asian golf 172 issuu

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

ISS

UE

172 JANUARY 2015

COVE

R ST

ORY

12 All of us in Asia understand colonialism because at vari-

ous points in time in the history of the Continent, some

of the countries in Asia were occupied by foreign powers.

Let’s take our industry – the golf industry. The colonials

first introduced the game in exotic possessions of theirs

like India and the Malay states which is now Singapore

and Malaysia. The game’s heritage in Asia is therefore an

ancient one. Unfortunately, while the colonials have long

returned to their homelands, heritage and tradition of

the colonials have lingered on.

38 Tom Tom Golfer: Navigation Power On Your Wrist!Is there no limit to what technology can do for golf? Well, based on what just flew in over the transom, it looks like there is most certainly no limit!

40 KZG OS-II Driver: It’s A Miracle – The Golfing Gods Have Heard Our Pleas!What’s the most difficult club to hit in most golfers’ bag? It’s got to be the driver because it’s a frustrating piece of equip-

ment to handle, especially for the majority of club players. It’s also the bane of some of the world’s top golfers, including Tiger Woods.

Just consider the number of times you have hooked, sliced, topped, missed or duffed the

ball so poorly.

42 Nike Golf Digs Deep Into The Core DNANike Golf Southeast Asia threw quite a fling for the media and its distributors recently in Bangkok, the Swoosh brand’s

business hub for the region. In typical Nike fashion, it was all about style and panache

as it proudly rolled out its family of golf clubs, apparel and accessories for 2015.

48 Callaway Chrome Soft Ball: Eureka! Chip’s Got A Doozy Where do you see the biggest and bloodiest battle being fought in the golf industry? We’ll give you three guesses. Will there be a lot of carnage in the battle for driver supremacy? Do you reckon that it will be a deadly duel to the last man in the irons category? Or do you believe that it will be bombs galore in the putter trench-es? If you picked any one of the above you are totally off the mark! Believe it or, the battle that is brewing is a fierce tussle for share of market in the golf ball category. It is said that the dimpled ball accounts for a whopping US$1.2 billion in sales and it’s also said to be growing.

SPECIAL FEATURES

ISSUE 172 JANUARY 2015

58

6462

18

28

ASIAN GOLF TOURISM58 Laguna Phuket Golf Club: Grand Old Lady Gets A New LookLaguna Phuket Golf Club has won a string of awards for its resort facilities, it’s club house and it’s golf course. In response to the high acclaim it has received, its owners decided to embark on a major renovation of its course and facilities. This has all been done and the golf course is back in full bloom again, better than ever!

18 How Would Nostradamus Look at 2015?Michel de Nostredame (aka Nostradamus) was a 16th-century French “seer.” We don’t have many seers these days. Nostrada-mus studied astrology and various “occult” sciences and used those to predict the future. He’s best known for The Prophecies, a collection of French quatrains published in 1555.

24 Asia’s Golf Role Models – Setting New Standards

Ask any businessman operating anywhere in the world what is his most important resource to ensure a suc-

cessful operation and the most probable answer would be human capital. Why human capital you may

ask? Well, in this day and age, quality workers is the one single factor that makes the difference between

a successful business and an also ran.

28 Father & Son Tournament Ignites!Vietnam has taken ownership of the Asia Pacific Father and Son Golf Tournament by staging a spec-tacular inaugural event in Ho Chi Minh City. The two-day tournament played on December 6 and 7, was hosted by golf’s leading philanthropist Mr. Le Van Kiem and the award-winning Long Thanh Golf Resort in Vietnam.

62 Black Hat Tips: Start the New Year by Getting Behind!64 Pro Tour Golf College: The 4 Golf Success Factors That Will Fast-Track High School and College Golfers to the Pro Tour

50 TaylorMade AeroBurner Family: TaylorMade Burner Technology Takes Full Flight!Who was the guy who declared that there will be a slow-down in the release of new products from TaylorMade? That’s now proven to be a whole load of nonsense because news from Carlsbad shows clear proof that the company’s “theatre of innova-tion” is prolific as ever!

57 TaylorMade R15 Family: TaylorMade Reprised!It’s a blast from the past! How exciting to see the birth of new products that have emerged from the crucible that has been the depository of years of cutting-edge technol-ogy. Drawing from the depth of knowledge at its disposal and creating new products that are para-digm shifters just goes to show the innovative powers and versatility of TaylorMade as a very unique manufacturer of some of the best golf equip-ment in the world bar none!

REGULARS6 Asian Golf Editorial Team 8 Shared Thoughts From Publisher 68 Next Issue

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


SAIFUL SUFIANArt Director


Photographers GETTY IMAGES

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

MONTAGUE (PRO TOUR GOLF COLLEGE), NICK RANDALL, STEVEN GIULIANO

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

Contributing Editors TERRY ANTON, ALAN CAMPBELL, KATHERINE ROBERTS, AAERISHNA SHAHSTHY

Printer SPECTRUM ZONE INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD

[ Blk 1022 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-3528 Tai Seng Industrial Estate Singapore 534415 ]

Address ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP (2014) PTE LTD

Suite 06-06 Hong Aik Building, 22 Kallang Avenue, Singapore 339413

Tel: +65 6323 2800 Fax: +65 6323 2838 Company Registration No: 201405689G

To Subscribeor register for a free preview at

MEDIA PARTNERS

INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

Contact: Mike SebastianEmail: [email protected]

or Mobile No: +65 9152 8162

THIS MAGAZINE HAS BEEN PRINTED ON PAPER WHICH IS DERIVED FROM 100 PER CENT SUSTAINABLE PLANTATION FIBRE AND MANUFACTURED IN A FACILITY THAT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED TO ISO-14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STANDARDS.

http://back9network.com

06 07 ASIAN GOLF

Resort+66 (0) 3253 8888, [email protected]

Facebook.com/BanyanTheResortHuaHinTwitter: @banyan_thailand

Golf+66 (0) 3261 6200, [email protected]

Facebook.com/BanyanGolfClubHuaHinTwitter: @banyan_thailand

www.banyanthailand.com

Banyan Golf Club is an 18-hole championship golf coursewith an International all day dining restaurant, a wine cellar and traditional pub overlooking the Burmese Mountains.

It’ simply a tourist attraction offering the best sunset views in Hua Hin.

BEST COURSE IN THAILAND (2nd Runner Up)TOP 3 IN ASIA: GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Stacey Walton

WINNER: BEST DIRECTOR OF GOLF OPERATIONS: Stuart Daly

WINNER: BEST GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Minachai Srichanya

WINNER: BEST CADDIE OF THE YEAR: Kannika Namthong

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE!

SHARED THOUGHTS From The Publisher

8 9 ASIAN GOLF

We’d like to kick off the New Year with some of our thoughts

as it relates to the game’s greatest icon - Tiger Woods. Have

you noticed how the industry has clung on to Tiger in the

hope that he will recover fully and ascend to his one-time

greatness as the world’s most powerful athlete and to

regain his lofty throne in golf? We have two words for this – Dream On!

All good things have to eventually come to a bone-crunching halt – in some

cases sooner than later. In the case of Tiger, let us not detract from the

fact that history will judge him as one of the greatest athletes of the

modern era of sports. What he has achieved is almost a super human

feat but the sad truth of the matter is that this fellow is human, and

as such, is susceptible to the challenges and ravages of time and the

toll that this natural phenomenon wreaks on the human physiology.

The Tiger era of excellence was marked by standards that were

never before seen or heard of in professional golf. Generally

speaking, Tiger changed the face of the professional game by

transforming it to look sharp. He introduced physi-

Happy New Year! While we send you greetings for a won-

derful new year, we sometimes wonder if golf is going to

be in for a good year especially after most of the industry

has scrapped through 2014 somewhat battle-scarred.


cal fitness. He demonstrated the power of strength. He

showed all of us the importance of focus, practice and hard

work. He changed the way golf is played forever!

Tiger started a revolution and today, the majority of

the young guns who dominate the sport are all physical

specimens who embody strength, power, discipline, focus

and that insatiable desire to win and win and to keep on

winning! Tiger made all of this happen and in the process,

he also upped the ante in the area of rewards. The kind of

money that professional golfers stash away on a weekly

basis in their bank accounts today makes a total mockery

of what the past greats of the game were paid. Most of the

guys who ply their game on the PGA Tour have stashes

of moola locked up in safe deposit boxes. And the irony

of this is that most of us don’t even know the majority of

these guys. Who cares anyway! Tiger was the one man who

made this all possible!

At the height of his game, Tiger had the power to draw

thousands to the battle arenas where he pulverized his

competition. Millions more around the world roared and

pumped their fists like Tiger every time he slam dunked a

putt. This was the draw and appeal of Tiger.

But that’s all a thing of the past now. He made a

comeback at his own invitational a few weeks ago and

ended up at the bottom of the 18-man field. There were

glimpses of the old Tiger but it was faint. He tried but that

old magic was not there and we feel that he will never be

able to get back to his former greatness. There will be the

occasional blip of excellence here and there but it will not

be sustainable.

Remember that this great athlete has

had innumerable injuries and has gone

under the knife more times than we care to remem-

ber. While he may look physically “repaired”, our

take is that his body will not be able to endure

the level of play that he has to subject himself to

if he is to reign supreme again.

Just watch his new swing – it is scary and it is

bound to send him for surgery if he does not watch it.

Tiger has given all of us his best. He has entertained

us. He has astonished us, And he has held us spell-

bound. Let’s cherish all of this as memories that can never

be taken away. Let us remember Tiger as the talent that we

were all privileged to witness in action. There will never be

another Tiger ever again. The mould that was used to cast

him has been destroyed!

Tiger, keep on playing but don’t risk

it. Enjoy the game for what

it’s worth but refrain from

doing battle at the level

that only you know. Let others create

the spectacle, if they can, but get on

with what destiny has in store for you.

Go design golf courses so that

those of us who admire you (and there

are legions of us out there), will be able to

experience the joy of playing on a Tiger Woods

designed golf course!

Thanks for the memories.

At PING, we want every shot to be your best. So we bring you the new G30® ironto lower scores – control and consistency. From its undercut cavity design to progressive lengths and lofts, the G30 iron delivers distance with control,

words, everything you need to hit more greens, more often. Visit a PING Fitting Specialist or ping.com today. You’ll be better for it.

©2014 PING P.O. BOX 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071

Fueled by patented Turbulator Technology and a new face material, the G30® adjustable driver is PING’s longest, most forgiving driver ever. In wind tunnel testing, crown turbulators are proven to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase clubhead speed. The T9S titanium face is thinner for higher ball speeds, and it’s lighter to keep the CG low and back for optimal launch and spin. The low/back CG – a proven PING innovation – also increases MOI for unmatched consistency. With 5 loft settings and high-balance-point shaft technology, the G30 is the fastest way to longer, more accurate drives. Visit a PING Fitting Specialist or ping.com. You’ll be better for it.

©2014 PING P.O. BOX 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071 AGM814

New T9S face material

5 loftadjustments

12 13 ASIAN GOLF

COVER STORY A Wake-up Call!

All of us in Asia understand colonialism because at various points in time in the history of the Continent, some of the countries in Asia were occupied by foreign powers. Some like the Kingdom of Thailand managed to get by without acceding control to foreign powers.

exploitation, maintenance, acquisition, and expansion of a colony in one territory by a political power from another territory. It is a set of unequal relationships between the colonial power and the colony and often between the colonists

countries followed mercantilist policies designed to strengthen the home economy at the expense of rivals, so the colonies were usually allowed to trade only with the mother country.

In the 21st Century colonialism is a thing of a

bygone era or at least that is what most of us in

Asia have been led to believe. Instead of political

control, Asia has knowingly or unknowingly

fallen prey to powers from the West.

Just look around and see the boundless and

wanton consumption of virtually everything that

is decadent in the West. Fast foods are a perfect example

– it is being devoured as though we in Asia have been

starved from good local food. The variety of Asian food in it-

self is almost infinite but we have opted to go for hamburg-

ers, French fries and coffee blends which hail from Seattle!

Whether it is fashion apparel, accessories, entertainment

of all kinds and life-styles – we in Asia are now shamelessly

aping the West and there seems to be no end in sight.

You get the drift – it is sad but it is a trend that we all

seem to have to accept and live with. The question that

needs to be asked is do we necessarily have to? Do we

have a choice? Can we not take charge of our own desti-

nies? We like to think that the answer is in the affirmative

on each and every count!

Let’s take our industry – the golf industry. The colo-

nials first introduced the game in exotic possessions of

theirs like India and the Malay states which is now Singa-

pore and Malaysia. The game’s heritage in Asia is therefore

an ancient one. Unfortunately, while the colonials have

long returned to their homelands, heritage and tradition

of the colonials have lingered on.


Why should the game once enjoyed by the sheep herding

shepherds of Scotland be reserved exclusively for the well-heeled and well-monied minorities?

14 15 ASIAN GOLF



Most of Asia clings on to the original exclusive and elit-

ist model of operating a golf club which is still the modus

operandi in many country clubs in the western hemisphere.

We need to ask ourselves – do we need to cling on to these

traditions or should we break free and open up the game

to anyone who wants to enjoy the game of golf. We should

not adhere to the picky practice of looking at social back-

grounds, schools attended, and status before anyone is

allowed access. This is archaic thinking and if anything at all,

it is stifling the growth of golf in Asia.

Let’s take a more enlightened and progressive outlook

and dump the country club model and look at golf clubs as

a place for people to come together and enjoy the wonder-

ful game of golf. Why should the game once enjoyed by the

sheep herding shepherds of Scotland be reserved exclusively

for the well-heeled and well-monied minorities?

If clubs change their business model, not only will it help

with their bottom-line performances but it will also help

expose the game to more people thus helping to grow the

game of golf. It is a no-brainer, but it takes some bold initia-

tives on the part of owners, management committees and

club management to do what’s best in the interest of the

game. Remember, these clubs are in Asia; invariably owned

by Asians and we need to take charge and bring about

change. If they choose to maintain the status quo, then let’s

all sit back and watch the game wither away!

Related to growing the game of golf is the sporadic talk

that we hear about the need to grow the junior game of golf.

We say sporadic because that’s precisely what it is. What-

ever initiatives that are in place to grow the game amongst

juniors is a very shallow effort that rarely reaches out beyond

the realm of the country club set. If you check out the kids

enrolled in junior development programmes throughout

the region, you will notice one thing – they are “fat”

kids mainly drawn from the country club set. While

somewhat commendable, this is not good enough to

grow the junior game. National golf associations, club

owners and operators need to urgently step up to the

plate and reach further afield to pull in more juniors.

Education ministries of Asian countries and schools

should be engaged to help spread golf to the widest

possible junior audience in their respective countries.

After all, there is no other game in the world that

teaches honesty, integrity and inculcates a

set of values that all kids can benefit from.

Let’s not wait for the so-called self-

anointed gate-keepers of golf to

initiative junior develop-

ment programmes for us

in Asia. We are totally

capable of

doing this

ourselves

and all it

16 17 ASIAN GOLF

takes is a firm resolve and conviction to do something for our kids.

Note that most “junior development programmes” that try to come

to Asia have strings attached. One such programme that represents

one of the richest golf organisations in America tries to instruct a

few kids in Asia by conducting periodic clinics in one Asian country.

A guardian of one of the kids enrolled in this programme told us in

disgust: “It’s ridiculous really – they send out coaches who try and

train the kids and all that they do in the short time that they are

here is to confuse the kids and once they leave, that’s the end until

the next round which invariably comes months later. These boot-

camps do more damage to the kids because they are constantly re-

learning the game due to the lack of any continuity in the training

and all that it does is to enrich the coaches whom we are told are

paid a handsome stipend!”

Come on Asia! Do we need to subject our kids to these so-called

“experts” and their training programmes? It is obvious that it’s all

about lip-service and we are the suckers! It’s time that we took the

coaching of our juniors into our own hands. Asia has many quality

coaches who can help – for example, Tony Meechai, a qualified PGA

coach is terrific in handling juniors. Tony is a Thai-American and is

one of the finest coaches around to teach youngsters. Joe Thiel, a

great and accomplished PGA Master coach says this of Tony: “This

that golf operates in, in Asia. There is no quick fix, one-programme fits

all approach that can be put in place to work in Asia. Asia needs cus-

tomization and English is not the way to deliver the training message.

For the upgrading of human capital, Asia needs to conduct education

through local languages and there’s no short cut around this!

Equipment manufacturers and suppliers to the industry have

a responsibility to fulfil. No longer can they sell big ticket items to

Asian clubs and leave the training to their distributors and dealers

who invariably are businesses that don’t possess the right mix of

skills and suitably qualified manpower to provide quality training

to end-users. Quick workshops by manufacturers will not do it. A

concerted effort needs to be made to help golf clubs train their staff

and to make them totally competent to handle their respective jobs

on their own without having to depend on consultants who are at-

tached to manufacturers via an umbilical cord!

Asian club general managers, golf course superintendents and

other key personnel must become totally independent and self-

reliant because only then will we be able to take charge of what

happens in the golf clubs and on the courses of Asia!

Some serious steps have been taken and soon, the golf club in-

dustry will be able to access quality training and education directed

at all levels of workers within the club industry. This is being made

National golf associations, club owners and operators need to urgently step up to the plate

and reach further afield to pull in more juniors.”

guy is a treasure and not only is he a skillful teacher but also a man

who is passionately committed to junior golf development. He is

right here in Asia and he should be one of the people who should

be engaged to drive junior golf development in Asia.” Well, you have

heard it from one of the world’s very best. The man who started the

South Korean golf revolution by introducing Se Ri Pak to the world.

Thiel works with Mizuno of Japan to help grow junior golf through-

out Asia and Mizuno, as a quality name in golf, is ready to take on

the challenge to help with the growth of junior golf.

So, what are we waiting for? The nucleus of a junior pro-

gramme is already there. We have the talent, the commitment and

the corporate support – let’s get it on. Asia – take charge!

Another area where Asia needs to take charge is in the area of

human capital development for the golf industry. While the golf

industry is a multi-billion dollar business in Asia, there is virtually

no institutionalized presence for the development and training

of human capital to help staff the industry with properly trained

and qualified manpower. Whether it is the management of a club

house or the maintenance of a golf course, Asia is faced with a

challenge of having sufficient suitably trained and qualified per-

sonnel to run the business. After all, a sustainable and profitable

business is totally dependent on having the right work force and

the golf industry is no exception.

Workers in the golf industry need on-going education that will

equip them with the proper skillsets and knowledge to perform

at optimum levels. We cannot train and educate the people in our

industry with cookie-cutter programmes from the West – these

programmes don’t fit especially in the non-homogeneous markets

possible by the Club Managers Association of Asia whose mission

is to help train, educate and certify those employed in the golf club

industry. “We have been very successful in putting together best-of-

breed education partners and together, we will be providing world

class training and education to the club industry throughout Asia,”

revealed Lawrence Young, CMAA’s Director Of Education.

What the CMAA is doing is tangible proof of Asia taking charge!

More such Asian-based organisations should come forth to make

their contributions because every small effort counts towards the re-

alization of a movement that will see programmes initiated in Asia by

Asians to help Asian golf clubs cope and handle with the challenges

and opportunities going forward.

What we are advocating is not an initiative that is discriminatory

in any way, shape or form. All we are standing for is to make the club

industry self-reliant so that it can take charge of every sector within

the industry and be in absolute control of its own destiny. External

help will always be welcome but they must be prepared to share and

help in the dissemination of knowledge and expertise that will make

the industry in Asia stand on its own feet.

It’s about time! Asia is a global force and any student of global

megatrends will tell you that the combined wealth, population and

market size of the continent will be the biggest single force on the

planet. Everything points to us taking charge of our own destinies.

So, let us unite and move towards growing the game of golf in Asia

the Asian way!

(In the next installment, we will look into the development of golf courses and the professional game of golf and the role that Asian multi-nationals need to play to accelerate the growth of golf in Asia).


18 19 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Forecast 2015

Michel de Nostredame (aka Nostradamus) was a 16th-century French “seer.” We don’t have many seers these days. Nostradamus studied astrology and various “occult” sciences and used those to predict the future. He’s best known for The Prophecies, a collection of French quatrains published in 1555.

If we had access to this legendary

“seer” today, we wonder how he

would assess the outlook for the

golf industry in 2015? Viewed in the

context of what has transpired in the

last twelve months, he would most probably

mark up the report card for 2015 in red ink.

But forecasts and prophecies aside, 2015

looks like it is going to be a mixed bag for

the golf industry – some good mixed in with

the not so good.

Let’s kick things off with a read on the

golf equipment side of the industry. The

learned James Koppenhaver of the highly

respected Pellucid Corp which keeps watch

over the health of the golf industry in North

America told Asian Golf, “I hate it when logi-

cal thinking takes me to a place like the fact

that there’s another round of pain more than

likely in this train wreck we call oversupply.”

He was making reference to the oversupply

of equipment that has hit manufacturers like

TaylorMade and Dicks Sport Goods which

had to fire more than 500 PGA professionals

who staffed its golf outlets last year.

Comparing the current slump in the

golf industry with the housing crash in the

United States some years ago, Koppen-

haver said, “It’s interesting and sad to see

that when the housing market got out of

whack, market forces moved in swiftly and

severely to correct it. While it was really

ugly, it didn’t take that long and the losers

took their lumps and that was it”. However,

he explained that with the golf industry, “we

have a situation that’s prolonging, it doesn’t

feel like it’s hurting as badly but we’re going

to be here a really long time at this pace and

with the macro forces in place that are hold-

ing back that inevitable correction.”

He went on to add, “In the meantime,

folks have to make tough decisions on

whether they’re positioned to survive (the

slight majority) or they’re one of those who

are just delaying the inevitable. What’s

funny is some number of those are banks

and financial institutions, not individuals,

and they’re extending the game as well hop-

ing something good will happen.”

One of the reasons why Koppenhaver


It promises to be a hugely exciting 2015 for Mission Hills Group as many of our

major mixed-use entertainment developments open to become family destinations for all generations” – Ken Chu

is respected is because he is honest in his

appraisal of trends “They might eventu-

ally catch a small break (either an industry

flattening or slight uptick or finding a buyer

stupider than them) and escape with less

of a haircut but I doubt it will be enough to

offset the opportunity cost of the capital

they’ve had tied up in the interim trying to

not take a big a bath. But, at least the optics

on the surface and to the general popula-

tion won’t look as bad!”

Some of the equipment manufacturers

that Asian Golf spoke with seem relatively

bullish about 2015. President and chief

executive officer of Callaway Golf, Chip

Brewer kept his forecast short and sweet: “I

am always bullish on Callaway and we have

an incredible product lineup including a

golf ball that we think could be a real game

changer; but, since we are public, I should

probably pass on anything more specific.”

COBRA Golf’s president and chief execu-

tive officer Robert Phillion responded with

optimism: “COBRA Golf is continuing to lead

the industry in personalization and custom-

ization, helping us make our colourful mark

on the industry, through performance-

enhancing products that help golfers of all

levels enjoy the game. The Fly-Z family is

already in strong demand from retailers, has

received positive reactions from our PGA

Tour athletes, and brings strong opportuni-

ty from our Asian markets as we gain share.”

Closer to home, the outlook for 2015

seems to look bright although many in the

industry took a real pounding in 2014. The

20 21 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Forecast 2015

most powerful man in golf in Asia, Dr. Ken

Chu, chairman of the giant Mission Hills

Group in China is the epitome of optimism:

“It promises to be a hugely exciting 2015 for

Mission Hills Group as many of our major

mixed-use entertainment developments

open to become family destinations for all

generations”. He added, “Amplifying Asian

family values, which is in line with our

corporate mission, Mission Hills continues

to inspire and promote the three H’s - a

happy, healthy and harmonious lifestyle

for all. When you visit Mission Hills in 2015,

you will truly indulge in our “Golf and More”

offerings from championship golf courses,

“retail-tainment”, dining, theme parks, hot

springs and spa in an eco-friendly, sustain-

able environment”.

Dr. Chu’s bullish outlook for 2015 is

shared by his sibling, Tenniel Chu, vice-

chairman of the Mission Hills Group who

reckons that the “the future of in China

and Asia has never been brighter”. “Our

country’s golfing population continues to

expand rapidly and we are delighted to

be at the vanguard of this trend with our

industry-leading junior golf programmes

and policies, which includes allowing play-

ers aged 16 and under to use three of our

courses free of charge, all year round.” He

went on to say,”Golf’s return to the Olympics

in 2016 will further enhance its popularity

in China and, as we produce more elite play-

ers to act as inspirations and role models,

we can expect to see the sport go from

strength to strength.”

The kingdom of Thailand continues to be

the top draw for golf in Southeast Asia and

it is also home to one of the region’s most

popular golf clubs, Banyan Golf Club in Hua

Hin. Its general manager Stacey Walton holds

out a very optimistic outlook for 2015: “Thai-

land has come back to a more stable position

since Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has

brought reform to the current economic cli-

mate and addressed the changes required in

the conduct of business affairs. This stability

in the country is good for golf tourism which

is now set to rebound throughout the first

half of next year.”

Walton is also optimistic that long

awaited tax reforms may be on the cards

and this will come as a tremendous positive

development as golf courses in Thailand pay

a premium rate of tax. “From a club manage-

ment perspective we will experience more

technological advancement whether it’s

online reservations, mobile applications and

golf equipment,” Walton added.

Down Under in Australia, the mood

seems to be cautiously optimistic. Michael

Orloff, the founder of Golf Industry Central

reports: “The Australian golf market looks to

be settling down heading into 2015, though

a few new trends are emerging.”

He explained, “The “super club” model

is getting some traction with a few clubs

looking at merging with other local ones

to form one entity and in other areas non

“golf” related clubs are taking over dis-

tressed properties and adding additional

value to their membership and all in all it is

much more positive vibe in general than it

was this past 24 months.”

In the area of golf course development,

the president of the American Society of Golf

Course Architects, Lee Schmidt, principal of

the award-winning Schmidt-Curley Design

said, “My “crystal ball” for golf development in

2015 is still a bit cloudy, but if the recent sur-

vey of our ASGCA members is any indication,

From a club management perspective we will experience more technological

advancement whether it’s online reservations, mobile applications and golf equipment” – Stacey Walton

My “crystal ball” for golf development in 2015 is still a bit cloudy, but if the recent survey of

our ASGCA members is any indication, I believe 2015 will continue to see positive growth. Yes, the days of unrestricted growth in golf development in the big markets like China and the USA may be

over, but a steady growth rate of new and remodeling world-wide may prove to be more sustainable for all.” – Lee Schmidt


PGA Tour TV viewership took another plunge during the

2013-14 season, with average weekend numbers declining 18 percent on NBC and 14 percent on CBS and this trend is expected to continue into 2015.”

I believe 2015 will continue to see positive growth. Yes,

the days of unrestricted growth in golf development in

the big markets like China and the USA may be over, but

a steady growth rate of new and remodeling worldwide

may prove to be more sustainable for all.”

2014 has definitely been a challenging year for the

golf industry on a global scale. For many, it has been

tough. Based on what financial institutions are telling

us, it’s reasonable to expect that economic trends will

be more of the same in 2015 with perhaps a modest

improvement. However, it’s unlikely that this will in

any way enhance the odds of golfers having additional

disposable income to increase their respective play fre-

quency rate, join a golf club. Or rush out to buy a new

set of golf equipment.

As one close industry watcher recently observed,

“So as we end one year and prepare for yet another,

hope will be a constant. It remains to be seen what

reality has in store for anyone of us!”

ASIAN GOLF – A PRODUCT OF DISRUPTIVE INNOVATIONPushing The Boundaries Of Change Beyond The Limit! A member of the Asia Pacific Golf Group

Print Digital On-line Apps Video Streaming Conferences Education

It’s quite an achievement to have

landed exclusive interviews with

the men and women who are at

the pinnacle of the golf industry

today.

The movers and shakers of golf

who have spoken to Asian Golf

include Callaway Golf’s CEO Chip

Brewer, PING’s Chairman, John

Solheim Sr.; Bob Philion, President

of Cobra Puma Golf; Cindy

Davis, President of Nike Golf; Bob

Bettinardi President of Bettinardi

Putters and Tim Clarke, President of

Wilson Golf.

Powerful men and women who

have shared with us their thoughts,

views and perspectives of the

state of golf today. These are the

people who are moulding the

future of golf and no one can read

the pulse of the industry better

than these industry captains.

Only Asian Golf has been able to

bring you this treat – yet another

measure of our standing in the

global golf industry.

Look Who Is Talking To Us!

Only The Captains Of The Golf Industry – That’s Who!

www.asiapacificgolfgroup.comNo Wonder Golf’s Industry Captains Talk To Us!

John SolheimBob Bettinardi

Tim Clarke

SPECIAL FEATURE 2014 APGS Wrap-Up

24 25 ASIAN GOLF

Ask any businessman operating anywhere in the world what is his most important resource to ensure a successful operation and the most probable answer would be human capital. Why human capital you may ask? Well, in this day and age, quality workers is the one single factor that makes the difference between a successful business and an also ran.

The golf club industry is no different. The quest

for excellence in delivering the best golfing

experience to a golfer is very reliant on the

people working behind the scenes of a golf

club and how they pull together to deliver a

quality experience.

At the recently concluded 2014 Asia Pacific Golf Summit

held in Singapore, one of the highlights of the Asian Golf

Awards was the introduction of a special award category

that recognized some of the best employees in the club

industry throughout the continent. The category included

the following awards:

Best Club General Manager Of The Year

Best Director Of Golf Operations Of The Year

Best Food And Beverage Manager Of The Year

Best Golf Course Superintendent Of The Year

Best Club Caddie Of The Year


“We elected to include this new award category into the

Annual Asian Golf Awards because we felt that the time had

come for the industry to recognise and celebrate the best of

the best so that these individuals can serve as role models

for others to emulate and also serve as a benchmark for

clubs to use to motivate their staff,” explained Mike Sebas-

tian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group,

the owner of the Asian Golf Awards.

“We in the industry believe that this is a historic initia-

tive because more than ever, we need to grow the level of

service within the golf club industry and what better way is

there than to recognize the dedicated men and women who

strive so hard to help position of our clubs at the leading

edge of the industry,” said Stacey Walton, general manager

of the Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.

The award for Best Cub General Manager was won by Harald Elisson of

the award winning Black Mountain Golf

Club. “I’ve known Harald Elisson for many

years. He’s an outstanding leader. The organization he

runs is first class and professional. He has really set the

benchmark for Asian golf clubs. When you play Black

Mountain, you get the feeling that you are playing the

best in Asia. The professionals return year after year and

have even made Black Mountain there home because it’s

such a fantastic and complete facility-maintained at the

best all the time”, is how Asia’s top teaching professional

Tony Meechai described Elisson.

HARALD ELISSONBlack Mountain Golf Club

Best Club General Manager

Of The Year

on, general manager

Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.

We in the industry believe that this is a historic initiative because more than

ever, we need to grow the level of service within the golf club industry and what better way is there than to recognize the dedicated men and women who strive so hard to help

position of our clubs at the leading edge of the industry.” – Stacey Walton

t

SPECIAL FEATURE 2014 APGS Wrap-Up

26 27 ASIAN GOLF26262626262626266 272727272727272722 AAAAAAAASIASISIASIASIASIASIASIASIASIAI N GN GN GN GN GN GN GN GN GN OLFOLFOLFOLFOLFOLFOLFOLFOO F

The man who walked away

with the title of Best Direc-tor of Golf Operations is

Stuart Daly of Banyan Golf

Club in Hua Hin Thailand. This is how a

member described Daly, “This man is the

consummate professional. He is up early

every day of the week and he goes about

marshalling his team to be totally ready to

welcome golfers. Under Stuart, nothing is left to chance. He makes certain that everything is ready

to go and that the course is in the best shape not only for tournaments but for general play at any

time during the course of the year. That’s what makes him so special and so invaluable!”

There is no denying that Daly runs a tight ship at the Banyan Golf Club. His management style

is reflected by the awards that some of his team received at the Asian Golf Awards ceremony.

t

The Best Golf Course Superintendent title

went to Minachai Srichanya, a Thai national.

And this is how Daly describes him: “Minachai

has been part of the team at Banyan Golf Club

since the pre-opening stages and has been involved at all

stages of the golf course development. Minachai is one of

the best planners I know and follows his maintenance pro-

grammes religiously. He is always open to feedback from our

members and players and is constantly on the look-out to

improve the state of the turf on our course and to train and

develop junior members of his team.”

t

STUART DALYBanyan Golf Club

Best Director of Golf Operations

MINACHAI SRICHANYABanyan Golf Club

Best Golf Course Superintendent


Another of the award winners also

comes from Daly’s stable. She is

Asia’s Best Club Caddie Of The Year – Kannika Namthong is also

from Thailand. “The team of caddies at Banyan

Golf Club is our biggest ambassadors and

golfers judge their experience based on the ef-

ficiency and friendliness of the caddies. Kannika

is one of the most sought after caddies and is highly skilled. She’s a tremendous asset to our

club and will be a big influence on how we train our caddies in the coming years as she is the

standard by which we want everyone else to conduct themselves.”

KANNIKA NAMTHONGBanyan Golf Club

Asia’s Best Club Caddie Of The Year

RICKY GUO JINWEIMission Hills Group

Best Food & Beverage Manager Of The Year

Food and beverage is a vital area of any golf

club’s operations and Mission Hills Group is no

exception. As the world’s largest golf resort,

keeping thousands of golfers properly fed and

entertained is a massive challenge. However, the 2014 Best Food and Beverage Manager Of the Year award winner

takes it in his stride. This is how Tenniel Chu, vice-chairman of

the Mission Hills Group described the award winner Ricky Guo

Jinwei: “Ricky’s success in being named Best Food & Beverage

Manager Of The Year is richly deserved and is indicative of the

high standards he sets at Mission Hills Haikou, where feedback

from guests is usually excellent. While we are always delighted

when our colleagues are recognised with individual awards, we

do place strong emphasis on the team and I’m sure Ricky would

be the first to pay tribute to his colleagues, both within the F&B

operation and beyond, for their outstanding contribution.”

Asia’s first batch of golf club role models have been recognized. Very high standards

have been set and this can only result in better things to come in the year ahead.

ISSSSISSISSISSISSSSSSISSISSS UE UE UUE UE UE UE UE UEUEE 1721721721721721721721721727 JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAANUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUUUARARARARARARARARARARY YYY YY YY Y 2020202020202020202 151515151515151515115

so

The also

yan

e ef-ff

nnika

is highly skilled. She’s a tremendous asset to our

train our caddies in the coming years as she is

our

the

28 29 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Father & Son Tournament

Vietnam has taken owner-

ship of the Asia Pacific

Father and Son Golf Tourna-

ment by staging a spec-

tacular inaugural event in

Ho Chi Minh City. The two-day tournament

played on December 6 and 7, was hosted

by golf’s leading philanthropist Mr. Le Van

Kiem and the award-winning Long Thanh

Golf Resort in Vietnam.

While the event draws its pedigree

from the original Father and Son Challenge

Tournament, the local organisers decided

to transform the tournament into a total

family affair.

“The core of the event focused on

father and son teams but in the spirit of

promoting family fellowship, we decided

to open up the tournament to accommo-

date family members and their relatives,”

said Lawrence Young, tournament director.

With this flexibility of pairings, there were

father and daughter teams, husband and

wife teams and a number of different mix

and match combinations drawn from

members of extended families.

“This new format of fathers and sons

and relatives provided for a lot of fun and

camaraderie and the feedback that we

received has encouraged us to continue

with this format in future years,” declared

Nguyen Huu Thanh, general manager of

the Long Thanh Golf Resort.

A total of seventy pairings competed in

the inaugural event. Teams came from the

home country, Myanmar, Laos, Cambo-

dia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and

Malaysia.

In his opening address, the host,

The Father and Son Golf Tournament started in 1995 when the Father and Son Challenge was launched as an annual two person golf tournament for PGA Tour and Champion Tour golfers and (usually) their sons. It was played at Champions Gate Golf Resort in Florida from 1995 to 2008.

The event’s name became somewhat inaccurate as Fuzzy Zoeller teamed up with his daughter Gretchen in 2005 as did Bernhard Langer with his daughter Christina in 2013 and Arnold Palmer partnered one of his grandsons Sam Saunders. The junior team members ranged from middle school age up, and included a few with tour golf careers of their own.

The tournament is played over 36 holes for the Willie Park Trophy, in memory of the father and son British Open champions Willie Park Snr and Willie Park Jnr.


30 31 ASIAN GOLF


I am pleased to

announce that the Asia Pacific Father And Son Tournament will be an annual tournament staged at the Long Thanh Golf Resort.”

Mr. Le said, “This is a historic moment for

the development of golf in Vietnam and

it is very encouraging that the event has

attracted such good support from so many

countries.” He went on to add, “Based on

the response that the inaugural event has

enjoyed, I am pleased to announce that the

Asia Pacific Father And Son Tournament

will be an annual tournament staged at the

Long Thanh Golf Resort.”

Commenting on the tournament, Mike

Sebastian, chief executive officer of the

Asia Pacific Golf Group said, “This is a dream

come true for the visionary Mr. Le who has

always wanted to promote Vietnam as a

major force in golf and in golf tourism.”

The participants in the tournament

were feted to a gala welcome reception

and a gala awards dinner and the winners

went home with valuable prizes while

everyone else went home with gifts. “This

was the best tournament that I have par-

ticipated in – the atmosphere was fun, the

food was great and the organization was

very professional,” is how Cha Boo Ho from

South Korea described the event.

Some of the tournament prizes included

diamond jewellery, Mercedes Benz C-Class

cars and villa plots worth in excess of

US$300,000 each as hole in one offerings.

32 33 ASIAN GOLF


1st Runner Up: He Tea Vinh & Tea Sorachuay (Cambodia) 2nd Runner Up: Kyung Heum Yeon & Rachel Yeon (Korea)


34 35 ASIAN GOLF

This was the best tour-nament that I have par-

ticipated in – the atmo-sphere was fun, the food was great and the organization was very professional.” – Cha Boo Ho | South Korea

3rd Runner Up: Tran Van Tam & Tran Duc Trung (Vietnam) 4th Runner Up: Nguyen Thi Bao Quyuh & Hanako Kawasaki (Vietnam/Japan)


INNOVATIONDistinguishes leaders from followers

Innovation explained in 50 secondsJPX850.com

FAST TRACK SLIDING WEIGHT SYSTEM

In 2007 Mizuno introduced a sliding weight system called Fast Track – to altera driver’s draw/fade tendency. Over seven years we learned that Fast Track waseven more useful to alter a drivers spin rate and launch angle – helping playersof different swing speeds hit their maximum distance with the new JPX850 driver

#piercingblue

BORON GRAIN FLOW FORGED

When our 1025E Pure Select mild carbon steel could take our Grain Flow Forged headsno further, our engineers spent 6 years researching how to incorporate Boron into themanufacturing process. The result is a material 30% stronger – allowing greater designfreedom and dramatically increased ball speeds. All you’ll see is a different number on the sole.

#invisible

SHOCK WAVE SOLE PLATE

It’s tough to make a fairway wood face that reacts like a driver – the frame is too small. Afteryears of thinning the face with new materials, we found the greater solution lie in enabling theentire head to flex. The JPX850 fairway woods new Shock Wave sole contracts and expandson impact – allowing the entire clubhead to deliver energy to the ball.

#shocked

Is there no limit to what

technology can do for golf? Well, based on what just

the transom, it looks like there

is most certainly no limit!

38 39 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS TomTom Golfer


With the TomTom Golfer on your wrist, you will know every inch of a golf

course. You will be able to hit the perfect approach shot and no golfer can deny how gratifying an experience this can be.”

The product that revealed itself

to us this month looks like a

handsomely crafted wrist watch.

While it flashes the time of day

accurately, this is not one of its

primary functions. Its real value-for-money

functions are built around its outstanding

global positioning system (GPS).

Sound the drum roll guys and roll in the

TomTom Golfer! What? You heard me guys,

it’s time to unravel the TomTom Golfer, a nifty

looking golf GPS that wraps around your wrist.

It’s a fabulous neat little package and

if you don’t want to use it for the purpose

it was designed for, then just put it on as

a fashion accessory that will be bound to

become a conversation piece. That’s how

cool it is!

Seriously, the TomTom Golfer (that’s its

real name) is a GPS sports watch designed

to make it easy for golfers to improve their

game. How so, you may ask? Well, it flashes

up unique course graphics which show

accurate distances to hazards and lay-ups

and the best possible approach to the green.

Now how smart is that! It takes the whole

guessing game right out of planning a shot

and this is what most golfers will kill for!

The company behind this ingenuous

product answers to the name TomTom also.

It is a Dutch company and is a global leader

in navigation and mapping products.

With its vast experience and knowl-

edge in GPS technology, the company has

designed the TomTom Golfer to help golfers

plan their game and to make quick informed

decisions on their next shot through the aid

of full-screen graphical visualisations and

wireless access to critical course data. Now,

if you think all this is too technical for you,

just flush this negative thought right out

of your head – the TomTom Golfer can be

operated by a toddler (well, maybe that’s an

exaggeration), but all the same, it’s a cinch

to use!

With the TomTom Golfer on your wrist,

you will know every inch of a golf course.

You will be able to hit the perfect approach

shot and no golfer can deny how gratifying

an experience this can be.

Another special feature of this GPS

sports watch is that it has pre-loaded course

data from 34,000 international golf courses

– that’s like virtually every course in exis-

tence on the planet! How the heck can so

much information be jam-packed into such

a tiny little device? Simply incredible!

Before you charge out of the front door

to purchase your own TomTom Golfer, you

should know that this gem of a device is

intended for golfers aiming to improve

their game and to help them to consistently

record lower scores. It’s all about planning

your next shot and as the golf legend Ben

Hogan once said, “the most important shot

in golf is the next one”. And this is precisely

what the TomTom Golfer does – it helps you

set your course strategy by providing at-

a-glance graphics to help you make quick

and smart decisions on your next shot. Man,

these Dutchmen are smart chaps!

Is it cumbersome to wear on the wrist

during play? Nah! It is super lightweight and

slim in appearance.

In a nutshell, the TomTom Golfer offers:

Greenview – graphics of the green and

hazards.

Hazards – graphics depicting distances

of hazards on the fairway.

Green distances – precise yardages to

front, centre and back of green.

Round tracking – keeps track of score,

distance and time taken per round.

Lay-up – distances to lay-up points.

OK, now that we’ve told you everything

you need to know, you can charge out to get

yourself your personal TomTom Golfer. Put it

on, turn it on and surprise your flight mates!

40 41 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS KZG OS-II Driver


There’s no denying the fact that

drivers are hard to hit because

they exacerbate any flaw in

your swing. If you have a slight

slice or hook with a low iron,

hit a driver in the same way and you’ll be

spending the best part of your round hunt-

ing through the long grass for your ball.

So is there help in sight? Is there any

hope for those of us who are driven to mad-

ness with our drivers ever being able to get

the big stick under control?

Well, it looks like the golfing gods

have heard our pleading bleats and have

beamed down the KZG OS-II driver.

In case you are wondering what the

OS-II is, it is a product of superb engineer-

ing from KZG, the manufacturer renowned

as a supplier of equipment only through the

finest professional club-fitters and teachers

in the industry.

The new OS-II is an offset driver that is

specifically designed for high handicap play-

ers and beginners who struggle to launch

and keep the ball in play. Alleluia! Praise the

golfing gods! Now, all golfers with a slow

swing speed will be especially thrilled by the

distance they can achieve with the OS-II.

“It’s time to grow the game,” declared

Jennifer King, President of KZG. “And the

best way to do that is to give players a club

that is ideal for their game. Our new OS-II

driver is just one of our ten driver models

and is definitely our “easiest-to-play” model

due to its forgiveness, offset and variety of

loft options,” she explained.

How is the ease of play achieved? Does

it engage with adjustable heads? Her im-

mediate retort was, “No adjustable head

here!” Dr. King was very emphatic about

differentiating the OS-II with all other “game

improvement” adjustable drivers on the

market. She pointed out: “The last thing we

want is new players changing the specifica-

tions of their clubs every time they mis-hit

one off the tee. Our worldwide network of

qualified fitters will perfectly fit the golfer so

that they’re free to focus on more important

tasks like getting their swing into a groove.”

The offset and closed club face is cosmeti-

cally concealed giving the OS-II a traditional

appearance at address. The face insert is

heat-treated forged titanium creating the

maximum legal rebound. Ideal lower centre

of gravity weighting assures an easy and high

launch. “The OS-II also offers a solid “crack

of the bat” sound preferred by most players;

along with a solid, meaty feel,” added Dr. King.

High handicap players who slice the

ball, and stronger players who swing from

outside-in with a late release will both

discover that the OS-II is a great fix. “Golfers

who tend to close the face through impact

or have a slower swing speed will certainly

appreciate the higher lofts available in this

model... up to 14º /SL and 16º /XSL and most

importantly it conforms with the official

rules,” Dr. King pointed out.

What a sense of relief. Now any golfer can

keep the ball off a driver in play. Thank you

golfing gods – you’ve made the day for many

golfers. Check out the KZG OS-II driver at an

authorized KZG custom fitter in your location.

It’s time to grow the game,” declared Jennifer King, President of KZG. “And the

best way to do that is to give players a club that is ideal for their game. Our new OS-II driver is just one of our ten driver models and is defi-nitely our “easiest-to-play” model due to its forgiveness, offset and variety of loft options.”

42 43 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Nike Golf Going Forward


Nike Golf Southeast Asia threw quite a fling for the media and its distributors recently in Bangkok, the Swoosh brand’s business hub for the region. In typical Nike fashion, it was all about style and panache as it proudly rolled out its family of golf clubs, apparel and accessories for 2015.

One trend was very noticeable at this bash and that was the almost deliberate emphasis on apparel and accessories. The grandest introduction seemed to be reserved for Nike Golf apparel – and why not! After all the brand leads all the other golf brands when it comes to apparel and it makes a lot of good business sense to show-off and brag about golf’s number one apparel brand!

Before it is forgotten, the big show was staged

in Bangkok to introduce the media and

distributors to Nike Golf’s exciting new Vapor

range of drivers, woods and hybrids which

seemed to come across as an after-thought.

This perception could be totally off the mark but that’s

how Asian Golf read the situation.

Anyway, the Vapor range of clubs are all fantastic

products of innovative engineering and this includes

all three drivers, the full set of fairway woods and the

hybrids. What is notable about the Vapor range is that it

was designed and built from the ground up by the “new

engineering team” led by Nate Radcliffe who was hired

away from Cleveland Golf to take over from the legend-

ary Tom Stites who was the chief club designer from the

day Nike Golf was set up in 2001.

Stites who had been re-engaged as a consultant

and “Chief Imagineer” most probably had a hand in the

creation of the Vapor clubs.

While the Vapor clubs mark a milestone in Nike Golf’s

44 45 ASIAN GOLF

evolution, we feel that the company is at a

crossroads of sorts where it is seen gravi-

tating towards the highly successful core

business model which is driven by its global

leadership in sports shoes and apparel

and accessories sectors. It makes sense to

emulate the core business as it already has a

proven formula for success.

It is interesting to note that over the last

six years, sales for Nike Golf have remained

steady while still trailing top brands like

TaylorMade-adidas Golf, Callaway Golf and

Acushnet. Sales were US$725 million in

May of 2008, and US$789 million through

the fiscal year ended May 2014. The 2014

numbers were about equal to 2013’s figure

of US$792 million. Growth has been languid

to say the least.

But we think that this is all set to change

now that Cindy Davis has “retired” from the

post as president of Nike Golf. To “retire” at

age 52 was difficult to comprehend as we

could not see Davis sitting on the veranda

of her home in a rocking chair knitting a

sweater! After a respite, Davis is back in

business serving on the board of direc-

tors of Buffalo Wild Wings – a chain sports

bar and chicken wings restaurant in North

America.

After the Davis era, Nike scoured its

executive wing to seek out a perfect person

imbued with the right Nike DNA to lead

Nike Golf. That executive has since been

found and he is Daric Ashford, the new

president of Nike Golf.

Ashford was until recently general man-

ager of the Jordan Brand for North America

and is a 21-year Nike veteran. Daric is an out

and out consummate Nike insider. “Daric’s

leadership has helped to deliver strong rev-

enue growth and expand the Jordan Brand.

His proven track record, along with his

experience in global categories, makes him

ideally suited to leading the golf business,”

said Jayme Martin, Nike’s vice president and

general manager of global categories.

Based on this, Nike Golf has a man at

the helm who has a deep understanding

of the core values of Nike and we think this

will serve as a strong ballast as he leads the

company’s charge to gobble up market

share in the golf sector. We think that the

new man will prove to be a game-changer

for the company that boasts a stable of to-

day’s greatest golfers – phenoms like Tiger

Woods, Rory McIlroy and Michelle Wei.

We believe that Daric will change mind-

sets and in good time, he will get the golf

industry to think of Nike not as just a com-

pany renowned for running shoes but as a

brand known for quality golf products! This

is bound to happen and in fact, it is already

happening.

For all intents and purposes, Nike Golf is

really the “new kid” on the golf equipment

block. While the company has scored well

with soft goods in the golf sector, they have

some catching up to do with hard goods.

This will change especially with products

that bear the “Vapor” branding.

Central to Nike Golf’s big push in 2015

we think is going to be the company’s



DARIC ASHFORDPRESIDENT OF NIKE GOLF

“Oven West” based at Nike Inc’s corporate

headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. The

“oven” is where Nike Golf sparks it research

and development programmes and it’s

where revolutionary new products are

“baked” so to speak. “Oven West” is comple-

mentary to the original “Oven” located in

Fort Worth, Texas where the company bakes

it golf clubs.

What’s different about this new R&D

facility is that it is entirely devoted to the

development of golf balls. Nike Golf is onto

something with this R&D facility and we see

it as a bold affront to the golf industry. It is

an in-your-face challenge which irreverently

tells the world that Nike Golf is ready to take

on the big boys in the golf ball business.

The golf ball sector does not play out in

a crowded arena like the golf club business.

It is a smaller field that accounts for a size-

able global revenue base and we think that

Nike Golf is going after market share in this

sector. Again, it’s a plausible business ma-

noeuvre that can and will help the company

beef up its otherwise lack-lustre earnings.

What we see coming out of this facility

is already impressive. Take the RZN line of

golf balls – four different designs and if you

want to become a believer, we urge you to

put these balls to the test.

At Asian Golf, we did a range test with

a select group of golfers and the consen-

sus was unanimous – “these are terrific

balls!” Chemical maker DuPont is said to be

providing the resin base, and Nike’s engi-

neers say that despite the fact that the raw

material costs more than rubber, it’s easier

and faster to use, cutting down on labour.

The fact sheet states that the new material

allows the outer layers of the ball to better

grip the core, minimizing air within the ball

to create more energy at impact and this is

supposed to help average golfers, particu-

larly those with an off-centre swing. Now,

can you see a definite sales pattern emerg-

ing? These guys have got their act together

and they are confident that the RZN balls

are simply going to fly off the shelves and

help Nike Golf bite off a piece of the golf

ball revenue pie!

We can now see Nike Golf’s strategy go-

ing forward. Drawing from their strengths

in golf apparel and footwear, the Swoosh

boys have built a well-rounded company

that is now fully mature and grown up in

golf. With the power of the Vapor stable of

clubs and the RZN golf balls (which we are

told are actually tested by being shot out of

a cannon-like device), Nike Golf is set to hit

the ball right out of the park and set new

goals for itself.

It’s about time Nike Golf – go out there

and hit a bunch of home runs in 2015!

We can now see Nike Golf’s strategy going forward. Drawing from their strengths in golf

apparel and footwear, the Swoosh boys have built a well-rounded company that is now fully mature and grown up in golf. With the power of the Vapor stable of clubs and the RZN golf balls (which we are told are actually tested by being shot out of a canon-like device), Nike Golf is set to hit the ball right out of the park and set new goals for itself.”

46 47 ASIAN GOLF


BEN LEWISGENERAL MANAGER

FOR NIKE GOLF

SOUTHEAST ASIA/PACIFIC

EQUIPMENT FOCUS Callaway Chrome Soft Ball

48 49 ASIAN GOLF

Where do you see the biggest and bloodiest battle being fought in the golf industry? We’ll give you three guesses. Will there be a lot of carnage in the battle for driver supremacy? Do you reckon that it will be a deadly duel to the last man in the irons category? Or do you believe that it will be bombs galore in the putter trenches? If you picked any one of the

for share of market in the golf ball category. It is said that the dimpled ball accounts for a whopping US$1.2 billion in sales and it’s also said to be growing.

Now that you have a sense of what

the golf ball market is worth, you

will understand why Chip Brewer,

Callaway’s sharp president and

chief executive officer has decided

to lead his men into battle to blow up the ball

market and to chop away a large chunk of the pie

as the valuable spoils of the war.

Under Brewer’s command, the turn-around

at the once most dominant player in the golf

equipment industry is beginning to show positive

signs of clawing back its dominance. After being

a laggard for a number of years, Brewer, has put

his magic wand to work and the products that are

coming out of the legendary brand that the late Ely

Callaway built is stirring up quite a buzz.

The latest buzz-generator is the “Chrome Soft

Ball”. Launched just before Christmas 2014, it looks


Soft Feel - The low 65 compression lets a

golfer compress the ball on iron shots for an

incredibly soft feel, and it’s amazing around

the greens. Now, all golfers can compress

the ball like a Tour player.

� Excellent Control - A high level of

control for aggressive shots into the green

comes from the soft feel and the Tour Ure-

thane Cover. It’s built for consistency that a

golfer can depend on with every shot.

� SOFTFAST™ Core - Reduces spin and re-

tains energy off the driver to maximize ball

speed and distance. And the low compres-

sion lets a golfer compress the ball on iron

shots for incredibly soft feel.

�Mantle Layer - Helps retain the energy

stored in the core, which translates to faster

ball speeds.

� Soft DURASPIN™ Cover – Callaway’s soft-

est, most durable cover grips the clubface for

excellent control into and around the green.

� HEX Aerodynamics - Optimizes lift and

reduces drag to help increase distance.

“The firmer feeling golf balls have

become the benchmark for distance and all-

around tour level performance,” said Dave

Bartels, Callaway’s senior director of golf

ball R&D. “But most golfers would agree that

soft balls feel better. In the past it’s always

come at a penalty to performance.”

Bartels believes Callaway’s Chrome Soft

ball could challenge the existing benchmark.

“Golf ball designers have realized that you

can create low compression balls to reduce

spin with the longer clubs,” he explained.

“With SuperSoft, the soft core compresses

yet still retains its energy and restores its

energy as it regains its shape to generate fast

ball speeds. It doesn’t lose its energy.”

Bartels noted that the standard tour ball

typically has a compression of around 90;

however, Chrome Soft, due to its SuperFast

core, has a compression of around 65.

Now that the performance facts are

known, it cannot be denied that Callaway

has literally redefined the golf ball, and is

serving as the guiding beacon for a whole

new category of golf ball. As of now, the

Chrome Soft is the only ball with the SoftFast

Core with low compression and the Tour

Urethane cover. We believe that there is no

other ball that combines all of these special

characteristics into one doozy of a golf ball!

Any final words Callaway? With Chrome

Soft, no golfer will ever have to choose

between feel and hitting it farther any-

more. We have one word for you Callaway

– EUREKA!

like a “miracle” ball. Callaway is pitching this

new ball as the mother of all game changers.

Some industry watchers are asking if this

revolutionary offering from Callaway could

be the ball that changes the golf ball? Well,

ASIAN GOLF spoke with its North American-

based correspondent and he seems wildly

enthusiastic about what he has seen and

heard about the Chrome Soft ball.

He reports some stunning characteristics:

� The ball is really long off the tee;

� It is incredibly soft at impact;

� It’s spin control around the greens is

remarkable;

Features like these are going to result in

one crazy development – it’s going to cause

a massive demand frenzy amongst golfers

of all skill levels. This is how Callaway spins

the story. Its web site plugs the Chrome Soft

ball as possessing the following magical

features:

� Low Spin Off The Tee For Exceptional Distance – Low spin off the driver for

maximum ball speed and distance. The core

is the key to long, straight distance off the

tee, and Callaway’s optimized HEX Aerody-

namics makes Chrome Soft even longer by

reducing drag and increasing lift.

� Low Compression For An Incredibly

50 51 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS TaylorMade AeroBurner Family

Who was the guy who declared that there will be a slow-down in the release of new products from TaylorMade? That’s now proven to be a whole load of nonsense because news from Carlsbad shows clear proof that the


We’ve drastically improved the performance of the sole’s Speed

Pocket and significantly improved the aerodynamics to deliver maximum speed to the golfer.” – Brian Bazzel

Annd TTheee TaaylorrrMaadee Reeprisse CConnntinnuess!The iconic “Burner” franchise returns with the introduction of

TaylorMade’s most aerodynamic driver and fairway and rescue clubs with the largest speed pocket ever!

he company that prides itself as the “makers of the

No. 1 driver and No. 1 fairway wood in golf” has

unveiled the AeroBurner franchise – a matte white

coloured driver, fairway and rescue club trio that

feature an improved Speed Pocket and advanced

aerodynamics to promote effortless distance for all player

types.

“For the golfers who missed the phenomenon

that was RocketBallz, or for those who are ready

to upgrade to more speed and distance in their

metalwoods, AeroBurner is what you are look-

ing for,” said Brian Bazzel, Senior Director of

Product Creation for Metalwoods.

“We’ve drastically improved the per-

formance of the sole’s Speed Pocket and

significantly improved the aerodynam-

ics to deliver maximum speed to the

golfer,” Bazzel continued.

The name “AeroBurner” derives

from the product’s advanced

aerodynamics, a performance

variable that TaylorMade R&D members have long

obsessed over in their quest to engineer fast driver

heads. To accomplish this, AeroBurner metalwoods

feature an “Aero hosel,” (small fin located at the heel

of the club to reduce drag) a raised centre crown and

rounded toe section. All three of these variables work

as a system to improve aerodynamics and lower drag

force.

Next, the AeroBurner family has the largest

Speed Pocket ever, which enhances the sweet spot

and protects ball speed on mishits.

Now, here’s the product drill-down, starting

with the driver. The driver’s biggest advancement

is its new Speed Pocket which is twice as big as the

JetSpeed (first driver to feature the technology).

Unlike JetSpeed, AeroBurner drivers do not have loft

sleeve technology which offers loft and lie adjustabil-

ity. This allowed TaylorMade’s engineers to extend

the length of the Speed Pocket across the entire sole

for maximum performance.

The AeroBurner driver also features Inverted

52 53 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS TaylorMade AeroBurner Family

Cone, a technology used in every Taylor-

Made driver since the R500 Series in 2002.

The Inverted Cone milled into the inner side

of the clubface promotes higher ball speed

on off-centre hits.

Finally, the AeroBurner driver features

an ultra-light 50-gram TM1-215 Mitsubishi

Rayon shaft. The longer, lighter shaft and

light grip adds up to less than 295 grams of

total club weight, promoting faster swing

speed. Balancing the club to a slightly

higher swing weight improves feel of the

club and promotes faster ball speed. For

Global specification, it comes with Matrix

Speed Rul-Z shaft and adds up to less than

300 grams of total club weight.

Rounding out the AeroBurner metalwood

franchise is the fairway wood and rescue

clubs, both featuring the largest Speed

Pocket in combination with an extremely low

and forward centre of gravity (CG).

The Aero Burner fairway is a culmination

of years of technology development in the

fairway wood category. This technology first

came into market in 2008 when TaylorMade

determined that there was still significant

opportunity to achieve more distance in

fairways if both the ball speed could be

increased and the spin could be reduced.

As TaylorMade engineers developed

the Speed Pocket prototypes, they discov-

ered that sole slots could also dramatically

reduce spin, especially if combined with a

low balance point CG projection which can

be accomplished with low forward CG.

“The original RocketBallz represented a

breakthrough in performance which started

a whole new replacement cycle for fairway

woods, said Bazzel. “We have continued to

pour R&D resources into better understand-

ing the potential of flexible sole boundary

conditions which has led us to AeroBurner, a

fairway with our largest Speed Pocket ever.

We are now achieving driver like launch

conditions with a fairway wood.”

The Aero Burner fairway combines the

size of the RocketBallz fairway channel with

the technology of the through slot of the

JetSpeed fairway to produce an ultimate

Speed Pocket. Compared to the original

RocketBallz, the AeroBurner has a face

size that is 2.5mm shallower for bet-

ter playability from the turf. The

AeroBurner also has a 2X larger

sweet spot (COR) compared to

JetSpeed.

The AeroBurner 3-wood is

equipped with a TM1-215 Mitsubishi

Rayon (S, SR, R flexes) measuring at 43.25”

(USGA length measurement method). The

overall length has been shortened from

previous fairway offerings to increase its

playability while maintaining the speed

from new head advancements.

Next, let’s check out the

AeroBurner rescue club. It

has a larger Speed Pocket

like the fairway wood.

Like the driver and fairway

wood, it has the same white

crown with black contrasting

face, and crown alignment features

to help with accuracy and consistency

needed for hybrid clubs.

AeroBurner fairways and Rescue clubs

share the following:

Ultra-high strength, Ni-Co 300

Super Alloy Steel

The largest Open Chan-

nel Speed Pocket

Precision-cast

crowns with our

Thick-Thin crown

technology

Shallow face and

low-and-forward CG

location with refined crown curva-

ture and sole camber

The AeroBurner series from TaylorMade

is destined to take ownership of a very

special place in the golf equipment hit

parade for 2015. Watch it soar!

54 55 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS TaylorMade R15 Family

It’s a blast from the past! How exciting to see the birth of new products that have emerged from the crucible that has been the depository of years of cutting-edge technology. Drawing from the depth of knowledge at its disposal and creating new products that are paradigm shifters just goes to show the innovative powers and versatility of TaylorMade as a very unique manufacturer of some of the best golf equipment in the world bar none!

he newly launched R15 is a

perfect example of a product

that traces its origin from

TaylorMade’s vast techno-

logical know-how. It draws its

pedigree from the company’s successful

“R” series – a brand mark synonymous

with more than a decade of heroic, game-

changing metalwood products.

“R15 harnesses our world-class

portfolio of technological advancements

engineered over the last 15 years,” said

Brian Bazzel, director of product creation

at TaylorMade. “It performs incredibly in a

package that looks great, sounds great and

can be easily fitted to any player. Every-

thing we know about the metalwood,

we’ve put into R15; golfers will see that,

feel it and sense it with every swing. It’s a

special driver.”

Put bluntly, the R15 series is the

company’s most technologically sophis-

ticated, high-performance metalwood

franchise ever. The family includes a

driver, fairway and Rescue clubs.

Why did TaylorMade bring back the

“R” franchise? It starts with breakthrough

adjustability and the R15’s lower and more

forward centre of gravity (CG) location.

Empowering the golfer to adjust

weight in a driver head is a landmark inno-

vation that TaylorMade brought to the golf

industry more than 10 years ago with its r7

Quad driver. Through the years, company

engineers have increased the amount of

weight that can be distributed while also

56 57 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS TaylorMade R15 Family

R15 series is the company’s

most technologically sophisticated, high-performance metal-wood franchise ever.

simplifying the process to enhance the golfer’s experience.

With its new Front Track system in R15, adjusting a Taylor-

Made driver has never been quicker or easier: Inside the

track system are two sliding split weights that weigh

12.5 grams each (25g total). The R15 club head has

5g more discretionary mass to maneuver and

is 4g lighter than the popular SLDR. Using

TaylorMade’s torque wrench, the golfer

can loosen and slide the weights to the

heel for a draw, to the toe for a fade or

split for maximum stability.

Additionally, R15 incorporates the

company’s most adjustable loft-sleeve,

giving golfers the ability to alter their

face angle, lie angle and loft preference

to affect side-to-side trajectory. A simple

rotation of the loft-sleeve with the torque

wrench allows the golfer to change the loft +/-

two degrees.

Together, the sliding split weights and loft-sleeve en-

able golfers to adjust their R15 driver with extreme precision.

Key to the performance of the R15 is the low and forward centre

of gravity (CG) – a strategic placement of weight first seen in SLDR

which promotes faster ball speed with less spin. R15 has an even

lower and more forward CG thanks to the Front Track system, which

is 12mm closer to the leading edge with 40 more grams of weight

forward. In total, 75% of the mass is in the front of the driver.

Low forward CG in combination with the more forward

track and redesigned sliding weights in the R15 helps

to reduce spin by about 100 to

200rpm and increase launch

by 0.5 to 1.0deg compared to

the SLDR 460.

According to TaylorMade, it research

indicates that a 17-degree launch angle and a

1700 rpm spin rate promote the best combination

of carry and roll-out at every swing speed, culminating in maxi-

mum distance under normal playing conditions. The designs

of both the R15 460 and the R15 430 represent the next step

forward for all golfers to achieve maximum distance through

optimal launch conditions.

The larger, 460cc version of R15 is for the player seeking maxi-

mum forgiveness and confidence on the tee, while the R15 430 has

a shape that strongly resembles some of the most coveted drivers

from the company’s past. The address size is noticeably smaller to

appeal to players who prefer a smaller address view. The R15 430 is

also the lowest spinning driver offering.

The R15’s crown comes in a very appealing satin white finish,

with a contrasting black PVD face and sole. The strong contrast

between the crown and face make it easy to align the face accu-

rately at address. TaylorMade expects the majority of its tour players

to play R15 with a white crown. A gloss black version will be offered

exclusively in R15 460 in Global specs only.

Complementing the drivers are the fairway woods and hybrids


in this series. Available in three lofts – 15˚, 19˚ (20.5

˚ GL only), the R15 fairway is the company’s most

adjustable fairway to date. Featuring the same Front

Track system as the driver, the R15 FW utilizes a single

25-gram tungsten weight that can slide easily to promote a

draw or fade using a TaylorMade torque wrench. The

Front Track also performs like a Speed Pocket, increas-

ing the sweet spot and decreasing the spin rate. Like

the driver, the R15 FW comes with a 4° loft sleeve for

maximum loft adjustability.

The R15 fairway and Rescue clubs have been re-

fined by extensive input from TaylorMade’s stable of

staff professionals to be suitable for the best players

in the world. Similar to the original Rescue club from

TaylorMade, the new R15 has a “peanut” head shape,

commonly preferred by tour staff professionals. The

smaller shape (99cc) offers more versatility than a

conventional size hybrid and is preferred by players

who like to shape their shots.

TaylorMade has also incorporated an open channel

Speed Pocket into the R15 Rescue club, which promotes more ball

speed and reduced spin. Built with a Mitsubishi Rayon shaft, the club

also features a 3-degree loft sleeve allowing the golfer to customize

distance gaps between fairways, Rescue clubs, and longest long iron.

TaylorMade engineers worked to ensure this club has a more neutral

biased ball flight which guards against left misses that can sometimes

occur with hybrid clubs designed for higher handicap golfers.

The R15 series are available throughout Asia right now. It will be

offered in both white and black (custom fitting only) and features a

desirable, playable pear-shape in two head sizes – 460cc and 430cc.

Asian specs come available in four lofts – 10°, 11°, 12° and 14°.

58 59 ASIAN GOLF

ASIAN GOLF TOURISM Laguna Phuket Golf Club


Laguna Phuket Golf Club has won a string of awards for its resort facilities, it’s club house and it’s golf course. In response to the high acclaim it has received, its owners decided to embark on a major renovation of its course and facilities. This has all been done and the golf course is back in full bloom again, better than ever!

60 61 ASIAN GOLF

We put great emphasis on

contouring the land to add strategic and visual interest. This is another way of making players think about their shots.”

The revamped Laguna Phuket championship golf

course, which has re-opened after a full makeover, has

a “real sense of place and belonging” according to its

designer, Paul Jansen.

“In making changes to the original course [which

first opened in 1993], I wanted to create a story that is full of

adventure. I want golfers to explore the property and discover the

many outstanding features gracing it as I did through the design

and build stages,” Jansen says. “Not only has this been achieved,

but the course is now more strategic and certainly more memo-

rable.”

“The best golf courses have a character all their own and

require golfers to think their way around the site. Laguna Phuket

certainly has all this,” Jansen explains. “At 6719 yards from the back

tees, it isn’t long by modern standards, but is strategic enough to

challenge better players and provide enjoyment for resort golfers.

So it ticks all the boxes. It is definitely not a ‘bombers’ course”

“The number of bunkers has been reduced – to only 37 –but

each one is positioned to influence play. This hasn’t compromised

the course, but has provided the opportunity to embrace existing

features in determining playing strategy – such as water bodies

and outstanding trees.”

“We put great emphasis on contouring the land to add strate-

gic and visual interest. This is another way of making players think

about their shots.”

The project, which has revitalised the layout that hosted the

2009 Thailand Open, showcases unique features which include

wood ties on some steep fairway edges and traditional Thai fishing

boats placed in watercourses. According to Jansen these visual ele-

ments have enhanced memorability and character.

Laguna Phuket Golf Club is part of Asia’s first and leading

integrated resort, located on Phuket’s Bang Tao beach. The 1000-

acre complex includes Banyan Tree villas, Dusit Thani, Angsana and

Outrigger hotels and is within easy access of Phuket International

Airport.

ASIAN GOLF TOURISM Laguna Phuket Golf Club


Architect Paul Jansen on the grounds of the revamped golf course.

GAME IMPROVEMENT Black Hat Golf Tips

62 63 ASIAN GOLF

Happy New Year!


Born and brought up in the United States, Tony Meechai won his first golf tournament at the age of nine. He began working in the golf

industry when aged 15 and competed in various Mini Tour and PGA Tour qualifiers after turning professional in 1994. Armed with a Bachelor’s

degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University and a degree in Marketing and Professional Golf Management, he has

made a name for himself in Asia over the past decade, during which time he has served as Director of Instruction at Thailand’s Heartland Golf

Schools and Springfield Royal Country Club as well as presenting tips on numerous region-wide golf television shows. Recently, he founded the

Tony Meechai Golf Academy that combines a curriculum including academics and golf education for aspiring Tour professionals. Programmes

are in conjunction with international institutions throughout the world. For further information, please visit www.tmggolfeducation.com

ABOUT TONY MEECHAI

www.tonymeechaigolf.com

I know many of you have made New Year’s Resolu-

tions and want to get ahead in your lives…in golf

this year…I’d like you to start…by getting behind!

Yes, in order to play more consistent and better

golf, I have always had success with students who

discipline themselves to start their pre-shot routine, by

GETTING BEHIND the ball!

The biggest difference between a tour player and an

average golfer doesn’t involve the actual swing.

If you watch a tour player go through his pre-shot rou-

tine, you’ll almost never see him walk in from the side and

make a practice swing right next to the ball. He faces the

target from behind the ball, to visualize his shot, and most

likely make a few gentle practice swings with his eyes on

the target before stepping in.

When you approach from the side, it distorts your view

of the target and messes up your aim. Some players also

tend to keep their feet in place after a practice swing and

then reach for the ball to hit it. That’s another good reason

to start your routine from behind.

So remember, review your pre-shot routine by starting

with getting behind the ball and proceeding with your pre-

shot routine. Do it with each shot so it becomes routine!

EXTRA:

GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College

64 65 ASIAN GOLF

It is quite likely that you are reading this article because you want to become a professional tour golfer, and right now you are in high school or college and you spend a lot of your available time practicing and playing looking for ways to play better sooner so you can achieve your goal.

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

What is the Key Performance Factor that Enabled Jordan Spieth to Become So Good at Such a Young Age?

THE 4 GOLF SUCCESS FACTORS That Will Fast-Track High School

and College Golfers to the Pro Tour


You watch a lot of the pro

tournaments on TV or on your

computer, and you see young

male golfers like Jordan

Spieth and female golfers like

Lexi Thompson on the leader board at big

tournaments, and you wonder what it will

take for you to be that golfer.

But are you are confused?

You might be a little confused because

of all the conflicting information on the

internet and TV about what it takes to

become a successful golfer.

And who could blame you, after all one

golf expert will say this, and another will

say that, and the TV commentators will say

something else.

So you probably scratch your head

wondering how you will be able to sort out

what you need to know, so that you don’t

waste your valuable time working on things

that won’t help you.

So where do you start?

What do you need to know to become a

successful professional tour golfer?

We Will Get You on the Right PathWell, in this article we will clear up some of

the confusion for you and set you on the

right path to learn how to travel safely and

get your chance to earn a tour card and

compete successfully on a professional golf

tour.

Firstly we will assume that you are

already a very competent golfer. This means

that you already can and do score in the

low 70’s, and possibly even the high 60’s in

tournaments.

If you are not at this standard yet, this

article will still be extremely helpful for you.

Our goal in this article is to share with

you the first of 4 Golf Success Factors that

we have found to be vitally important for

you to achieve your goal of becoming a suc-

cessful professional golfer.

The reason we can do this is because

we work with ambitious amateur and

professional golfers at Pro Tour Golf College

virtually every day, and we spend a lot more

time working with these golfers than most

golf instructors would spend in a year work-

ing with their best students because our

program affords us the opportunity to work

with our students for 25 to 30 hours each

week over 10 week periods.

When you spend 250 to 300 hours per

semester working with elite amateur and

professional golfers, you tend to notice the

dynamics that help them to make progress,

and conversely you also notice the dynam-

ics that hinder their progress.

The 4 Golf Success FactorsOver the next four articles, we will share the

4 Golf Success Factors which will help you

to continuously improve your goal score.

What we propose is to distil down all the

possible factors to the most important ones

that we have discovered help young golfers

make faster progress.

A few years ago a comprehensive survey

of players and caddies was conducted on

the European Tour by Genworth, a Lifestyle

Protection and Mortgage Insurance Com-

pany who have sponsored ‘Statistics’ on the

European Tour since 2007.

Now what was interesting when we

read this report was the response to the

question “what is vital for success?” and the

answer given by the 41 European Tour pro-

fessionals who responded to the survey.

74 percent of these excellent golfers

rated Self Belief as the most important attri-

bute for success, which was closely followed

by Mental Frame of Mind at 53 percent.

Think about it, of all the factors that

influence success, they recognized that

self-belief was the most important attribute,

followed closely by Mental Frame of Mind,

and we completely agree.

2. What is Self-Belief?But what is self-belief? When I looked up the

definition of self-belief in the Collins English

Dictionary it was defined as; “confidence in

oneself and one’s ability.”

That’s sounds about right doesn’t it?

Self-confidence as it relates to your

golf development describes the amount of

certainty you have in your ability to perform

your golf skills under pressure, and to also

critically evaluate situations and make effec-

tive decisions.

It also describes your self-worth, or the

level of respect you have for yourself and

your abilities.

The reason these European Tour players

rated Self Belief so highly is because they

know that you can have all the ability and

skill in the world, but it means nothing if

you lack the confidence to follow through,

that you don’t believe you can perform

those skills when it matters most.

Over the years we have seen many ex-

GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College

66 67 ASIAN GOLF

cellent golfers who had all the tools except

enough belief in themselves, which is sad

because we never got to see them live their

dream and become a successful tournament

golfer.

Many elite golfers can produce excellent scores

when playing with their friends in familiar envi-

ronments like playing their home course, but

the same golfer in an important tournament

will often crumble like a deck of cards.

So the number one Golf Success Factor

is The Golf Confidence Factor, your strong

belief in yourself and your ability to play to

the best of your ability when it counts.

This factor truly determines how far you

will go in the game of golf and every great

golfer in history has displayed The Golf

Confidence Factor.

So what in our experience is the number one

biggest destroyer of your golf confidence?

Making major swing changes after the

age of 20 years old.

That’s right, if you want to get to the

tour sooner than later, and you have played

competitive golf for 5 or more years, and you

have achieved a high level of competence

in your ball striking, we have found that

undertaking complex golf swing changes

(where you tamper with the fine motor con-

trols you have developed over your career)

will do more harm than good to your golf

confidence.

You simply have to understand that

as you get older you must be very careful

with any swing change work you wish to

perform with your golf instructor. By the

time you become a tour golfer it is almost

impossible to find the time to perform the

type of swing change work that you have

read Tiger Woods makes.

Tiger had the time, resources, record

and money to fully commit himself to the

task and this puts him in a different situa-

tion to most golfers.

History also shows that the majority of

elite golfers who undertake major swing

changes when they get to the tour rarely

play better, and usually never recover to

reclaim their original standard.

Have a good look at our Golf Swing

Change Model below to understand the

implications of making complex swing

changes at the wrong time in your develop-

ment cycle.


4. The Golden Scoring StandardYou see the idea is for you to get your shot-

making ability over a season to tour average

in tournaments long before you go to tour

school.

In-fact you should have your shot-

making capability to tour average at least 2

years out from going to tour school.

The 2 years leading into tour school

should by devoted to playing lots of tourna-

ments, gaining valuable tournament experi-

ence and working on all your scoring skills

within 100 yards of the flag.

Always remember that your success on

tour will always be subject to your ability

to score consistently in the low 70’s over a

season. This is your most important con-

sideration when developing your golf skills

and ability.

You build your golf confidence by

working on your mental strategies, golf

skills, and your golf score to improve your

competitive ability.

Your aim should be to move your game

towards The Golden Scoring Standard of

70, and literally everything you do in the 2

years prior to attending tour school should

be aimed at nothing else.

The closer you get to 70 in tournaments

the more success you will experience.

The following 5 Golf Confidence

Strategies will help you to build authentic

self-belief and confidence in yourself and

your game.

1. Don’t Trash Talk Your GameWhen you finish a round of golf only discuss

the strategies that would have improved

your score for that day.

Do not provide golfers (or anyone else)

with a post-mortem of all the bad shots you

played. Refrain from commenting nega-

tively about your game.

No one wants to hear about your bad

shots and unlucky bounces. Build the habit

of talking only about the good shots you

played, and the strategies that would use to

produce a better score for the day.

2. Walk Tall and Proud like the Champion Your Are Push your chest out, raise your eye line so

you are looking way down the fairway and

not at your feet, avoid slouching, and walk

briskly and without delay.

Walk as if you were 6 inches taller with a

neck brace on.

If you are not playing your best it is even

more important that you do this. Build the

tall and brisk habit into your walk and you

will see your world differently, and you will

play differently as well.

Have a look at Adam Scott and his tour-

nament posture. Notice carefully the way

he walks and plays. Jordan Spieth modelled

himself on Adam Scott when he was still in

high school and you can see the similarities

when you watch him play.

3. Dress Like a Tour Star Iron your clothes, polish your shoes and

wear clothes that make you feel better about

yourself. The image you portray not only

sends out positive messages to others, but it

will make you feel good about yourself.

A good rule of thumb is to “spend twice

as much to buy half as much.” Buy quality

clothing that lasts longer, quality clothing

keeps its colour and wear-ability. Pay a little

more upfront and you will get a lot more for

your investment in the long run.

4. Be Prepared to Play Make-sure that you are prepared to play

properly before every round of golf, and

even when you go to practice. Get to the

golf course at least 90 minutes before you

tee-off mentally and physically prepare

yourself for the day.

Good preparation increases your

confidence because you give yourself the

time needed to stretch, go over your course

notes and hit warm up shots and putt before

you play.

By giving yourself the time to get ready

to play, you will reduce some of the normal

anxiety you experience prior to hitting your

first shot. This reduction in anxiety can make

the early difference to your round to help

you build momentum to give you your best

chance to play your best.

5. Play Golf with an Attitude of Gratitude Lastly be thankful for all that you have

achieved from golf, and be complimentary

of others and their efforts to get better. Be

above the small mindedness and pettiness

of others by not joining in their conversa-

tion. You will gain little from hanging around

golfers who only want to talk negatively

about them-self and others.

You are training to become a world class

golfer, and you should start acting like one

now.

Great golfers have a presence about

them, a rock-solid inner confidence and

belief in their ability, and they know that

they have the strategies and skills to handle

the normal adversity associated with the

game, and also rise to the occasion when

they need to.

Work hard on your self-belief and con-

fidence, and practice the 5 Golf Confidence

Strategies everyday, and you will be well

on your way to becoming the confident

and capable professional golfer you wish to

become.

See you next month for part 2.

Lawrie Montague and David Milne - Pro Tour Golf College

Driving Accuracy Average ....................(60 to 65 Percent)

Greens Hit in Regulation Average .......(66 to 70 Percent)

For all the latest news and views from the Asian golf scene, subscribe to Asian Golf – Asia’s most powerful golfing voice! www.asiapacificgolfgroup.com68 ASIAN GOLF

ASIAN GOLF ISSUE 173

ASIA’S GOLD STANDARD UNRAVELED!

Are you aware that the Asian

continent now accounts for

nearly close to 5,000 golf

clubs stretching all the way from

Japan in the north, Pakistan to the

west, Irian Jaya to the south and

the Philippines to the east. This is a

huge geography with a population

to match! Each year, the Asian Golf

Awards parades out the best of the

best at the annual awards celebra-

tion. The 2014 awards was held at a

grand event staged in Singapore in

November 2014 at the posh Marina

Bay Sands Resort. There was a mas-

sive turn-out of the winners in each

category and the February issue of

Asian Golf will dedicate this edition

to the top achievers of the latest

awards. It’s an issue not to be missed!

Bettinardi Has More “Rolls Royces” For 2015! Bettinardi Golf has introduced 10 new putters for 2015 in a

range it claims will “raise industry standards in cosmetics and

precision”. Asian Golf offers a full review of the new additions.

The makers of the most winningest ball in

golf have just unveiled their latest in the

highly successful Pro V series. The 2015

model is something to be tried to be be-

lieved. We will have all the details specially

packaged for you in February.

CONSISTENTLY VOTED ASTHE BEST COURSE IN THAILAND

VOLVO MASTERSASIA

VOLVO MASTERSASIA

VOLVO MASTERSASIA

VOLVO MASTERSASIA

Thai Country Club www.thaicountryclub.com Tel: +66 (38) 570-234 [email protected] Peninsula Bangkok www.peninsula.com Tel: +66 (2) 861-2888 [email protected]

1997Winner: Tiger Woods

2005Winner: Shiv Kapur

2006Winner: Thongchai Jaidee

2007Winner: Prayad Marksaeng

2008Winner: Lam Chih Bing

1998Winner: Vijay Singh

Owned and managed by The Peninsula Hotels and often voted as possessing the “Best Clubhouse in Asia” and “Best Course in Thailand”, Thai Country Club is less than 45 minutes from downtown Bangkok and is

renowned for having the friendliest staff of professionals in the Kingdom committed to providing the Ultimate Golfing Experience.

For registered guests of The Peninsula Bangkok,We are happy to arrange a tee-time at a substantial reduction from our normal visitor’s rate.

Extend your business trip in Bangkok, or book a get-away golfing package.When it comes to exclusive golfing with impeccable hospitality – we play off scratch.

asian golf 172 issuu

Documents

golf course

golf industry

golf ball category

nike golf digs

family of golf clubs

asias golf role models

club house

difficult club