNA. That was an amazing new innovation in golf footwear and our

thoughts were similar to what you say...”how do we follow that?” But

our design and product teams were energized and immediately went

to work with a clean slate. We didn’t want to come next with another

version of DNA. The challenge was to create a brand new category

geared at different consumer needs.....and the result....HyperFlex.

AG: FJ’s R&D team deserves to be given the highest respect for the development of HYPERFLEX. Who would have ever considered drawing inspiration from a bridge! FlexGrid is amazing technology and how your R&D

HYPERFLEX is incredible. This is innovation taken to a whole new level! Must make everyone at FJ proud!

SG: That is the value in being the leader in golf footwear. We have

amazing designers whose sole passion is to determine what players

panish cave drawings from more than 15,000 years

ago show humans with animal skins or furs wrapped

around their feet. The body of a well-preserved “ice-

man” nearly 5,000 years old wears leather foot cover-

ings stuffed with straw. Shoes, in some form or another,

have been around for a very long time. The evolution of foot cover-

ings, from the sandal to present-day athletic shoes that are marvels of

engineering, continues as we find new materials with which to cover

our feet.

FootJoy – A Rich 158 Year HeritageLet’s take a time tunnel blast to the past – to be precise, let’s journey

back 158 years ago to the year 1857. The trip back in time takes us to

the town of Brockton, Massachusetts. The history books tell us that

this was the birthplace of the company that is today known through-

out the world as FootJoy.

Back then the company was simply the Burt and Packard Shoe

Company. Even then, it was widely known and respected for the high

standards it set for both design and comfort. Some sixty-three years

later, in the 1920’s the company changed and became known as Field

and Flint. This was the company that developed a range of golf shoes

that became to be called FootJoy.

Because the shoes were so good that in 1927, it outfitted the U.S.

team for the Ryder Cup and FootJoy was one of the first sponsors of

this prestigious event. The man who picked FootJoy for the American

Ryder Cup team was golf legend Walter Hagen.

Hagen was, of course, almost as famous for his clothes and ap-

pearance as he was for any of his exploits on, or indeed off, the course.

His endorsement was critical; soon more and more golfers were fol-

lowing his example and converting to FootJoy. By the time World War

Two ended, FootJoy had become the number one golf shoe on the

PGA Tour, a position which it has held ever since.

needs and desires are and then to match them with creative designs

and the fashion preferences of our audience. It is amazing to see

the variety of places they gather inspiration from; the Zakim Bridge

being a great example.

AG: With HYPERFLEX, FJ has been quick to recognise

While we see the younger demographics embracing this product with open arms, do you see the same response from FJ’s traditional market “sweet spot” - the older and more mature golfer? Do you see the traditionalist and conservatively minded accepting HYPERFLEX? In fact, what’s the market read from this demographic segment since the product was launched? Can you give us a sense of the acceptance level?

SG: This project started with a focus on the “younger minded” indi-

vidual. The team focused on the types of products they prefer in all

areas of their lives; professional and recreational. They then created

a golf shoe in HyperFlex that matches extreme golf performance

with those personal preferences. While the mind-set is definitely

younger than many of our other shoe categories, it has been very

interesting to see the broad range of players that have gravitated to

it. Whereas 10-15 years ago, you would not have seen many 40, 50

or 60 year olds in this type of styling, today it is quite commonplace.

28 29 ASIAN GOLF



Players are more athletic today in general and HyperFlex appeals to

that mindset.

AG: Besides rocking the golf shoe world, HYPERFLEX has also given us an insight into how well connected FJ is to today’s marketplace and consumption trends. For a company that has its origins tracking back to 1857, it is demonstrating that it registers really high on the “COOL” barometer. While the classics that made FJ are still around, you have populated your landscape with golf shoes that cater to every demographic sector and taste. This shows tremendous versatility. Can we assume that henceforth, FJ is going to be very sensitive to the younger demographics in the global marketplace?

SG: Our target audience is the avid player, regardless of age -

the player who takes their game seriously and wants to perform

at a higher level. They expect all of their products - balls, clubs,

gloves, footwear and apparel - to contribute to that experience.

And while all are interested in performance, their styling and fash-

ion preferences run the full spectrum. We still offer the traditional

patterns and colours for the players who prefer that look while now,

more-and-more, expanding into brighter colours and more fashion-

forward looks.

30 31 ASIAN GOLF

AG: Golf shoes have now become more like fashion accessories. They are trendy and the colours are exciting. With this as background, would it be fair to say that the release of new models will become more seasonal and more frequent going forward?

SG: I would certainly say that is true of colour and we will continue

to bring a fresh flow of fashion and colour in all of our categories.

However, we will only make structural

changes in categories when we feel we

have something to add for the avid

player. Change for the sake of

change doesn’t do the player

any good. I think the recent

changes in many products

are just superficial. When

FootJoy brings a new

product to market, you

can be assured that there

is a performance reason

for the change.

AG: Related to the above question are

changing trends in smart casual wear. We are seeing

more people, golfers and



non-golfers dressing up in golf apparel, shoes and accessories. It’s COOL to be seen dressed in these products. Again, do you see this trend growing as casual wear and comfort take on a paramount prominence both in and out of the

SG: We couldn’t agree more. Today’s players want

products that help them to perform at their best on the

course and then have the ability to transition into their

work or recreational lives. With the wardrobe for many

professionals moving toward more of a casual look,

this highlights the need for products that can be worn across all

environments.

AG: From being just a golf shoe company, FJ has grown exponentially. Today, you are major player in shoes, apparel and accessories – we notice that the apparel sector of FJ has become a major player. Range and quality and design have also expanded. Share with us your thoughts on the phenomenal growth your are

SG: When we completed our entry into full-line apparel back in 2012,

we had lofty expectations of where we could be by 2015. We actually

eclipsed those numbers within 2 years and are well ahead of our

original plan. With the player acceptance of our apparel products, we

have gradually expanded our line and will continue to do so. With

the energy created in footwear by DNA and HyperFlex, the continued

success of our glove range and the positive momentum for FJ Apparel

and accessories, yes, we feel as if we are firing on all cylinders.

AG: FJ is already the #1 shoe and glove company in golf. Looking ahead do you see the brand ascending to the top spot in the golf apparel and accessories business in the

SG: That certainly would be nice but we really don’t get caught up

so much in the market position. In apparel, many brands come and

go. We want to provide the golfer with the types of performance

products that will keep them coming back to the FJ brand for years

to come. When a player goes to his closet every day and has to

choose between all the brands he owns, we want him to choose FJ.

That is what drives us!

32 33 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Mizuno JPX Golf Ball

The real function of

the “micro dimples” kicks in as a golf ball peaks and

slows by stalling the descent phase by a fraction. This is what results in the new JPX golf ball

being able to increase its overall airtime.”

– Masashi Tamakoshi


But hang-time in golf? Jiminy

cricket! You bet your sweet

bippy! It’s for real and it’s

awesome!

Now that we’ve done with

the exclaiming and swear-

ing, what’s the big deal about hang-time in

golf? Well you see, the smart guys at Mizuno

Golf have just come out after having been

closeted for untold hours, days and months

(three years to be precise), with a product

that they believe will knock the socks of

your feet.

All the excitement is centred on a revolu-

tionary golf ball that takes the conventional

golf ball dimple to new heights. Introducing

the brand new Mizuno JPX Golf Ball!

We’ve all heard about hang-time in basketball and in football. For the uninitiated, hang-time is the length of time a punted football remains in the air or the length of time a leaping athlete, as a basketball player jumping for a dunk shot, remains in mid-air.

This revolutionary golf ball comes hot

on the heels of the high performance MP-S

and MP-X golf balls from Mizuno.

Central to the Mizuno JPX Golf Ball is

the addition of “micro-dimples” to the con-

ventional dimple pattern on a golf ball. The

“micro-dimple” concept came out of cutting

edge research undertaken in collaboration

with the Fukuoka Institute of Technology

into the ‘descent’ phase of ball flight. This is

a phase that Mizuno was quick to recognise

as being the least optimised in terms of cur-

rent dimple design.

Masashi Tamakoshi, Mizuno’s Head of

Golf Ball Development explains that the

addition of ‘micro-dimples’ located around

each larger dimple on the ball effectively

slows down the ball’s descent to extend

airtime and therefore distance. That’s it! The

extra-hang-time really works!

According to Tamakoshi the real function of

the “micro dimples” kicks in as a golf ball peaks

and slows by stalling the descent phase by a

fraction. This is what results in the new JPX golf

ball being able to increase its overall airtime.

Tamakoshi explains that the dimple clus-

ter featured on the JPX ball really does its job

towards the end of the ball’s flight. The micro

dimples form part of a 512 dimple pattern

wrapped around a three-piece construction

that makes the JPX golf ball very soft and

responsive.

Does the hang-time technology affect

higher ball speeds at impact? Absolutely not

according to Tamakoshi. “It’s all about keep-

ing the ball in the air for s slightly longer time

on its way down!” he emphasised.

Well, now that you have been introduced

to the brand new Mizuno JPX golf ball, get

out there on the course and show your

golfing buddies how you can eke out a few

more yards on your golf drive with hang-time

technology!

34 35 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Wilson Staff D200 Series

One thing that no one can fault Wilson Staff is for being consistent. This one century old golf equipment manu-facturer has lasted for 100 years by not being wishy-washy about how it has gone about its research and development projects.

A few years back, Wilson Staff launched the D-100 family of golf clubs and

the big buzz about these clubs centred on an engineering phenom-

enon that it called “The Right Light™ technology.

In simple terms, it’s all about infusing limited available mass to

create a powerful, solid-feeling, balanced golf club, increasing club

head speeds with the same swing effort for greater distance.

Since the introduction of this new technology, Wilson Staff has gone on to

launch the D200 series which takes “The Right Light™ technology to a whole

new level.


The secret to making a SuperLight product is to

use every available gram optimally so that you obtain a solid feeling, great sounding driver with the right launch and spin.”

In this special report, Asian Golf provides an exclu-

sive insight to the revolutionary D200 series.

After the D100s, the natural progression for Wilson

Staff was to take the next bold step which was to

introduce adjustability features. What does this mean

to a golfer, especially a slower-swinging player? Well, in a

nutshell it means that golfers with a slower swing speed can

now use a feature that heretofore was more or less meant for

golfers with fast swing speeds without adding to the weight.

Michael Vrska, Wilson Staff’s Global Director of Innovation

told Asian Golf, “The D200 driver technology is revolutionary - ul-

tra lightweight (SuperLight) combined with adjustability has never

been achieved before.” According to him, the company worked for

over two years to get the adjustable components and the right materials

to be as light as possible and to create a strong enough internal support

structure to house those components. “The secret to making a Super-

36 37 ASIAN GOLF

Light product is to use every available gram

optimally so that you obtain a solid feeling,

great sounding driver with the right launch

and spin. That’s not easy, which is why

the D200 driver is a game changer,” Vrska

explained.

The D200 driver is a game changer

alright – it can be set from 1° weaker to 1°

stronger than the marked loft, and the club

offers upright settings that produce a draw

bias. At 268 grams, the D200 is one gram

lighter than its predecessor, the D100. In the

Asian Golf test, it was discovered that the

D200 driver was not only easier to swing

– it looks like Wilson Staff has ingeniously

designed it to be a slice-buster, too. This is

wonderful news for slow swingers!

“We discovered a way to make the D200

driver even lighter than the D100 while

adding adjustability. The lightweight feel

in these clubs allows the player to swing

even faster with the same effort, providing

uncharted distances,” said Doug Thiel, Wilson

Staff’s Global Director of Marketing.

The advanced technology has also been

applied to the D200 series of fairway woods,

hybrids and irons. The woods and hybrids

utilize 455 Carpenter Steel which produces

higher CT and ball speeds than other types

of steel and are high launching and very

easy to hit.

The D200 irons are also loaded with

cutting edge technology that Wilson Staff

calls Speed Sole Technology. Essentially

what the company has done is to

remove the extra material

behind the bottom of the face of the iron to

create driver-like CT and deliver higher per-

formance on shots hit low on the face. This

innovation has resulted in more weight being

moved to the heel and toe of the iron, result-

ing in higher MOI and more forgiveness.

Thiel also took the opportunity to inform

Asian Golf about another exciting new prod-

uct from Wilson Staff – the DUO golf ball. “We

are maintaining our low compression leader-

ship by launching the World’s Softest Golf

Ball. The new DUO truly is a game-changer

and the industry has taken notice. 2015 will

be a very telling year for us.”

“Our key focus in 2015 is the D200 line of

equipment – designed for the D, or Distance

player – which accounts for the majority of

the market,” said Tim Clarke, President

of Wilson Staff. “We are challeng-

ing consumers to try Wilson Staff

when they step into the fitting

We are challenging consumers to try Wilson Staff when they step into the

fitting bay. We have always made great equipment but we are taking a stand behind our innovation with confidence; asking peo-ple to put our 7 iron up against any competi-tor out there, guaranteeing we’ll be longer and straighter.”

bay. We have always made great equip-

ment but we are taking a stand behind our

innovation with confidence; asking people

to put our 7 iron up against any competitor

out there, guaranteeing we’ll be longer and

straighter.”

Clarke who has led the progress of Wil-

son Staff for the past few years pointed out:

“It is bold moves like these that will earn

consideration of our brand. That and having

tour-proven equipment. Led by Padraig

Harrington’s win at The Honda Classic, our

players are off to a strong start

Wilson Staff ranks golfers in three dis-

tinct categories that lay focus on:

Feel Control Distance

As state earlier, the D200s are all about

the “D” player – the player who wants

distance. And these new clubs do just that

– in play, they add some yards, are more

accurate and inspire confidence.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Wilson Staff D200 Series

38 39 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Scotty Cameron: GOLO Family Of Putters


The name Scotty Cameron is sacred in the game of golf. Golfers, both professionals and club players alike play with a special sense of

confidence when they hold a putter that bears the Scotty Cameron name.

The living legend grew up making putters and his design philosophy is anchored on a simple belief that when a putter is finished, it should look like it

melts into the ground. Herein lies the unique mark of distinction that makes a put-ter produced by Scotty Cameron the finest putters for the best players in the world.

Today, Scotty Cameron in partnership with the Acushnet Company (the parent company of Titleist) continues to produce the most sought after range of putters in the world.

40 41 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Scotty Cameron: GOLO Family Of Putters

The genius of Scotty Cameron

is back and this time around, it

has manifested itself in an excit-

ing range of putters labelled as

the GOLO putter.

In describing the GOLO family of

putters, Cameron declared, “Few sensory

perceptions rival the satisfaction of a per-

fectly struck putt and with my innovative

face-sole core technology engineered into

each new GOLO putter, that sensation can

be experienced with every roll.”

The master craftsman went on to

explain: “The GOLO line has been around

for three years now, and it’s won a lot of golf

tournaments with some of the best players

in the world - we’ve moved in today’s tech-

nology, machining and computer systems

and taken everything we’ve learned on tour

to create an even better GOLO.”

According to Cameron, the new range

of GOLO putters possess a better feel, better

sound, better alignment and better overall

performance. “It’s the next wave of con-

struction technology – and it’s simply bet-

ter. Nobody else has done what we’ve done

with this line,” he confidently claimed.

The new GOLOs are Cameron’s most

forward-thinking design thoughts merged

into a line that offers a variety of putter

shapes and configurations to fit any player’s

game. Each model incorporates new multi-

material, aircraft-grade aluminum and pre-

cision milled 303 stainless steel construc-

tion for improved MOI, increased stability

and unbelievable forgiveness.

The steel frame is seamlessly connected

to the aluminum face-sole core at five key

points with new vibration dampening

technology that delivers the softest feeling

Cameron putter in recent years.

The steel body has a Silver Mist finish

that elegantly contrasts with the dark anod-

ized aluminum face-sole core that pops

through the top to create a sightline field

on the back flange for easy alignment. Four-

way relief on the sole prevents snagging for

a smooth takeaway.

The new GOLOs include four models:

GOLO 3, a mid-mallet with a heel

shafted flow neck;

GOLO 5, an angled back mallet with a

crisp single bend shaft;

GOLO 5R, a rounded back mallet with a

crisp single bend shaft; and

GOLO 6, a B-back mallet with a crisp

single bend shaft.

A new GOLO 5 Dual Balance model

is available for those players who prefer

the GOLO mallet head but need maximum

stability in their stroke.

In reference to the design of the GOLO

putters, Cameron said, “The goal of the

design was to move the weight out of the

midsection and enhance the perimeter

weighting like a horse-shoe around the

outside to create higher moment of inertia

and increase the resistance to twist ….. so

the more we can get a horse-shoe, getting

the weight out and back, the better off we

are on off-centre hits.”

The face-sole core is a single piece of

dark anodized lightweight aluminum that

comprises the GOLO’s sole and midsection,

wraps up and around to create the face and

pops through the flange to create the sight-

line field. The aluminum forms the entire

putter face, as opposed to a traditional face

insert that occupies only a specific centre

section of the face.

GOLO putters utilize new vibration

dampening technology to achieve a seam-

less integration of the aluminum core and

steel frame. Internal vibration dampeners in

five strategic locations preserve the benefits

of the aluminum, providing golfers with a

softer feel and sound across the putter face.

“We now have the softest feeling putter

we’ve ever had in the GOLO line,” Cameron

said. “With the new vibration dampen-

ing system, when we put the two pieces

together the aluminum actually does not

touch the stainless steel. It’s very slick.”

The soles of the new GOLO models are

designed with enhanced relief in four direc-

tions, front-to-back and heel-to-toe. “This is

quite unique. We now have relief all the way

around the sole, so it sits on the dead cen-

tre,” Cameron said. “Hardly ever are you on a

The new GOLOs are Cameron’s most forward-thinking design thoughts

merged into a line that offers a variety of putter shapes and configurations to fit any player’s game. Each model incorporates new multi-material, aircraft-grade aluminum and precision milled 303 stainless steel con-struction for improved MOI, increased sta-bility and unbelievable forgiveness.”

ISSUE 175 APRIL 2015ISISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSUE UEUUEUUUUEEEEEEEUE UEE E EUEE 171175177777775775751755555551777555175175777557755555 APAPAAAAAPAPAPAPAAPAPAA RIRIRIRIRIRIRIIRIRIIIIRIL L LLLL L L LLLL LLL 20202020202020202020020202020202 15151515151515151515155155151515551515151555

flat surface on a putting green, so we made

the draft angles perfect in each direction,

front-to-back, heel-to-toe, so that you’re not

going to snag the ground.”

“We feel in this new line that we have

developed innovative putters for all mal-

let fans,” Cameron explained. He added,

“Whether you’re a line guy, a round guy, a

square guy, a soft guy, a heel-shafted guy –

we’ve got it.”

In conjunction with the release of the

GOLOs, Cameron has also announced the

launch of his high performance line of Se-

lect putters with the new Select Roundback,

a modern mid mallet design with tour-

validated balance and stability.

“When we introduced them a year ago,

the Fastback and Squareback instantly

resonated with golfers at every level of the

game …... alignment is a huge trend on

tour, and having multiple

sight lines on a head works

to benefit many golfers es-

pecially if you have difficulty

setting up to the ball and

squaring the face at impact,

this is a great option.”

The new range includes

three modern blade designs.

Select putters use a deep-

milled face to deliver tour-

validated feel and soft sound.

Select weights in the heel and

toe are perfectly matched to the

shaft length to provide balance

and stability.

Select Roundback, Fastback

and Squareback have a shorter blade

length and extended back with a red

anodized aluminum soleplate that allows

for a thicker steel face for solid feel. Each

is designed with a single bend shaft that

promotes minimal toe flow for players that

want, or need, less arc in their putting stroke.

Select Roundback, Fastback and

Squareback models feature vertical and

horizontal pop-through sight lines on the

back flange that are positioned directly

between a player’s eyes, providing a visual

reference to help square the face.

“Whether you prefer a horizontal or

vertical sight line, the crisscross makes it

easier to square the face. If you set the put-

ter too far forward, the crisscross will make

the face appear closed. If you put it too far

back, it will look open. Alignment is more

and more becoming the talk of the tour and

the feedback out there has been fantastic,”

Cameron explained.

So, for all those of you, who want a re-

ally great putter, check out the new range

of putters from Scotty Cameron. You’d

do well to stick one in your bag – there’s

nothing like a powerful weapon to help you

lower your scores.

42 43 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS PING’s Point Of View

With the Glide wedges we took a hands-down

approach, engineering the club from grip to sole for maximizing trajectory control from any dis-tance on full swings and touch shots alike. The combination of a specialized grip, wedge-specific shaft and new head designs has produced PING’s most consistent and versatile wedge line ever.”

If you struggle with your short game as I

have, you know how quickly strokes can

add up around the green. Well, I’m happy

to report that help has arrived for us in the

form of PING’s new Glide wedges, which

have brought dramatic improvement for me. Judg-

ing by the number of tour events they’ve been part

of with pros like Bubba Watson, Billy Horschel and

Miguel Ángel Jiménez, my experience isn’t new.

With the Glide wedges it’s remarkably easy to make

solid impact. As a result, I’m hitting approach shots

closer to the flag and I’m getting up and down

from off the green to save par and, even better,

convert birdies. Our exciting new technology will

help you achieve similar success.

With the Glide wedges we took a hands-down

approach, engineering the club from grip to sole

for maximizing trajectory control from any distance

on full swings and touch shots alike. The combi-

nation of a specialized grip, wedge-specific shaft

and new head designs has produced PING’s most

consistent and versatile wedge line ever.

w w w. p i n g . c o m


BY JOHN K. SOLHEIMPING Vice President of Engineering

Loft, sole width and bounce angle are among the important considerations in the “scoring clubs” to make sure you can impart maximum spin and control on shots into the green. PING’s new Glide wedges are custom-engi-neered with multiple loft and sole combinations

John K. Solheim, PING Vice President of Engineering.

THE DYLA-WEDGE GRIP: In creating this

unique grip, we took our inspiration from

observing tour players who are espe-

cially skilled with their wedges. A trait

they all share: They grip down when

executing shots requiring utmost

precision. Our proprietary grip is

¾ of an inch longer to encourage

gripping down to achieve a lower

trajectory and “dial in” tighter con-

trol on touch shots. Also, grip-down

markings at 1 3/8-inch intervals guide

hand placement, and a softer tapering

profile improves feel when utilizing the

lower grip-down markings.

CFS WEDGE SHAFT: Optimized in weight, flex and

balance, this 118-gram proprietary shaft promotes lower

launch with enhanced control, feel and stability (CFS). Also,

the swingweights get progressively heavier from the lower

to the higher lofts, creating a heavier system weight to

provide a more stable feel that further enhances control.

IMPROVED TURF INTERACTION: Concerted effort was made to improve turf

interaction by modifying the lead-edge radius, primary camber (or bounce),

and trail edge/heel relief. The goal was to optimize performance on full shots in

the lower lofts and maximize versatility in the higher-lofted wedges. A more-

rounded lead edge improves initial turf interaction at impact while trail edge/

heel relief unlocks versatility when opening the face.

FITTING BY SOLE TYPE: Three sole configurations – standard, thin and wide

-- ensure the wedges will glide through the turf and allow golfers to be fit ac-

cording to their attack angle and most common turf and sand conditions.

Standard Sole (SS) – A balance of versatility and playability, best suited for

players with a moderate attack angle and divot depths, and when turf condi-

tions vary.

Thin Sole (TS)– Maximum versatility. With the least amount of bounce it per-

forms best from tight lies and a shallow attack angle and shallow divots. Heel

relief enables golfers to keep the lead edge low when opening the face.

Wide Sole (WS) – Maximum forgiveness. This configuration is highly forgiving

due to the large sole width. A good fit for softer playing conditions and a steep

angle of attack because it prevents digging.

LOFT-OPTIMIZED GORGE GROOVES: We’ve engineered two groove designs in

the Glide wedges to optimize their versatility. The radius and wall angles vary

by loft in our Gorge grooves (which are precision-milled at PING) to ensure

higher spin for consistent, predictable results.

In lofts 47° through 54°, grooves have a 16° sidewall for more groove vol-

ume to maximize spin consistency on full shots.

In the 56° through 60° lofts, a 24° sidewall and tighter radius help compress

and “grab” the ball to maximize spin on short approaches and chip shots for

added precision around the green.

MOISTURE-REPELLING FINISH: Another attribute that aids performance is

the chrome-plated 431 stainless steel head. The finish repels moisture to create

more friction for improved spin and consistency in wet conditions and lies in

the rough.

We’ve all experienced the frustration of standing in the fairway with a

wedge in our hands, in position to make par or better, only to misplay a shot

or two and let the scoring opportunity slip away. The Glide wedges offer a

specialized grip, shaft and head custom-engineered to deliver the trajectory

control you need to attack pins and consistently knock the ball close. So visit

a PING custom fitter to determine which Glide wedges are the best fit for your

swing and your game. You’ll be better for it.

EQUIPMENT FOCUS PING’s Point Of View

The Glide wedges offer a spe-cialized grip, shaft and head

custom-engineered to deliver the tra-jectory control you need to attack pins and consistently knock the ball close. So visit a PING custom fitter to determine which Glide wedges are the best fit for your swing and your game. You’ll be better for it.”

44 45 ASIAN GOLF

46 47 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Taylormade’s AeroBurner Irons


Interested? OK – we’ll let the news rip right across

our pages!

Meet the speed merchants of golf - Taylor-

made’s AeroBurner irons, the AeroBurner Mini-

driver and the AeroBurner golf balls.

AeroBurner irons is a brand new product line

and follows in the footsteps of the AeroBurner metal-

woods. The irons are built for distance through speed,

and have been engineered to deliver unsurpassed stabil-

ity and explosive distance.

TaylorMade reports that in designing the AeroBurner

irons, it has stretched the limits of innovation. “The Aero-

burner iron features an up-to-the-limit COR face design

engineered to maximize ball speed off the clubface and a

low centre of gravity generates high launch and great feel

throughout the set,” said a company spokesman. Addition-

ally, the high-MOI head design provides enhanced forgive-

ness and stability on balls hit across the clubface. This

is user-friendliness and playability taken to its limit.

“The AeroBurner iron breaks the mold of the

typical distance iron and brings distance to all

golfers,” said Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s Director of

Product Creation. “Never before has up-to-the-limit

COR speed and distance been delivered in such an

easy-to-play and confidence-inspiring package.

Distance has now come to all golfers.”

To create the ultimate distance iron, TaylorMade

engineers have optimized loft and CG placement

for consistent, powerful shot-making from any lie.

Incorporating TaylorMade’s revolutionary Speed

Pocket™ technology to promote higher launch angles

and more ball speed, AeroBurner irons protect ball

speed on shots hit low on the face for more consistent

distances all across the face.

What do Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton, MotoGP’s Marc Marquez and Usain Bolt have in common? These are the fastest humans on four wheels, two wheels and on two human legs. They are all about speed, lightning fast, blinding speed! Now that we have put speed into proper perspective, let’s

While many perceive golf to be a slow and time-consuming game, this is

just launched a trio of new golf products that embody two special charac-teristics. The products generate incredible speed and outstanding distance!

48 49 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Taylormade’s AeroBurner Irons

Performance aside, aesthetically, the

AeroBurner irons feature a brushed satin

head finish similar to TaylorMade’s Tour

Preferred irons. The satin finish reduces glare

off the clubface while delivering a sleek

look. A longer blade length, more offset and

thicker topline give all golfers an inspiring,

confidence-boosting appearance at address.

AeroBurner irons are available in 5-iron

through sand wedge, equipped with TM7-

415 by Mitsubishi-Rayon graphite shaft (S, R),

and a KBS C-Taper 90 steel shaft (S,R) options.

Complementing the AeroBurner irons is

the AeroBurner Mini Driver, a 253cc metal-

wood equipped with a 43.5” shaft. For those

who remember the revolutionary SLDR

mini-driver, note that the AeroBurner version

is designed to deliver even more speed and

forgiveness than its predecessor. The Mini

Driver is specially engineered for players who

commonly drive with their 3-wood.

The Mini Driver is a new category from

TaylorMade, delivering golfers 2 club op-

tions in 1; a driver alternative or a 3-wood

replacement. Many of the same features

engineered into the other AeroBurner met-

alwoods are now part of this new category.

Like all of the AeroBurner metalwoods, the

AeroBurner Mini Driver is “Made of Speed”.

Taking everything they’ve learned from

AeroBurner’s Mini Driver features the biggest open channel Speed Pocket

of any TaylorMade metalwood in company history, increasing the size of the sweet spot while reducing spin. A larger hittable face area and decreased overall size promote improved playability in a confidence-inspir-ing shape.”

the development of SLDR Mini Driver, Taylor-

Made engineers have taken AeroBurner Mini

Driver to the next level, designing a product

with a new aerodynamic shape, shallow

face, raised centre crown and incorporated a

new hosel fin, created to maximize clubhead

speed during the downswing. With emphasis

placed on low-forward CG, Mini Driver deliv-

ers driver-like launch conditions off the tee

with remarkable accuracy.

Additionally, similar to the entire

AeroBurner Mini Driver features the big-

gest open channel Speed Pocket of any

TaylorMade metalwood in company history,

increasing the size of the sweet spot while

reducing spin. A larger hittable face area

and decreased overall size promote im-

proved playability in a confidence-inspiring

shape.

Aesthetically, AeroBurner Mini Driver

comes with a crown with a new matte white

finish, a black PVD face and linear crown

graphic, features implemented to facilitate

easy, accurate face alignment. The TP model

is designed with a longer hosel, flatter lie

angle and more open face angle.

“The SLDR Mini Driver captivated golf-

ers on all skill levels by delivering better

Rounding up the speed package from TaylorMade is the AeroBurner Pro golf

balls. This is a three-piece ball engi-neered for high ball speeds off the clubface, designed to deliver speed and distance with pro-like stopping power a confidence-inspiring shape.”


3-wood performance from the tee,” said Brian Bazzel,

TaylorMade’s Senior Director of Metalwood Cre-

ation. “With AeroBurner, we’ve now designed

a metalwood that delivers even more speed

and forgiveness to this new, popular club

type.”

Rounding up the speed package

from TaylorMade is the AeroBurner

Pro golf balls. This is a three-piece

ball engineered for high ball speeds

off the clubface, designed to deliver

speed and distance with pro-like

stopping power.

Key to the performance of Aero-

Burner Pro are TaylorMade’s patented

and proven technologies, including

a new, softer REACT™ Core for greater

ball speed on all shots for increased

distance and Low-Drag Performance

Aerodynamics (LDP™) 342 high-lift, low

drag dimple pattern designed to launch

high and sustained flight. The spin control

and soft feel come from the interface of

TaylorMade’s SPIN MANTLE™ and proprietary

IOTHANE® cover.

So, what are you waiting for? Rush out and put

the power package from AeroBurner to the speed

test. It’s going to be one helluva scorching experience!

50 51 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Grow The Game!


This article is being dedicated to the golf industry in Southeast Asia. For more than 50 years, golf course development has been experiencing steady growth in this region which is home to more than 600 million people, living in an environment that is rated to be one of the fastest growing regions in the world. Today, there are over 800 golf courses in Southeast Asia and more being added on every year.

While there is progress in the development of new courses, many of the existing courses have been around for between 20 and 30 years and a good percentage are beginning to show signs of wear and tear and some have been ravaged to an extent where the facilities are no longer playable.

52 53 ASIAN GOLF


How do you know if your

golf course needs renova-

tion? You first have to look

at the game of golf as it

is played today and the

people playing it.

The game of golf is changing, and has

been for some time. Recent trends in golf

course architecture have had a tremendous

impact on the playability and maintainability

of golf courses. Technological advances in turf

grass, irrigation systems, maintenance equip-

ment, chemicals, and maintenance practices

are all changing the face of the game. All of

these things are inter-related and affect each

other as they are applied to the golf course.

Against this backdrop, Asian Golf sat

down with one of the biggest names in

the business of golf course design in the

world, Schmidt Curley Design. This company

has received numerous accolades for its

Good owners and operators will understand the value of im-provements on a long term basis. There has been a monumental

movement in what is considered a proper course with less emphasis on perfectly manicured courses but more rustic and natural.”

award winning golf course developments

including the Asian Golf Award for Best Golf

Course Architect in the Asia Pacific for the

past three years.

We spoke to Brian Curley, the co-

founder and principal of the company and

we now present excerpts of the interview

where he shares his thoughts on the pro-

cess of renovation:

ASIAN GOLF: Let’s look at the rich and diverse legacy that golf has created in the region over the last 30 years. In this period of time, the population of golf courses in Southeast Asia in particular has ballooned to over 800 courses. Many of these courses are now fairly advanced in age and due for renovation. Do you think that this is a fair assumption?

BRIAN CURLEY: There is no question

these courses often need some help. Even

the best construction efforts need help over

time. Many of these were built with less than

proper construction techniques to begin with

so the need is much greater. In addition, the

business often sees trends and attitudes in

design change and the marketplace can be

very fickle. Good owners and operators will

understand the value of improvements on

a long term basis. There has been a monu-

mental movement in what is considered a

proper course with less emphasis on perfectly

manicured courses but more rustic and

natural. This has been a very difficult sell in

Asia especially but times have changed and

the pendulum is shifting this way. Ultimately,

owners will see that adjustments to the

course will result in sometimes substantial

reductions in operation cost and all the while

pleasing the golfers with better visuals and,

perhaps, better conditions and playability.

AG: As one of the most highly re-garded golf course design companies in the world, give us a sense of how you view renovation. Age alone is not the only criterion to proceed with a renovation project. Correct?

BC: Correct. We have a couple of renova-

tion deals that are very young but poorly

designed courses that golfers hate and will

not return to. Quite often this has been in the

quest for difficulty over playability. Golfers will

accept (and support) difficult courses where

you can find your ball. But, as I have often

said, losing your ball is tough and is no fun,

even for the best players. Many courses that

average players see as overly intimidating are

seen in much the same manner by profes-

sionals. Many players (and owners) think a

course must be tough to be considered great

but this attitude is changing and the players

that matter (the ones who do not play for

free but are paying the bills) should have a

louder voice. I believe you will see a drastic

shift on an annual basis in the top rankings of

courses in Asia over the years until the dust

settles and the focus is on many factors much

greater than difficulty.

AG: Many owners that we have spo-ken to feel that renovation is like add-ing a new room or toilet to an existing


There is a strong argument for a renovation that takes time, even

a few years. There is no need to rush to a new product when the budget may prevent it. Better to take your time and do it right over a longer period as long as the course is somewhat proper.”

home. How can this overly simplistic mindset be changed and why is it im-portant to view a renovation project from a holistic perspective?

BC: Many of these owners have never had

a qualified person give them a real analysis

of their course and what the potential may

be. I have opened the eyes of many owners

who are now looking to ways to stay on top

of a market and remain the best possible

product for their users. I think many owners

feel that the money spent will not be seen.

This could be the case but there can also be

great strides in the proper direction on mar-

ginal budgets if the right person is giving a

solution or suggestion.

AG: Another owner that we talked to maintained that he was only interested in renovating his greens and was not interested in doing something about the fairways which, by our estimation had compacted over the years and was rock solid. Your advice?

BC: Many factors and questions here. Is it

walking only? Do carts add to the problem?

Is there a proper path system? A lot of prob-

lems are the result of another related issue.

AG: Likewise, there is another who wants his bunkers only to be deepened because he feels that the

existing traps are too shallow. Again, your thoughts?

BC: They must be really shallow! We have

done many deep bunkers over the years

but only if there was commensurate fairway

width. The combination of deep bunkers

and narrow fairways is a lethal recipe. I pre-

fer less depth nowadays and, perhaps, more

random placement.

AG: renovation advisable?

BC: Sure. There is a strong argument for a

renovation that takes time, even a few years.

There is no need to rush to a new product

when the budget may prevent it. Better to

take your time and do it right over a longer

period as long as the course is somewhat

proper.

AG: Oftentimes, irrigation systems are totally out of commission. Given the fact that a golf course needs to

would it not make sense to invest

irrigation system?

BC: Absolutely, and this is quite often the

first step in the process to look at more work

such as bunkers or turf changes. Many, many,

remodels are the result of irrigation change.

54 55 ASIAN GOLF


AG: In a complete course renovation, would it make sense to minimize grassed areas along fairways to re-duced maintenance cost?BC: Only if there is a well thought out sub-

stitute for the reduction of turf. Many Asian

climates would be difficult to introduce

a sandy waste area as is often the case in

many other climates. The amount of rainfall

often dictates that you must keep a very

maintainable surface. This is why so many

courses just opt to plant out wall to wall turf

rather than fight weeds and snake habitat.

AG: In a renovation project would you consider the utilization of native grass species on fairways – after all, these are rugged and robust species that will be naturally resistant to pest attacks, less demanding on water and totally capable of growing and remaining healthy without the use of growth enhancing chemicals and fertilizers?

BC: It sounds great in concept but often

hits a snag with the marketplace that

demands good conditioning. I am hope-

ful that this will become more accepted as

the concerns for the cost of playing drive

players away from the game. If you study

old footage of major championship golf, the

courses were often less than mint in condi-

tion. I am hopeful this can change in time.

AG: One of the biggest challenges confronting the world today is the growing scarcity of fresh water. Against this doomsday scenario, wouldn’t it make sense to factor this important consideration into any renovation project?

BC: Of course. Reducing turf from the

beginning needs to be a given. The dif-

ficulty down the road is what to plant while

maintaining playability and a good look.

The reality is that dry, hardpan areas can be

very playable, maybe not what the owners

thinks players want but the Western mar-

kets have been very accepting of the look.

AG: Would you subscribe to the thinking that a renovation project would be an ideal opportunity for

friendlier and easier to play on which in turn would help grow the game and generate more operating revenue for the club?

BC: Certainly. This should be at the top of

the list in any renovation. How do we drive

more players as well as just a concern for

rates increasing revenue? Many courses

exist with small profit margins and a slight

increase would be a huge impact to the

bottom line. Again, the long term look may

drive the acceptance of spending “now”

money in search of long term revenues.

AG: Renovation would also be a great way to correct the mistakes made on

Agree?

BC: No doubt. Asia has no shortage of

courses that were poorly thought out,

designed, and constructed. Too often the

novice believes this is what a golf course

should look and play like. I have long seen

this as one of the barriers to the growth of

the game. Players go from the range to a

course that is poorly designed and unplay-

able resulting in a frustrated player that

gives up. Too often these players go straight

to the back tees of a difficult course rather

than build up a skill level. Starting with

proper experience could help immensely in

growing the game.

56 57 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Grow The Game

This was all that was needed

for the newly formed US

Recreational Golf Association

(USRGA) to swing into action.

It’s founding president, Dave

Felker, in full support of

the bold Japanese decision declared, “It is

refreshing to see that the JGGA has decided

to lead the charge of sensibility and encour-

age Japanese golf equipment manufactur-

ers to develop non-conforming products so

recreational golf consumers will finally have

an expanded range of products to choose

from, which is the norm in most other

sports. We applaud the JGGA’s decision!”

Felker, a crusader for non-forming golf

equipment and accessories has been lead-

ing the drive for a change towards non-

conforming equipment. In fact, some years

back, he launched the controversial Polara

golf ball which is said to be a ball that goes

straight but is non-conforming. He followed

this revolution with the introduction of the

Polara Advantage driver which is said to blast

a ball to great lengths. Once again, it falls

It’s been a few weeks since the Japan Golf Goods Associa-tion (JGGA) announced its decision to permit the use of non-conforming golf clubs. In a statement, the JGGA said it

“believes that it is desirable for the stimulation of the golf mar-ket to have a wide variety of golf equipment available in the mar-

that more and more golfers will enjoy playing golf as a result of such improvement in the golf equipment market.”

foul of the USGA and R&A because the driver

does not conform to their respective rules.

“Once Japanese manufacturers start to

develop more non-conforming clubs for

the Asian market and it becomes a norm, it

is not a stretch to expect them to begin to

export the products to the US and Europe

and we fully expect this to shift to happen

soon,” Felker explained.

When asked how American and Euro-

pean equipment manufacturers will react

to the Japanese affront, Felker said, “From

what we have heard and seen, the major US

golf OEMs have been afraid to move into the

recreational golf equipment market because

they still remember the USGA’s reaction

when Callaway Golf Company introduced

the ERC II driver.”

Fact From The Past: The ERC II Driver cre-

ated a world-wide stir with its hot “ultra-thin”

Forged Titanium face which was deemed

illegal for tournament play by the USGA.

According to Felker, he does not expect

the USGA to say anything because they do

not want to create any more ill will with the

recreational golf community and they now

recognize that recreational golf is outside

their jurisdiction. “Perhaps the bigger issue

is, “How do brands like Srixon, Bridgestone,

Callaway, Taylor-Made, Cobra, etc. market

recreational products using their “pyramid-

of-influence” marketing model and their

stables of highly paid Pro Tour players?”

Felker questioned.

In explaining himself, Felker gave the

following example of what could happen

on a TV commercial featuring a golf super-

star endorsing a non-conforming golf club:

“Even though I don’t play this driver on the

Pro Tour, when I am playing with my bud-

dies for fun and want to obsolete another

golf course, I pull out the Callaway ERC-17

and then go on to eagle every par 5 on the

course. You can do the same. I guarantee it”?

The USRGA believes that many major

equipment manufacturers will create alter-

native brands as not to create brand identity

confusion in the market (like Titleist and

Pinnacle, from Acushnet and TaylorMade

and Adams Golf from adidas) and will have


All of these changes will undoubtedly lead to growth in the number of recreational golfers,

many of whom will one day graduate to the ranks of serious competitive and serious tournament golfers – all great developments for the game of golf.” – Dave Felker

non-Tour Players endorsing their recreation-

al product lines.

“To help manufacturers who market

recreational equipment that exceeds the

performance limitations established by the

USGA and R&A, the USRGA has developed

an insignia that can be featured on products

and marketing materials that states, “Con-

forms to USRGA Rules of Golf.” The insignia

(shown below) is available to all partners/

sponsors of the USRGA. Felker pointed out.

The USRGA

believes all the ef-

forts to recognize

and better serve

recreational golf will

have many positive

benefits for the

game of golf. This

is how the fledging

organization argues its case:

Simply recognizing recreational golf is

distinct and different from governing seri-

ous competitive golf and is not part of the

USGA and R&A’s jurisdiction will eliminate

all of the confusion and concern about

having to follow rules that are not meant

for recreational golf;

The USRGA Rules will still provide struc-

ture to the game but will enable golfers to

have more fun.

Offer golfers a wider range of high per-

formance equipment that is only limited

by the laws of physics that will make the

game easier to learn for beginners, more

fun to play for current golfers and will

likely bring lapsed golfers back to the

game, especially those that will benefit

from the enhanced equipment.

By removing the artificial limits on

equipment performance, this will open up

new opportunities for all golf companies

to reach new equipment performance

levels and even expand the size of their

golf equipment offerings.

“All of these changes will undoubtedly

lead to growth in the number of recreational

golfers, many of whom will one day graduate

to the ranks of serious competitive and seri-

ous tournament golfers – all great develop-

ments for the game of golf,” said Felker.

Meanwhile, the USRGA has been very

busy promoting “Grow the Game” initia-

tives to build momentum around the world.

“The USRGA will play an expanding role as

more and more individuals and associations

adopt the USRGA Rules of Golf and the

more USRGA members, the louder our voice

will be in the golf community and this will

benefit everyone,” Felker concluded.

58 59 ASIAN GOLF

GAME IMPROVEMENT


Eureka! The problem’s solved! This is what’s screwing up your golf game – it’s called the Amygdala, an almond shaped mass of nuclei (mass of cells) located deep within the brain. It is that part that is involved in many of our emotions and motivations, particularly those that are related to survival. The amygdala is involved in the processing of emotions such as fear, anger, and pleasure. The amygdala is also responsible for determining what memories are stored and where the memories are stored in the brain. If only you can gain control over your Amygdala ………… By John Haime

I sat slumped on the end of my golf

bag.

This time it was Melbourne, and

I had just missed another cut. I was

struggling, frustrated, and angry.

The future did not look bright for a

22-year old whose professional golf career

was supposed to be full of promise.

My downward spiral had started weeks

earlier, at another international tournament,

when Australia’s Greg Norman, the world’s

top golfer, changed the dynamic of my world.

I was standing on the first tee as the crowd

favorite came into view—Norman’s group

was playing right after mine—and the at-

mosphere became charged. There was more

money, more people, more pressure.

For the first time in my professional career,

my hands and knees were shaking at the first

tee. After an embarrassing start and an un-

comfortable first nine holes, the day drew to

a miserable climax on the second nine as my

score and my head both spun out of control.

Somehow I managed to hit a long, straight

drive off the eighteenth tee down the fairway

lined with people from tee to the green

waiting to catch a glimpse of “The Shark”, just

behind me. I was very much aware that the

crowd was not there to see me.

I set-up as usual for the second shot but,

with my emotions racing, I lost focus. To

my horror I screamed a low, wild shot right

into the crowd, hitting an older gentleman

squarely on the shoulder. The crowd cleared

and made room for me to approach my next

shot, an easy little 60 yarder I’d hit a million

60 61 ASIAN GOLF

The small, almond-shaped

part of your brain called the amygdala is the troublemaker, pushing you around on the golf course and causing you to lose your cool.”

me. When I started to dip emotionally after

a poor shot or a bad bounce, Brian remind-

ed me that things would balance out and

that I needed to keep moving forward. He

learned about my habits and my character,

and he had some useful things to say when

I needed help. I can remember very clearly

what Brian said to me on the first hole

during the last round. “Just play like John

Haime and you’ll be fine!”

That week was my best result of the

year. I started with reasonable scores of 71

and 68 in the first two rounds, to get into

good position in the tournament. I slipped

to a 73 in the third round. But before the

final round, Brian inspired me on the

practice tee with some insightful comments

about what he thought had happened the

day before. I went on to finish the tourna-

ment with my best round, a 67.

I never saw Brian again after that week,

and my golf game continued the downward

slide I had created. But the lessons of that

week in Victoria stayed with me, teaching

me that emotions run the show in golf.

Jack Nicklaus, the greatest player of

all-time, says that golf is about emotions and

adjustments. Brian understood my emotions

and helped me make the adjustments—to

my emotions, thoughts and game—that

would enable me to play at my best.

How Do You Fare with Emotional Golf Hazards?How would you have done in my place that

day on the course with Greg Norman at your

times. What was supposed to be a simple

little shot onto the green careened out over

to the other side and into the grandstand,

hitting a middle-aged lady in the leg.

“Are you done, mate?” one fan screamed

at me from the top of the grandstand as the

crowd’s hero came into view. I took my drop

and made five more clumsy shots before

the agony ended.

Can You Keep it Together?How many times have you heard broadcast-

ers say during a golf tournament, “If Tiger or

Phil or Stacey or Michelle can control his (or

her) emotions today, they can win this event.”

That applies to you and me too: If you don’t

control your emotions, you won’t win.

If, too often, you find that you can’t,

you can blame it on the fact that you are

walking around the golf course with a brain

that hasn’t made significant advancement

in 10,000 years!

When survival was the every-day prior-

ity and reacting to threats was a constant

reality, this brain was a caveman’s best

friend. But you’re a golfer, not a caveman,

and your brain can’t differentiate between

a life-threatening situation and a four-foot

putt for par and your best score of the year.

The small, almond-shaped part of your

brain called the amygdala is the trouble-

maker, pushing you around on the golf

course and causing you to lose your cool.

Even if you play like Rory McIlroy on one

hole, an amygdala hijack can make you play

like Charles Barkley on the next.

When the amygdala hijacks your brain

and your emotions override your neocor-

tex—the thinking, rational part of your

brain—to respond to the threat, your ability

to reason and think logically are reduced.

Your working memory becomes less ef-

ficient while your blood pressure, adrena-

line and hormone levels rise. It can take 3

to 4 hours for the chemicals to clear your

system, with the possibility of more hijacks

being triggered along the way, during the

exact period of time it takes to play a typical

round of golf.

So an almond-sized piece of your brain

can undo all of your preparation and sabo-

tage your (and my) golf score.

Overcoming the Brain HijackMost of us need help to identify our triggers

for an amygdala hijack and to develop strat-

egies to overcome the resulting surge of

hormones that reduce control of our mood,

motivation and fear. At one point in my pro-

fessional golf career, I had the kind of help

that could have turned my game around. I

didn’t realize its importance at the time.

It was at a tournament in Victoria, British

Columbia, Canada. A caddie I’ll call Brian—

which happens to be an anagram for the

word “brain”—was assigned to me. As soon

as I met him, I knew there was something

different about this caddie.

Brian could tell I was frustrated from a

long, unsuccessful year, and there were all

sorts of things bothering me on the golf

course—most of them beyond my control.

When I would get in a bit of trouble, or start

ranting and raving about something I could

do nothing about, his calm voice would

point out the futility of complaining about

the weather, the state of the rough, a poor

lie, and get me to focus on my routine and

my game.

Brian made a point of getting to know

GAME IMPROVEMENT

John Haime is a world-class specialist in the area of performance and one

of the world’s leading authorities in Emotional Intelligence as it relates

to performance in sport. He is the Author of You Are a Contender! Build

Emotional Muscle to Perform Better and Achieve More … in Business,

Sports and Life – a bestseller in the U.S. and Canada.

ABOUT JOHN HAIME


heels and the crowd anxious and excited to see him?

New York Times science writer Daniel Gole-

man and others have proven that intelligence

about emotions is twice as important as technical

competence and IQ combined in determining

whether someone’s performance will be average or

outstanding.

Emotional Control is Like a Muscle You Can BuildThousands of young elite golfers and coaches world-

wide are building emotional muscle and seeing

results in their golf game—and in all parts of their

lives. PGA and LPGA Tour Coach Steve Bann has had

impressive results with his students using tools like

the Emotional Intelligence Sports Inventory (ESi). He

says, “Both Stuart Appleby and Nick Flanagan had

immediate tournament success as a result of imple-

menting the recommended strategies after taking

the assessment to measure their emotional muscle.”

So what’s keeping you out of the golf “zone”?

You know that you play better when you “play

within yourself” or play within your own “zone” as

experts call it. So, if you know this, what’s keeping

you out of the zone so much of the time?

Why is it that, when you hit the ball great on the

practice tee and leave with a feeling of “I can do this,”

jitters and fear set in when you are arrive at the first

tee? Why, when you hit a poor shot do the negative

feelings stay with you for 3, 9 or even 18 holes? There

are many examples of emotional hazards you need

to be able to navigate in your golf game.

A lack of awareness can push you to do things

you can’t do in your game. How many times have

you tried to do things on a golf course you know

you can’t do—but tried them anyway and ended

up frustrated and frazzled?

Your Keys to Building Emotional MuscleEmotions are the engine in the vehicle of perfor-

mance, and the skills associated with building

emotional muscle are indispensable to achieving

competitive advantage for golfers.

If you want to enjoy the game more, activate

your potential to bring your game to the next level,

and be more effective in everything you do, spend

some time building your emotional muscles.

While emotional muscle is built with time and

practice, here are a few simple keys to get you

started:

1. KNOW YOU! It is normal for a golfer who slices

the ball to stand up on the first tee with water on

the right and start the day with a wet ball! Clearly

understand your own strengths, limitations and trig-

gers in the game. What do you do well, what is not

so comfortable for you, and what bothers you and

triggers a negative reaction?

2. CREATE YOUR OWN EMOTIONAL CAD-DIE™. The most important voice in golf—and

your life—is your own. Golfers can get personal

with their own self-criticism. Instead of critiquing

performance, you may choose to attack your-

self personally with negative comments. This

stirs negative emotion. Everyone knows how

a great, supportive caddie, like Brian, who

helped me in Canada, can help your game.

You need to create your own Emotional

Caddie™ to go everywhere with you.

This voice inside you must be shaped

to be your biggest supporter.

3. DOUSE THE FLAMES WHEN IT GETS HOT. Tame the amygdala with

the 90-second rule. The ability to notice

what’s going on as it arises, and to slow

down before you respond, is a crucial

emotional skill. Brain experts tell us

you have about 90 seconds before

emotion really bubbles up. So,

when you feel the emotion build-

ing, step back, take a breath and

give yourself a 90-second window.

This awareness will help you control

your feelings and soften them before

they damage your game or your life.

4. STAY IN THE MOMENT TO STAY CALM. The future and past are distrac-

tions for you and stir emotion. Unfortu-

nately, on the golf course there is little you

can do about either one. Your destiny lies

in the present moment. While the future is

where your goals and achievements live, you

achieve them through playing in the present.

GAME IMPROVEMENT Black Hat Golf Tips

62 63 ASIAN GOLF

It’s hot and Thailand, once again, is celebrating Songkran Festival! An absolutely fun and exciting tradition of splashing water on each other. Think about it…over 60 million

water and splashing it at each other!

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.tmggroupasia.com or

email to [email protected]

ABOUT TONY MEECHAI

www.tmggroupasia.com

I’ve always liked this tradition because

it serves two basic purposes. It’s

simple to do and the body becomes

cool!

With that said, I’ve had many

messages from students that still use the

bucket drill as a reminder on how to im-

prove their golf swing!

With the Masters being played this

month at Augusta National, I would like to

encourage golfers to “Master” the simple

teachings of the bucket of water! It can

most definitely improve your golf game!

Here’s how.

Players are always enthused by the idea

that learning the game of golf can be sim-

plified. They immediately connect the idea

of “simple” with success and faster learning.

Helping them see the continuity between

putting, chipping, and the full swing is a big

step toward simplification.

When we toss a bucket of water, it

teaches the golfer two simple lessons.

Firstly, when holding the bucket at an

address position, the body is normally set

up naturally. The player doesn’t stand too

wide or too narrow. The bucket is in a very

natural position. Taking this understanding

with a golf club in hand, it’s very important

to hold the club in a natural position with-

out standing too wide or too narrow. Keep

it simple and natural!

Secondly, when moving the bucket

from right to left, the brain is focused on the

bucket and moving the inanimate object

backwards and forwards. The bucket is in a

natural finish position that allows the water

to be splashed towards the target. With a

golf club, it’s no different.

It is very helpful for a player to conceive

of the swing as a motion that is circular and

travels around them versus a motion that

goes “up” on the backswing and “down”

on the forward swing. We want a golfer

to understand that the backswing and the

forward swing is part of a circular motion

just like when we toss a bucket of water.

If you can M-A-S-T-E-R this understand-

ing and apply it to your golf swing motion

with a golf club, you will avoid many hitting

problems.

I highly suggest you become more

aware of your swinging motion and focus

on swinging the club to the target like you

would when tossing a bucket of water!

Trust me! Your golf game will improve

in no time!


David Milne (left) and Lawrie Montague (right).

64 65 ASIAN GOLF

THE 4 GOLF SUCCESS FACTORS That Will Fast-Track High School and College Golfers to the Pro Tour

GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College

Over the past few weeks we have discussed at length the

importance of developing the following characteristics to

give you the best chance possible of becoming a successful

professional golfer;

Your self-belief and confidence

Your high pay-off golf skills

The zero point formula

Now we arrive at the last factor, the factor that truly determines whether

you will be able to make it to the professional golf tour and stay there.

But before we get to it, let me share with you a powerful and true story to

set the stage.

The Tour Golfer Who Won’t Give UpImagine that you are 21 years old and fresh out of college and you have your

heart set on going to PGA Tour qualifying school because like many young

golfers you have dreamed of one day playing for pay on the big stage with the

world’s best.

And like many golfers before you with a similar motivation, you decide

to enter qualifying school and go through the rigorous qualifying process to

attempt to earn your card to play on the PGA Tour.

(PART 4)

Justin Peters exemplifies the mental toughness and grit you need mm


And just like many golfers before you,

you don’t get through the qualifying pro-

cess to final stage.

No big deal though, as many tell you

that it’s doubtful that you gain your card in

your first or even your second attempt. You

know you are a good enough player and

you feel that it’s only a matter of time before

you earn your card to play on a major tour.

So you decide to play on the pay to play

mini tours to gain the valuable tournament

experience that you need, and you achieve

quite a bit of early success.

In fact you even win the inaugural

reality show The Big Break on the The Golf

Channel, so your future in golf looks bright

for you.

You go back to tour school again con-

fident in the knowledge that you can get

through, but again you fail to get to the final

stage and the chance to earn your tour card.

Undeterred, you spend more time play-

ing various mini tours and you start to play

some excellent golf, you start to contend

more often in mini tour events, and you also

win some of them.

Tour school rolls around once again and

you enter more confident in the knowledge

that you can get through this time, but once

again you fail to make it to last stage.

Now this process goes on one year after

another and finally after 10 years of trying

to qualify, you finally get through to final

stage, and then you play well enough to se-

cure your card to play on the Web.Com Tour.

Finally you are now off and running.

Now you have your chance to get your

ticket to the PGA Tour. You just need to

play well enough over a season on the

Web.Com Tour.

You play in 23 Web.Com tournaments

and you make the cut in 15, pretty good for

your first year out, and you earn just shy of

72,000 dollars for the season, but its not good

enough to get your ticket to the PGA Tour.

You are reasonably happy with your ef-

fort, but you know that you will have to do a

lot better the next season if you want to get

onto to the PGA Tour.

But you don’t.

You play in 11 Web.Com tournaments

the following season and you make just one

cut, so its back to the mini tours for you.

Disappointed but not deterred, you

keep developing your skills with the help of

your instructor to lower your score average,

and also get your game ready for another

crack at tour school when it comes around.

The time arrives and you enter tour

school again, and yet once more you fail to

get to final stage, and the chance to gain

your card, so you go back to the mini tours,

and also enter the Monday qualifiers to try

to get back onto the Web.Com tour.

Now all the way along this journey your

golf scores have been getting better, you are

scoring lower more often, and you are win-

ning more mini tour events, predominantly

on the GOLFSlinger.com tour.

You also successfully pre-qualify a num-

ber of times through Monday qualifying

tournaments to play some Web.Com and

PGA Tour events.

Finally you have some hard earned suc-

cess by qualifying to play on the PGA Tour

66 67 ASIAN GOLF

GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College

of Canada, but yet again you face another set-

back as you play 11 tournaments on that tour,

but make the cut in just 5 events and you

earn fewer than 4,000 dollars for your effort.

Now at this stage it would be easy to lis-

ten to all of the detractors and critics sitting

on the sidelines telling you to give up on

your dream, and to go get a real job.

But you simply will not entertain the

thought of giving up on your dream because

you know that deep down inside that you

are good enough, and you know that your

time will come.

Tour school comes around again and his-

tory up to this point of time shows that you

are now 37 years old, and you have been

to PGA Tour and Web.Com Tour Qualifying

School a total of 16 times, and up to this

point of time you’ve made it to final stage

just once.

But you have one thing going for you

that many of the younger inexperienced

competitors don’t; you have loads of profes-

sional tournament experience, and tons of

determination.

You play well through the qualifying

stages and you finally make it to the final

stage of tour school, and you are reminded

that is only the second time in your career

that you have achieved this feat.

But you are confident, calm, focused and

very experienced, and so you set your sights

boldly on a top 10 finish in the final stage.

After five rounds you sit at 10 under par

and tied for 18th going into the final round,

and you know that it would be easy to get

ahead of yourself and imagine yourself with

a card to play on the Web.Com Tour.

But you won’t fall for this type of thinking

because you recognize from all your experi-

ence that the key to success when in this

position is to stick to your process and just

play each shot based on its merit.

And that’s just what you do, and after 16

attempts and only two times making it to

final stage you earn the right to play once

again on the Web.Com Tour in 2015, shooting

a final round of 3 under par 68 to finish in a

tie for 11th place, just outside your top 10

target, but a fantastic effort just the same.

After thousands of golf shots played

at golf courses all over the country, many

thousands of dollars spent on the qualifying

process, and thousands of hours of practice

you make it back to the Web.Com Tour and

get another chance to get to the PGA Tour.

Justin Peters proved at the 2014 Web.

Com Tour School that with loads of grit,

determination, skill and experience you

can achieve goals that seem out of reach or

unconquerable.

Keep in mind that there are many fine

golfers just like Justin Peters playing the mini

tours who are trying to play well enough to

make it the PGA Tour.

Justin just keeps finding ways to keep

turning up to play.

You can visit Justin’s blog to find out

more about him and his fascinating career at

www.justinpetersgolf.com

Golf Success Factor 4. Just Keep Turning

Up to Play

Justin Peters exemplifies the type of

character you need to become to become a

successful professional golfer.

You simply have to have a ton of deter-

mination to keep turning up to play golf at

the pro level, and to ultimately succeed at it.

Do you have many of these traits? You need them all if you want to make a career for yourself on the pro tour

Justin PetersJustin Peters


Very few young golfers get straight to

the main tour and achieve the level of suc-

cess that Jordan Spieth or Lydia Ko have so

early in their careers.

For most, you will have to play in the

smaller lower tier tournaments gaining valu-

able tournament experience to develop your

self-belief and confidence, and you must

keep developing your high pay-off golf skills.

To keep turning up to play tournaments

you have to have at least one clearly defined

goal. Justin Peters wanted to get onto the

Web.Com Tour first and foremost, and then

play well enough to get to the PGA Tour.

He has a big reason to keep him moving

forwards with his game, even with lots of

setbacks.

And you will as well.

Very few high school and college golf-

ers we have observed have the amount of

grit and determination that Justin Peters

displays, but you can develop some.

So what are the lessons you can take

away from this story to help you to develop

your grit and determination so you can keep

turning up to play?

Turn Failure Into a LessonYou will have many set-backs along the

way, no golfer is exempt from them. You

need to develop the mind-set that failure

is simply feedback and that something in

your game is deficient and needs more

work to achieve better outcomes.

After facing a set-back take the time

to define the specific area of your game

that most likely influenced the result you

achieved, and do something about it.

Get Over it and Get On With itJustin Peters had lots of set-backs but he

kept moving forward. When you

have a set-back it is very easy to

stew over it, but this

gets you nowhere.

You need to de-

velop your positive

self-talk so you can

manage the negative

thoughts and voices

that can fill your mind

with doubt.

Talk about what you

will do, NOT what you will

avoid doing. Focus on

positive thoughts of

successfully achiev-

ing your outcomes,

and let the words

that come from

your mouth al-

ways be support-

ive of your efforts.

Lastly avoid hanging around nega-

tive golfers.

Break the Journey Up into Small Steps The key to making progress in golf is to

have lots of small specific goals that help

you get through each day. If your big goal

is to make it onto a professional tour, then

everyday focus on mastering the skills, and

the behaviors that will help you to achieve

this.

Become great at isolating each skill

process and practice it with the attitude

that it is the only thing that matters to you.

This will teach you to stay focused on the

process of improvement, and to not get

ahead of yourself or reflect on past poor

efforts.

Last ThoughtsEvery high school and college golfer that

achieved their goal of making it to a

major golf tour was once where you

are now. Most won’t make it, but then

again, most won’t keep finding ways to

improve.

And that is the key to your golf success;

never stop finding ways to improve yourself

and your game, and just keep turning up

to play.

Because if you just keep knocking at the

door of success for long enough, one day it

will open for you.

Lawrie Montague and David Milne - Pro Tour Golf College

68 ASIAN GOLF

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ASIAN GOLF ISSUE 176

The region’s top knowledge summit on golf is on again. This year will see the

ninth in the series and will be staged in Singapore. In keeping with being future

ready, the 2015 Asia Pacific Golf Summit will take on a new form and provide

the industry with a platform to interact, communicate and share thoughts and

solutions to help grow the game of golf in Asia. Get ready to unload at one of the

world’s truly great knowledge events on golf!

The Presidents Cup, the clash between the U.S.A. and

the rest of the world comes to Asia in October. This is the

first time that Asia will be playing host to this major golf

tournament and the city that will have the privilege to

play host is South Korea’s Incheon city. The Jack Nicklaus

Golf Club, located in the Songdo International Business

District has been selected as the host course. Asian Golf

has a special preview of the Presidents Cup 2015 and what

this will mean to golf in Asia.

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