246 Asian Golf Editorial Team 8 Shared Thoughts From Publisher 64 Next Issue

ISS

UE

189JUNE 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE

20

12Madame Nguyen Thi Nga is small in physical stature but everything else about her is larger than life. When she walks into a room, her presence, enthusiasm and fiery passion an-nounces to the world that she is an extraordinary lady who not only dares to dream big but matches her dreams with action. Given the BRG Group’s current investment in golf development and its projected development plans, two things are for certain – golf is on an upward trend in Viet-nam and the BRG Group is going to be at the forefront of the projected growth of the game.

20 The Boys And Girls Get It On!Back in April, Asian Golf turned the spotlight onto a fascinating scheme jointly hatched by the all-powerful PGA Tour and the LPGA women’s tour. Our report high-lighted the fact that the two tours wanted to promote back to back tournaments. And guess where the first joint, back to back event will be staged? You guessed right! It is going to be staged in Asia and the host country will be Malaysia.

24 Asia - A Global Golf Powerhouse!The LPGA Tour, the leading professional tour for women is now in a new era. An era that many in the know are calling the “Asian Era”. Never before have Asian women been so dominant on the LPGA. I the past 12 months alone, 22 LPGA tournaments have been won by Asian professional women golfers. This trend has not gone by unnoticed by one of the game’s legends, Annika Sorenstam. She met up with Asian Golf recently in China and to discuss the growth of the game in China and in Asia.

30 From A Princess To A QueenSoutheast Asia finally has its own global golf champion. While we have had world beaters like Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand, it was not until Ariya Jutanugarn brought glory to the region in the women’s game. The young professional claimed her first LPGA title when she won the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on Mother’s Day.

34 Asia's Power HittersAsia Pacific Golf Group (parent company of Asian Golf ) is proud to unveil its list of

GAME-IMPROVEMENT56 Black Hat Golf Tips: The Wish To Hit It Longer!Every golfer wants to hit the ball as far as he can be-cause distance (especially if accurate) gives a golfer a better scoring chance at the short end of the game. It’s as simple as that!

60 ProTour Golf College: How to Pressure Proof Your Golf Practice (Part 3)In this month’s article, Lawrie Montague and David Milne of the Pro Tour Golf College want to take your golf practice one step further by introducing a simple goal setting process to help you develop your pathway to better and more consistent performances on the golf course.

56

60

3430

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It was not too long ago when the reigning world number one bolted off with a sensational win at the

2016 The Players Championship. Jason Day made abso-lutely sure that there was no doubt in anybody’s mind

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right. That putter is the all new Spider Limited and Spider Limited Red putters from TaylorMade.

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

the “Most Powerful People In Golf” for 2016. It is a list that is both representative and reflective of the men and women who are known to be making major contributions towards the development and growth of golf throughout Asia.

42 Golf’s Grand-Daddy Pulls Off Crowd-Sourcing Coup!“Driver versus Driver” is a new Golf Channel reality show sponsored by Wilson Golf and briefly, it is an open call “for golfers, inventors, engineers, or anyone who has an idea or concept they believe could be the next big driver concept.”

46 APGS 2016: The Parallel Worlds Of GolfFinally, APGS 2016 will look at what is perhaps the biggest challenge faced by clubs in Asia – attracting and keeping “Millennials” to golf clubs. As an industry, most everyone is at a loss as to how to rope in these youngsters to help grow dwindling membership registers. It’s a massive challenge – massive enough to recruit a “Millennial Master” to help make golf clubs appealing to younger demographics.

MIKE SEBASTIANChief Executive Officer/Managing Editor

[ mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

ANGELA RAYMONDPresident [ angela@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

RAQUEL M. ARCEGAArt Director & Ezine Development[ raquel@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

WAYNE LWEESocial Media/Video Editor

[ wayne@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

MYRA PARASAccounts Executive

[ myra@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

LAWRENCE YOUNGEditor (New Equipment)

[ lawrence@asiapacificgolfgroup.com ]

Contributing Professionals TONY MEECHAI, DAVID MILNE & LAWRIE MONTAGUE (PRO TOUR GOLF

COLLEGE), JEFFREY BOSE, JIM PRUSA (INTERNATIONAL ROVING EDITOR)

Correspondents ROBIN BARWICK (EUROPE), RISHI NARAIN (INDIA), ALAN CAMPBELL (MIDDLE EAST)

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8 9 ASIAN GOLF

Asian players have that one special quality that

will help propel them to the summit – it is the X-Factor

and that is their commit-ment to HARD WORK!”

8 9 ASIAN GOLF

SHARED THOUGHTS From The Publisher

For those of us who have been

keen followers of the progress

of Asian golfers on the profes-

sional tours, years of frustra-

tion is finally beginning to pay

off handsomely.

The first man from Asia to show that he

had the right stuff to perform on the world

stage was the pioneering South Korean, K.J.

Choi. He has since gone on to win a total of

eight victories on the PGA Tour and is regu-

larly in contention on that tour. Then, came

along another South Korean who took down

the then invincible Tiger Woods at the 2009

PGA Championship to claim the historic title

of the first Asian to win a Major.

While Choi and Yang demonstrated that

there was a pathway to break through to

the hallowed fairways of the PGA Tour, more

youngsters from South Korea fixed their

focus on making the cut on the world stage.

The nation’s women also began to stir as

Pak Se-Ri became the pioneer who led the

charge onto the LPGA Tour. She has since

won two LPGA major titles and has been

installed in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Pak opened the flood gates and since her

breakthrough, South Korean women have

become the dominant force on the LPGA Tour.

Since May last year, Asian women golfers have

walked off with a total of 22 wins and this trend

is expected to grow at an exponential rate.

The thrust to carve out a place and space

on the world’s leading professional tours has

been led by the South Koreans, Japanese,

Taiwanese, Chinese and the Thais.

Thailand has been a force with veteran

Asian super-star Thongchai Jaidee leading

the charge. He has won four times on the

European Tour and made a total of 13 cuts in

the majors. Following in his footsteps is the

Thai youngster Kiradech Aphibarnrat who

possesses the big game and competitive tem-

perament to score huge wins going forward.

The latest rights-to-brag has been

delivered by a sweetheart of a player from

Thailand. She is Ariya Jutanugarn who cre-

ated history by recording her first LPGA win

at the Yokohama Tire Classic in May 2016.

Considering that she is only 20 years of age,

expect more triumphs to come from her and

from fellow players from Thailand.

There is no denying that Asian profes-

sional players have broken through the

barrier. They have the skills, the stamina, the

strength and most importantly, the mental

endurance to win on the world stage. It must

also be noted that unlike the pioneers from

Asia, professional players who hail from Asia

now have a network and support group to

turn to and rely upon. The Koreans, both

men and women now have a community of

players on the professional tour to give sup-

port and strength. The same holds true for

the Japanese, the Chinese and the Thais. No

longer are these professionals out on their

own and this does make a big difference

especially from a pshycological perspective.

It’s taken a while for Asians to make

their presence felt on the world tours but it

has been worth the wait. From now on, just

watch as more Asians make the break-

through to the ranks of the best professional

golfers in the world. Aside from skills and the

penchant to want to make the grade, Asian

players have that one special quality that

will help propel them to the summit – it is

the X-Factor and that is their commitment to

HARD WORK!

Asians have arrived – more power to our

stars!

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12 13 ASIAN GOLF

COVER STORY Business Trends

MADAME NGUYEN THI NGA

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

Against a gloomy global backdrop in the golf club industry, what is happening in Vietnam, bucks the trend and comes as a breath of uplifting fresh air. With Japan

need of a good pick-me-up adrenaline shot in the arm. And that much needed boost has come courtesy of a lady with great panache and vision. A lady whose

calling card shouts out loud: “Golf Is My Life – I Love Golf!”

14 15 ASIAN GOLF

COVER STORY Business Trends

The launch of this new golf course is the realization of a vision to of-

fer golfers a unique and world class fa-cility and I am proud to declare that the original vision has been realized and in many ways, it has exceeded all of our expectations.” – Madame Nga

Madame Nguyen Thi Nga is small in physical stature

but everything else about her is larger than life.

When she walks into a room, her presence, enthusi-

asm and fiery passion announces to the world that

she is an extraordinary lady who not only dares to

dream big but matches her dreams with action.

It is quite unusual to run up against a lady entrepreneur in

Vietnam, let alone a lady with the spunk and

derring-do to have an active hands-on in-

volvement with a multi-billion dollar business

empire that straddles a spectrum of business

interests ranging from banking, to real estate,

infrastructure, hotels, auto industry, tourism

and golf. She is the personification of energy

and a bubbling cauldron of ideas and the two

words that aptly captures her dynamism and

best describes her drive and sharp business

focus has got to be “Iron Lady”. She leads a

sprawling corporate empire that employs

more than 13,000 and it is said to be growing

at a steady pace. A true indication of unprec-

edented growth and expansion!

While every business sector that Madame Nga is involved in

is experiencing exponential growth, the one sector that is closest

to her heart is golf. As of today, she ranks as the most powerful

woman in golf in the Asia Pacific region if not the world. She is not

a typical golf course owner. She is very involved and to her, owner-

ship means the setting of very high standards – and her standards

follow global benchmarks.

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

Her desire to be the best can be seen in her golf projects. She currently

operates four golf courses located in Hanoi, Haiphong and Danang. The jewel

in the line-up is the award-winning Kings’ Island Golf Resort – a 36-hole golf

course built on an island.

Last month, Madame Nga announced that she was adding a further

18-holes to transform Kings’ Island into Vietnam’s first 54-hole golf course.

And that’s not all! She has engaged the Nicklaus Design Company owned by

the world’s greatest golfer, Jack Nicklaus to design and build the new 18-hole

course.

The tie up with Nicklaus Design is both unique and significant. After

two years of discussions, Madame Nga’s BRG Group has entered into an

exclusive “strategic alliance” with Jack’s company to design and build golf

courses throughout the country in the coming years. This is the first time

that Nicklaus Design has entered into an “exclusive” business arrangement

anywhere in the world. A well informed source, close to both the BRG Group

and Nicklaus Design disclosed that “what you are now seeing is only the tip

of the ice-berg”. If one is to speculate, this can only mean one thing – that

the partnership is on the threshold of building numerous world class golf

courses throughout Vietnam.

“We are excited with this arrangement and we are looking forward to

working very closely with Madame Nga to develop golf in Vietnam,” said

Jack Nicklaus II, the eldest son of the golf legend. The collaboration with

16 17 ASIAN GOLF

COVER STORY Business Trends

Working with Nicklaus De-sign we will seek out suitable

locations throughout Vietnam to de-velop into spectacular golf courses, hotels and resorts and golf acad-emies to help develop and grow the game of golf in Vietnam.” – Madame Ngathe Nicklaus Design Group started with a US$100 million dollar investment

in the Legend Hill Golf Resort, located just 30 minutes away from the capi-

tal city of Hanoi. It is in its final stages of completion and is being built on a

historic site known as Soc Son District made famous throughout Vietnam

by Saint Giong, renown as one of the “four Vietnamese religious immortals”.

At the official launch ceremony last year, Madame Nga said, “The

launch of this new golf course is the realization of a vision to offer golfers a

unique and world class facility and I am proud to declare that the origi-

nal vision has been realized and in many ways, it has exceeded all of our

expectations.”

The Legend Hills Golf Resort will go down the annals of golf history

as Asia’s first “twin-green” golf course that offers golfers an opportunity to

play 36-holes on an 18-hole configuration

The “strategic alliance” between the BRG Group and Nicklaus Design

goes beyond the development of golf courses. It will see the development

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

of business initiatives that will cover a wide range of

other golf-related business opportunities that will be

focused on developing Vietnam into a truly world-

class venue for quality golf and to also help develop

the country into a major force in international golf.

“Working with Nicklaus Design we will seek out

suitable locations throughout Vietnam to develop into

spectacular golf courses, hotels and resorts and golf

academies to help develop and grow the game of golf

in Vietnam,” revealed Madame Nga.

One of the key focus areas of this strategic part-

nership will be the development of junior golfers. The

ambitious programme is called the BRG VietGolf U16.

Commenting on VietGolf U16, Mark Reeves, director

of golf development and property business said, “BRG

plans to take Vietnamese children aged 8-15 (U16)

from all walks of life and introduce them to golf – this

programme is a bottom up, top down undertaking

open to all in the region”.

The BRG VietGolf U16 programme has three major

goals which are:

To produce a Vietnam amateur champion by

2018;

To produce Vietnamese children good enough to

represent Vietnam in the 19th Asian Games; and

To produce a Vietnamese player good enough to

compete on a major tour (Asian, European, US)

by 2025.

“We want to attract young people in Vietnam to the

game of golf, especially those who would not normally

have a chance of playing the game and by so doing, it

is our hope that we will be able to discover and develop

exciting young talent under the VietGolf U16 pro-

gramme,” explained Madame Nga.

Considering that Vietnam is a sprawling nation with

a large population, BRG VietGolf U16 is not daunted by

the task at hand. According to Reeves, “We will start with

‘into school’ visits and ‘schools to golf course’ visits from

September 2015 with support from local authorities and

gradually grow the programme through free weekend

morning on-range tuition which will lead to proficiency

and course testing.”

“Eventually children will be able to play free of green

fees at BRG’s Doson Seaside Ruby Tree Club at off peak

times and on school holidays and it is hoped that as BRG

acquires more golf courses in different regions of Viet-

nam, we will extend the programme,” he added.

Central to the BRG VietGolf U16 programme is the

BRG Golf Centre which is branded under the Nicklaus

Academy of Golf and the first such facility is now opera-

tional at the Victory Hotel on the bank of Westlake

JACK NICKLAUS II

18 19 ASIAN GOLF

COVER STORY Business Trends

which is located in the heart of Hanoi city.

The centre has 36 luxury bays (including

6 unique bunker bays); a Jack Nicklaus

Academy of Golf; a well-stocked BRG Golf

Warehouse retail area; a state of the art

climate controlled golf simulator, a realistic

putting green and tasty food and beverage

at the Vi roof bar.

This world class BRG Golf Centre is

set on a 3-hectare water range site, and

according to Reeves, “This centre, with its

unique setting, ultra-modern design, latest

technology, branded Nicklaus coaching

programmes and attention to detail, we

are confident that it will go a long way to

promoting the growth of golf in Vietnam.”

Nothing is spared to make this facility a

truly world class training centre as Reeves

observed, “All BRG golf facilities are devel-

oped, prepared and managed by a team

of top industry expatriate professionals

with strong backgrounds and successful

performance records and all of our training

programmes will be administered by certi-

fied PGA professionals”.

Looking ahead, Madame Nga has

plans for more BRG Golf Centres

to be opened because she feels strongly

about the integral role that a golf academy

plays to help grow the game. “We will have

another three centres strategically located

around Vietnam and we also propose to

have quality practice ranges at all of our

courses,” she pointed out.

BRG Group has a mission as a pioneer

in golf development and operations that is

focused on promoting the healthy growth

of golf in Vietnam. “The investments that

the BRG Group is making is not just about

facilities but we also want to upgrade the

professional skills of management teams

who in turn will help improve the experi-

ence and service standards for golfers,”

Madame Nga explained.

Vietnam is probably now regarded as

the most dynamic emerging golf market in

the world. Given the BRG Group’s current

investment in golf development and its

projected development plans, two things

are for certain – golf is on an upward trend

in Vietnam and the BRG Group is going to

be at the forefront of the projected growth

of the game.

We want to attract young people in Vietnam to the game of golf, espe-

cially those who would not normally have a chance of playing the game and by so do-ing, it is our hope that we will be able to discover and develop exciting young talent under the VietGolf U16 programme.”

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20 21 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Global Tour

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

Both these power-brokers got into a huddle and came out to

announce to the world that the two tours had signed off on a

“strategic alliance agreement” that could lead to joint events.

A “strategic alliance” like this augurs well for golf and the

future of the game, especially at the professional level. These two

organisations, more than any of the other professional bodies in

golf, possess the style, vision, drive and the deep pockets to do what they think

is right for golf.

Regardless of how Finchem and Whan couch the agreement with carefully

and cleverly selected words, the PGA and the LPGA have crafted a game plan

that will, and has created a clear pathway for expansion. Where is the expan-

sion going to take place? That’s the million dollar baffler? With a tournament

22 23 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Global Tour

calendar that is so jam-packed on the PGA

Tour, one wonders how “joint events” can

be squeezed onto the schedule. The LPGA

also has a pretty full calendar with well over

30 tournaments staged all over the planet

but there are pockets that need to be filled.

Perhaps this is where the global stage

presents an opportunity for “joint events” to

be created.

And guess where the first joint, back

to back event will be staged? You guessed

right! It is going to be staged in Asia and

the host country will be Malaysia. What

Finchem and Whan have decided on is to

graft the CIMB Classic PGA Tour event with

the Sime Darby LPGA tournament which

will result in the first hybrid super tour

event.

The back to back tournaments will be

staged on October 17 – 23 for the CIMB

Classic and immediately after, the Sime

Darby LPGA tournament will be hosted on

October 24 – 30. The club that will have the

honour of playing host to these tourna-

ments will be the prestigious, award-win-

ning Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

All said and done, the back to back

PGA and LPGA extravaganza is a brilliant

maneuver to grow the global game. And we

are glad that Asia, particularly Malaysia, is

the staging platform.

It is also gratifying to witness that

Finchem and Whan, by their own admis-

sion, have declared that they are merely

“formalizing their longstanding cooperative

relationship” to promote the growth of golf.

Like any business, the end game is about

growth and profitability and what Finchem

and Whan have in mind is all about growing

their combined effort which undoubt-

edly will lead to what Finchem has always

showed an inclination to own – a Global

Tour. Well, he is well on his way towards

achieving that goal and this is only going to

bring good things to the professional game,

the players and the fans. Bottom-line just

means that golf is set to win and that’s what

matters most of all!

It is also gratifying to witness that Finchem and Whan, by their own admission, have declared that they are merely “formaliz-

ing their longstanding cooperative relationship” to promote the growth of golf. Like any business, the end game is about growth and profitability and what Finchem and Whan have in mind is all about growing their combined effort which undoubtedly will lead to what Finchem has always showed an inclination to own – a Global Tour.”

24 25 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Ladies Golf

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

26 27 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Ladies Golf

Why so, one may ask? Well, why not! Given the

headway that Asian women are making in profes-

sional golf, it’s a no-brainer for Asia to take pride

in the triumphs and achievements of its women

golfers! We are now entering a new phase in

women’s professional golf. We are in a new era

where Asian women have ascended to the very pinnacle of the game

and looking at trends, Asian dominance is set to grow.

The Asian surge started back in 1996 when a young 20-year old

called Pak Se-Ri moved to America from Korea and turned professional

in 1998. She went on to win two majors and became the youngest-ever

winner of the U.S. Women’s Open. Pak was a pioneer who changed the

face of golf even more than Tiger Woods. She has inspired a whole new

generation of LPGA players like Na Yeon Choi and Inbee Park to follow

her footsteps at the LPGA.

The Asian dominance of the LPGA has received ready recog-

nition from one of the true greats of the game – Annika Sores-

tam. The Hall of Famer is of the firm belief that the Asian era

at the LPGA is already a reality. In a recent exclusive interview

with Asian Golf, Sorenstam gave her views on a wide-range of

topics relating to the growth of golf in Asia. The following are

excerpts of that discussion:

ASIAN GOLF: Give us your assessment on how the professional game has fared since you put your clubs down?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: The women’s game has cer-

tainly become more global in the past ten years. I feel like the

stars on the professional tours are younger today. Power and

It takes time to build champions, but in the

next ten years you will see more and more success stories from China on both the men’s and women’s tours.”

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

distance are more significant compared to what it was like twenty

years ago when the emphasis was more on precision and finesse.

AG: One thing for certain is that the professional game has become a global sport with the dominance by players from Europe, America and Australia being challenged by players from Asia. Has the rapid rise of Asian players come as a surprise to you?

AS: I witnessed the early rise with Pak Se-Ri leading the way. She

was really a trail-blazer and inspired many young girls in Korea to

pick up the game. I think many of us could see it coming, but I think

it surprised all of us on how quickly it happened and how dominant

that country has become. Today I believe there are more Asian play-

ers in the top 50 in the world than any other region.

AG: As one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, what do you think has led to the rise of Asian players to the level of dominance that they currently enjoy on the LPGA?

AS: Again, having a role model like Pak Se-Ri helped them tremen-

dously. She is a great ambassador for the game and she made golf

cool in Korea. I think other countries followed. Also, adding LPGA tour-

naments in Asia inspired other players to play professionally. The golf

world has become a lot smaller and I think Mike Whan (LPGA Commis-

sioner) and the LPGA have done a tremendous job at embracing that.

AG: Would it be fair to state that the women’s game is now going through a new era – the “Asian era” so to speak?

AS: Yes, it is, but it has for the last 10 years. We have several

Asian players winning majors every year. They are

competing in the race for the Rolex Player of the Year,

Rolex ANNIKA Major Award and other milestones

and achievements.

AG: Since you retired, you have been very active in promoting the game to youngsters through your tournaments. One such tournament is the event that you stage in collaboration with the Mission Hills Group of China which we assume has given you a

state of golf amongst juniors in

that country. Give us your thoughts on how Chinese girls have progressed with the game?

AS: I have been lucky to go to China for almost twenty years as a

player, in business with sponsors, and for course design work. Now

with our ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills, we have between 60-

95 of the top amateur junior girls from Asia competing. We started

as the first all-girls junior tournament in China and have grown

nicely. It’s amazing to see the expansion and the excitement for

the game. Early on it was very primitive and now the Mission Hills

resorts are two of the most popular in China. We are seeing play-

ers having success globally and competing at the highest level. Of

course with the success of Shanshang Feng, it has to be inspiring

and motivating for the next generation.

AG: Do you see women from China becoming as dominant as South Korean players on the women’s tour and how soon do you see this happening?

AS: I do, it’s just a matter of time. It takes time to build champions,

but in the next ten years you will see more and more success stories

from China on both the men’s and women’s tours.

AG: Related to this is the subject of training facilities and coaches. Do you think that China has the facilities to help produce world class players – both at the professional and amateur levels?

AS: Yes, I think that China has the train-

ing facilities necessary to produce world-

class players. I have seen many of them

first hand and they certainly have what it

takes. The influx of western coaching is

28 29 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Ladies Golf

very important as several of the top instructors have years of educa-

tion and experience and have developed academies in China.

AG: Generally speaking, how do you feel about the growth of the women’s game in Asia? Is enough being done to grow the game and do you feel that more can be done?

AS: So much has already been achieved in a short period of time.

I think in the next 10-15 years we will see a more developed tour in

China, so many more players will get the opportunity to play. They

are so good at such a young age and there is no getting around the

fact that the Asians work harder than anyone else in golf, especially in

the teenage years. Most of the children who specialize put in 12-hour

days with school and practice in their sport. It’s really amazing.

AG: Let’s shift gears and talk about the LPGA Tour which is experiencing tremendous popularity and growth on a global scale. As one of the tour’s legends, give us your thoughts on how the LPGA has grown and the role that it has played in helping to grow the game of golf globally?

AS: This is a very positive time for the LPGA. The tide has turned, of

course due thanks to hard work and commitment from everybody

involved. The players are doing a fine job marketing themselves, The

LPGA is doing a great job with tournament sponsors and relation-

ships. The commercials are great showcasing the different nationali-

ties and the ladies’ personalities. I think it’s really fun to see. We are

positioned well in the different markets in the US and the global

growth is proving to be very successful.

AG: The prize money on the LPGA Tour has also been on the rise – how do you feel about the prize money on the LPGA Tour matching what the men are paid on the PGA Tour? After all, the women of the LPGA play a very entertaining and competitive game deserving of higher rewards – your thoughts?

AS: The prize money has not grown as rapidly as the men. I

understand demand, requests and how the TV deals work, which

ultimately drives the tournament purses through sponsorships. We

ladies have to continue do our best, work hard and showcase the

very best and keep our fingers crossed so that the market will start

compensating the ladies more.

AG: Finally, the Rio Olympics. You have a tournament that

is staged in Latin America – do think that the Rio Games will serve as an impetus to the growth of golf globally or is it asking too much from just one event?

AS: This is just the beginning and we have to make sure we take

advantage of the opportunity it has to offer. Golf in that part of the

world is not so popular as of yet, so to get it on a world stage will

generate more exposure and hopefully more interest everywhere.

I think and hope that in countries like Brazil there will be a bigger

curiosity and opportunity to make a difference in the game. Last but

not least, governments will start funding golf at the grass roots level

if it is part of the Olympic movement. We are really excited about

the ANNIKA Invitational Latin America, which will be held in Argen-

tina for the first three years for the top-60 girls aged 12-16. We hope

to make a difference and help grow interest in the game.

The situation has certainly changed a lot since Sorenstam

stopped playing professionally. Today, the world is gradually begin-

ning to recognise the Asian influence on the LPGA Tour. The world

is beginning to learn how to pronounce strange sounding Asian

names. It is the Asian era in women’s golf and it can only get better

in the years ahead!

I think that China has the training facilities neces-

sary to produce world-class players. I have seen many of them first hand and they certain-ly have what it takes. The influx of western coaching is very impor-tant as several of the top instruc-tors have years of education and experience and have developed academies in China.”

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30 31 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Golf Personalities

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

It has been a relatively short journey but a journey that has been marked with

-

-

Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn has

done what no other professional

woman golfer from Southeast

Asia has ever been able to

achieve. She has broken through

the LPGA barrier to win her first

coveted title on the world’s toughest and most

competitive women’s professional tour.

The always smiling 20-year old from

Thailand held a charging field at bay while she

worked her way to become a Rolex First Time

Winner at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. Not

only did she pull off the win in grand style, she

also stamped her superiority over a world-class

field on Mother’s Day.

After her epic win, the affable Thai golfer

told reporters, “So tough, I feel the three holes

I can’t control anything ….. my legs were

shaking, my hands were shaking.”

Jutanugarn broke onto the internation-

al golf scene at age 11 when she qualified

for the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand, making

her the youngest player ever to qualify for an

LPGA event. As of early May 2013, she had

played in three LPGA tournaments and four

Ladies European Tour events and had five

top-4 finishes. In 2012, she was winner

of the American Junior Golf Associa-

tion (AFGA) girl Player of the Year

for the second consecutive year. She

turned professional at the end of 2012.

Jutanugarn has an aggressive and fear-

less playing style.

Well done Ariya. You have made Asia proud!

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The ball features a 392 dimple pattern, an 80 compression, that

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34 35 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia’s Power Hitters

“Let’s Make America Great Again!” Just in case you’re wondering why the reference to the battle-cry of the Republican presumptive nominee Donald

Trump, let’s explain. It can easily be converted to “Let’s Grow Golf In Asia!” – the tone is the same. It is bold and it’s the sort of exhortation and commitment that

put’s a man’s money where his mouth is. It is also a great way to measure leader-ship and a call to step up to the plate to do something great for golf in Asia.

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia’s Power Hitters

For the last three years, we have been producing an an-

nual listing of the most powerful people in the Asian

golf industry. This has been quite a challenging task

given the fact that many of the truly powerful people

in business in Asia have a tendency to maintain a low

profile. The golf industry is no different especially

when it comes to identifying corporations or individuals behind

major investments and developments in the industry. For the 2016

“power list” a more penetrative drill-down was commissioned with

the following criteria in focus:

Scale of involvement with golf; Measurable investments in golf projects; Commitment to grow the game of golf;

This criterion has helped sharpen the selection process and the

Asia Pacific Golf Group (parent company of Asian Golf ) is proud

to unveil its list of the “Most Powerful People In Golf” for 2016. It

is a list that is both representative and reflective of the men and

women who are known to be making major contributions towards

the development and growth of golf throughout Asia.

“For any industry to grow, there is a need for recognition and

acknowledgment – there is a need for heroes to help set standards

and with this list, we are glad to have played a role in helping to

build global recognition for the movers and shakers of the Asian

golf industry,” said Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia

Pacific Golf Group.

A special commemorative publication on the “power list” will be

published in July and the following is an abbreviated version.

For any industry to grow, there is a need for recogni-tion and acknowledgment – there is a need for he-

roes to help set standards and with this list, we are glad to have played a role in helping to build global recognition for the movers and shakers of the Asian golf industry.”

Dr. Ken Chu Chairman, Mission Hills GroupTenniel Chu Vice Chairman, Mission Hills GroupCHINA

Both the Chu brothers have

gone on to build what is

effectively the world’s largest golf

resort made up of a total of 22 golf

courses in China. The billionaire

entrepreneurs have expanded by

developing related facilities that

embrace a vast complex called

Centreville, costing US$1.6 billion. It’s

a very trendy international lifestyle

urban complex that covers a vast area

of 240,000-square-metres. The total

investment to date in all of the facili-

ties at Mission Hills is an eye-popping

US$10 billion that has attracted over

6 million visitors and 1 million rounds

of golf in 2015.

36 37 ASIAN GOLF

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

Santi Bhirombhakdi is the President of Singha Corporation Co., Ltd, the company be-

hind the world famous Singha Beer. He is one of the most influential personalities in

the business of golf in Thailand and is engaged in golf course ownership, player development

and the sponsorship of golf tournaments in Thailand, the ASEAN region and throughout East

Asia. Bhirombhakdi was the chief founder of the Thai PGA and has served as its President.

Santi BhirombhakdiPresident, SINGHA CorporationTHAILAND

Enrique ‘Ricky’ K. Razon Jr.Chairman and CEO of the Manila-listed company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. – PHILIPPINES

Ranked as one of the top power players and billionaires in the Philippines,

Enrique K. Razon, Jr., is an avid golfer who holds key interests in the country’s

top golf courses. He is actively engaged in the sports and entertainment business and

serves as the chairman of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., which is the company behind

The Philippine Golf Tour, the country’s premier golf tournament circuit.

Jose Juan Z. ‘Gigio’ Jugo Chairman, Verde Golf Development CorporationPHILIPPINES

Jose Juan Z. Jugo, is the Group Head, Ayala Land Premier, a subsidiary of the multi-

billion dollar Ayala Corporation. He is the chairman of Verde Golf Development

Corporation and president of the award-winning Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club. He is

largely responsible for having steered his executive team’s direction into golf with serious

Ayala investments in various golf course real estate developments and he has charted a

business strategy to build new golf courses that is secured to an emerging new Southeast

Asia middleclass that is expected the spur the growth of golf in the Philippines.

-

t

Nguyen Thi NgaChairman, BRG GroupVIETNAM

Madame Nguyen Thi Nga is the only woman on the 2016 “power list”. She owns a num-

ber of golf courses including the award-winning Kings’ Island Golf Club in Hanoi. The

powerful lady who has extensive business interests in Vietnam has entered into an exclusive

business partnership with the Jack Nicklaus Company to develop and operate golf courses

and driving ranges to help grow the game of golf in the country.

38 39 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia’s Power Hitters

J ng Sung WonChief Executive Officer, GolfzonSOUTH KOREA

J ng Sung Won heads up Golf-

zon which is ranked as the

world’s top virtual golf simulation sys-

tem. Started in 2000 in South Korea,

the company is the biggest player in

the international golf simulator mar-

ket, earning worldwide recognition

and having exported golf simulator

systems to over 30 countries. It is also

an active partner with the LPGA Tour.

Pawan Munjal is a major financial sponsor of golf

events in India and has almost single-handedly

made professional competitions possible. A leading indus-

trialist, he has flexed his industrial muscle and has actively

undertaken promoting the game all over the country. As a

renowned industry leader, he has provided powerful leader-

ship that is needed for golf course development to succeed

against other sports such as the all-popular game of cricket.

Pawan MunjalChairman Managing Director & CEO, HeroMotoCorp.INDIA

-

Kim Young Je has worked very hard to ensure that

his company’s golf courses and resorts are routinely

ranked among the best and busiest golf course complexes

in the world with consistent play conditioning and customer

service. He has also taken the lead to develop professional

training and continuing education for golf course manage-

ment and is noted for demanding and setting very high

standards.

Kim Young JePresident & CEO, SKY72 ResortsSOUTH KOREA

Jimmy Masrin has

taken over the

reins of the beleaguered

Asian Tour and much is

expected of this very savvy

Indonesian entrepreneur.

A self-confessed golf ad-

dict, he is the man behind

the successful Indonesian

Masters as well as the Asian

Development Tour. He is

very passionate about golf

and would like to see Indo-

nesia being showcased and

promoted to the world as a

wonderful golf destination.

Jimmy MasrinChairman, Asian TourINDONESIA

Ryusuke Kamata

heads up Accordia

and has under his manage-

ment approximately 10,000

employees. His operation

is said to currently own 161

golf courses; 30 driving

ranges and a further 800

‘affiliated’ driving ranges in-

cluding hotels, restaurants

and branded merchandise.

Ryusuke KamataPresident and CEOAccordia Golf Company, Ltd.JAPAN

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0

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ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

Trinh Van Quyet is rapidly earning himself a reputa-

tion as “Mr. Golf” in Vietnam. Within the next two

years, this Vietnamese developer is expected to own and

operate a minimum of thirteen golf clubs in the country

together with resorts, hotels and related property devel-

opments. He is the proud owner of two golf courses that

bear the distinguished Jack Nicklaus brand name.

Trinh Van QuyetChairman, Board of Mangement, FLC GroupVIETNAM

Stig Notlov is the visionary who discovered the

“golf potential” of Hua Hin back in 2004. After

one trip, he recognised the region’s golf potential and

set about creating one of the best golf courses in Asia

– the multi-award winning Black Mountain Golf Club.

Since he opened this course in 2007, he has gone on to

develop a resort, private residences and a water theme

park as part of the Black Mountain experience.

Stig NotlovFounder, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua HinTHAILAND

As Chairman of

the Tokyo based

Japan Professional Golf

Tour (JPGT), Masa-

hiro Kuramoto runs an

organization that is the

third largest professional

men’s tour in the world.

The organization has a

membership comprised

of over 5,000 professional

golfers including its tour

players and teaching pro-

fessionals. In addition to

operating its professional

tour, the organization

supports golf course

and player develop-

ment throughout

Japan and Asia.

Le Van Kiem is

a top industry

leader in Vietnam and

has played a pivotal

role in growing golf in

Vietnam. Already an

owner of two mega golf

complexes in Vietnam

and Laos, he is now

embarking on develop-

ment plans that will

see new golf courses

being constructed in

various parts of the

country over the next

few years. In 2015, Le

was inducted into

the prestigious Asia

Pacific Golf Hall of

Fame, the first from

Vietnam.

Masahiro KuramotoChairman of Japan Professional Golfers AssociationJAPAN

Le Van KiemChairman, KN Investment GroupVIETNAM

T n Ahmad Sarji Bin Abdul Hamid

Chairman, Professional Golf Of Malaysia

MALAYSIA

Tun Dr. Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul

Hamid, is the Chairman of the

Professional Golf of Malaysia ((PGM)

and is responsible to promote the

sport of golf and to contribute to its

enjoyment and growth in Malaysia. He

is also credited with starting the Eur-

Asia Cup, the annual Ryder Cup format

tournament between Europe and Asia.

40 41 ASIAN GOLF

Gautam Thapur is the Chairman and CEO of the Indian conglomerate Avanta Group.

An avid golfer, his group has sponsored the Avanta Masters, a jointly promoted effort

by the European Tour, Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India. Given his business

prominence in India, he plays a very key role in the promotion of golf in that country.

Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley would rank

amongst the most prolific golf course architects

in Asia. Besides having designed courses throughout the

Asian Continent, they are best known for the work done

at Mission Hills China where the company has built all 22

courses in that complex. SCD has now embarked on an

ambitious multi-course development in Vietnam which

involves a total of eleven golf courses.

Brian Curley Lee SchmidtPrincipals, Schmidt Curley DesignUSA

gn

Gautam ThaparPresident of Professional Golf Tour Of IndiaINDIA

2016 Asia’s Power List – Top Players

K.J. CHOI

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia’s Power Hitters

2016 Asia’s Power List – Top BrandTHONGCHAI JAIDEE

HAO TONG LI

MIGUEL TABUENA SHAN SHAN FENG

INBEE PARKHIDEKI MATSUYAMAARIYA JUTANUGARNANIRBAN LAHIRI

42 43 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Wilson Golf

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

Get a load of this folks – a 102 year old company demonstrates that it’s got the ‘cool-fac-

44 45 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Wilson Golf

What Wilson Golf has

achieved with its

“Driver versus Driver”

crowd-sourcing

campaign is a massive

industry-wide coup.

This campaign is truly a brilliant home-run

and we are quite sure that there are many

equipment manufacturers out there who

are kicking themselves for not coming up

with this “eureka moment” idea first.

“Driver versus Driver” is a new Golf

Channel reality show sponsored by Wilson

Golf and briefly, it is an open call “for golfers,

inventors, engineers, or anyone who has

an idea or concept they believe could be

the next big driver concept.” The goal of the

show is to find through “crowd sourcing”

new ideas for the future of driver technol-

ogy and will track the trials and tribulations

of prospective designers.

“Wilson Golf has a long history of in-

novation alongside some of the best golfers

who have ever played the game,” said Tim

Clarke, president of Wilson Golf. “As we

push golf innovation into new territories,

we recognize that new ideas, materials,

design elements and concepts can come

from the most unexpected places, indus-

tries and people. This new television show

is designed to celebrate the entrepreneurial

and inventive spirit that is so important to

our brand and mine the country for driver

ideas that the Wilson Labs team can turn

into reality.”

Entries for the contest closed in August

last year. What can you win? How does a

US$500,000 grand prize and the opportu-

nity to work with Wilson Labs’ engineering

and design team on a 2017 Wilson Staff-

branded driver that will be sold in stores

throughout the world sound? It’s the largest

prize ever offered by a golf company for a

reality show concept!

“A set number of contestant concepts

will go through prototyping and vigorous

testing within Wilson Labs and the indi-

viduals and/or teams will work alongside

the Company’s engineers and designers to

refine the concept until a winner is deter-

mined,” said Clarke.

For a century-old company to tap into

new-age marketing savvy says a lot about

what’s making Wilson Golf tick. For the

brand with the most number of majors won

under its belt, this crowd-sourcing exercise

will open the door for valuable insights,

generate buzz around the brand and en-

hance customer relations.

The programme is now working its way

towards show-time and Wilson Golf has an-

nounced the panel of judges for this first-of-

its-kind television series that is currently in

production and debuting on Golf Channel

in the fall 2016.

Leading the four-person panel is former

National Football League® (NFL) linebacker

Brian Urlacher, an avid golfer with a single-

digit handicap and a self-professed golf

equipment “junkie.” Alongside Urlacher will

be Kevin Streelman, a two-time PGA TOUR

winner and Wilson Advisory Staff Member;

Frank Thomas, former USGA Technical

Director with more than 40 years of golf

technology and equipment experience; and

Tim Clarke, President of Wilson Golf.

“Driver versus Driver” will follow the tri-

als and tribulations that aspiring golf equip-

ment designers face as their golf driver

ideas and concepts are evaluated, critiqued,

refined and tested. The series also will take

viewers behind the scenes as Wilson Labs

engineers and designers partner with the

contestants to take their ideas through pro-

totyping and rigorous testing to refine the

concepts until a winner is determined. The

winning driver concept and viable driver

will become part of the Wilson Golf line of

products in 2017.

“When choosing the panel of judges,

we knew we had to have a good mix of

professionals that brought a relevant, yet

different perspective to the process - from

the everyday golfer, to the tour player to an

industry expert,” said Clarke. “I also wanted

to play a role on the panel because it will be

up to our team at Wilson to bring the club

to consumers. We’re excited to work with

these judges to bring an exciting infusion of

innovation to the market.”

“I really love to play this game, and

personally enjoy learning about new equip-

ment. When Wilson offered me a position as

a judge, I jumped at the opportunity,” said

Urlacher. “This is a side of golf I would have

never been able to see, and it’s fascinating

to see how equipment is developed first-

hand. I’m thrilled to be part of the process

of selecting an inventor to realize their

dream of designing a club that will be sold

across the country and the world.”

www.brggolfcenter.vn200 Yen Phu St, Tay Ho District, Hanoi A BRG Golf Company

46 47 ASIAN GOLF

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2016

GABRIEL ALUISY

ANDANDNNNNN REWREWREWEREWEE WOWOWOWWOWOOWOODODODODODODODOD

DAVA IDD WEBWEBBSTEERR

KENKENKENKE CHCHCHUU

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

While there is a proliferation of

suppliers eager to make a sale,

one wonders why there are so

many golf courses in need of

help and why many club opera-

tions are struggling to eke out

meagre profits throughout the region – some emerging

countries like Vietnam excluded? The answer to this grow-

ing challenge is that the real issues are either not being

addressed or are simply being swept under the rug.

The time has come for all of us in the golf industry

in Asia to roll up our sleeves, get focused and get a hold

of the problems by the scruff of the neck. Sounds harsh?

Hell no! It’s time to tell it like it is. We’ve seen enough of

pandering and sucking up to the golf industry!

The 2016 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS 2016) has

assembled a truly high-powered and world-class panel of

speakers who are known to speak without fear or favour.

Leading the power-hitters is the Asia Pacific’s “Most

Powerful Golf Industry Entrepreneur” and the owner of

48 49 ASIAN GOLF

enough. What is needed is the creation of

an enduring service attitude and culture

that is engrained into the DNA of a club.

It has to be service that is special and that

shouts out loud that “membership has its

privileges”. APGS 2016 has secured the

services of a two-time EMMY Award win-

ning actor and communicator and genius

in the delivery of service to infuse a whole

new service culture in Asia. He is the highly

sought after David Webster, master trainer

to some of the world’s largest corporations.

David will not only share his thoughts on

what is quality service but help demon-

strate how it is taught and delivered to a

club’s personnel. A true spell-binder!

Finally, APGS 2016 will look at what

is perhaps the biggest challenge faced

by clubs in Asia – attracting and keeping

“Millennials” to golf clubs. As an industry,

most everyone is at a loss as to how to rope

in these youngsters to help grow dwin-

dling membership registers. It’s a massive

challenge – massive enough to recruit a

“Millennial Master” to help make golf clubs

appealing to younger demographics. He is

award-winning speaker and author Gabriel

Aluisy, an internationally recognized expert

on marketing to millennials. He under-

stands millennials and he knows how to

handle and manage the seismic demo-

graphic shifts and show the industry how to

reach out to new demographics.

Unlike other conferences where the

norm is to listen to the same old stuff from

the same old regular insiders, APGS 2016

has gone out of the industry to bring in the

best of the brightest to serve as a beacon

for the future of the golf industry in Asia.

APGS 2016 is not an event to be missed

by golf course owners, operators and man-

agers. There will never be a knowledge and

business event like it anywhere this year!

Don’t suck up to the golf industry play-

ers – revitalize and re-invent by lifting your

blinkers and looking ahead. That’s what

APGS 2016 is all about – your business and

your well-being in the golf industry!

the world’s largest and most successful golf

resort, Dr. Ken Chu, the billionaire Chair-

man of the Mission Hills Group in China. A

proven visionary and out-of-the-box thinker

Dr. Chu will set the tone at APGS 2016 on

how he has led Mission Hills to become a

global player in golf by attracting more than

6 million tourists and turning over 1 million

rounds of golf in a year. He knows it all and

Dr. Chu is eager to share his brilliant ideas

with the rest of Asia.

Marketing and the provision of

sustained, quality service are two ma-

jor cornerstones of the club industry in

Asia. Very few golf clubs have marketing

programmes, let alone marketing budgets.

This has got to change and APGS 2016

has engaged the club industry’s most

respected guru to speak and provide

the pathways on how club’s in Asia can

develop, create and launch their own mar-

keting programmes. There is no one better

qualified than Andrew Wood, founder

and president of Legendary Marketing

LLC, a world-class group that has helped

thousands of golf clubs in North America

and Europe to turn around the fortune of

flagging clubs. He is the wizard with all the

tricks to make things work!

Service is vital to the well-being of

the club industry. After all, clubs are in

the entertainment industry and keeping

members and guests satisfied and attended

to, is paramount. Just service alone is not

Unlike other conferences where the norm is to listen to the same old stuff

from the same old regular insiders, APGS 2016 has gone out of the industry to bring in the best of the brightest to serve as a beacon for the future of the golf industry in Asia.”

SPECIAL FEATURE Asia Pacific Golf Summit 2016

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50 51 ASIAN GOLF

EQUIPMENT FOCUS TaylorMade Spider Limited Red Putters

It was not too long ago when the reigning world number one bolted

2016 The Players Champion-ship. Jason Day made

absolutely sure that there was no doubt in any-body’s mind as

to who is the best golfer around and part

of his winning kit was a put-ter that stood out as a star in its

own right. That putter is now avail-able to all golfers who want to give themselves the winning edge.

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

That putter is the all new Spider Lim-

ited and Spider Limited Red putters

from TaylorMade. Both models are

said to be inspired by Jason Day

who besides being the best golfer

in the world happens to also be one

of the PGA TOUR’s best statistical putters.

During his storybook rise to #1 late last

fall, Day came to the TaylorMade team with a

request for a putter similar in style to his trusted

Itsy Bitsy prototype, the putter he’s used for

multiple wins on the PGA TOUR which included

his first major victory at the 2015 PGA Champi-

onship.

Day’s ask was for a putter that incorporated

the colour red, one of his favourite and most

sentimental colours. Using the Redback Spider,

a venomous spider indigenous to Day’s native

Australia as inspiration, the TaylorMade team

embarked on a mission to create a palate of

colour options, working intimately with Day

throughout the process to create a colour that

the golfer would prefer.

When the final colour was selected, Day

proposed to the team that they build him two

different models, each showcasing the colour in

a different way that would allow him to test and

select which suited his eye before determining

which would be put into play.

The key characteristics of the “lim-

ited” edition putters are:

The Spider Limited putter features a

black frame with Tour Red bumpers.

The Spider Limited Red incorporates Tour

Red throughout the frame and bumpers.

Day was first introduced to the putters in

February, and after testing both models, the

Spider Limited Red made its PGA TOUR debut at

the RBC Heritage in mid-April and was used to

win THE PLAYERS Championship this year.

Both models feature subtleties recogniz-

able by the best players in the world, including

Day, who prefers a seamless top crown and sans

alignment aid. The two models available will dif-

fer slightly from Day’s personal putter, which will

include the alignment aid on the crown. Made

of a 304 stainless steel frame combined with

a lightweight 6061 aluminum body enables

weight to be positioned at the extremities,

the Spider Limited putters provide im-

proved stability and high MOI. Similar

to the original Itsy Bitsy, both new

models incorporate a milled

Aluminum Pure Roll™ insert with

a gunmetal finish to promote

better forward roll, increased

directional accuracy and im-

proved distance control.

The Philippines’ premier leisure real estate development has taken the international

second-home market by storm.distinctive natural setting, a

views, award-winning golf course, thoughtfully designed

facilities for discerning families and individuals – qualities that earned Anvaya Cove the honour of being the Philippines’

community.

Located in Morong, Bataan about 2.5 hours from Manila, the 50.6 million sq ft Anvaya Cove was developed by Ayala Land Premier, the high-end property arm of Ayala Land, the group that master-planned the

it also developed the country’s key growth centers – Bonifacio Global City, NUVALI and Cebu Park District.

The name “Anvaya” is a Sanskrit word which means “family”, thus, the development of Anvaya Cove

facilities for the whole family, including a spa, sports and pool

private beach. Bringing together family, leisure, and nature, your Anvaya Cove home will be ready to welcome you anytime.”

Note: All unit prices quoted are in SINGAPORE DOLLARS

For more information, please visit www.ayalalandpremier.com

opening, Anvaya Cove’s centrepiece golf course has already garnered notable accolades including the 2014 Best New

recently, the 2015 Best Golf Course in the Philippines given at the Asian Golf Awards,

industry. Designed by American golf course

architect Kevin Ramsey of Golfplan USA, this 18-hole 7,030-yard layout provides as much challenge as well as beauty to golfers of all skill levels. Its dramatic “mountains meet the sea” topography combined with Golfplan’s tour-de-force design creates a unique golf course with character and perfect setting

IN THE LAP OF LUXURY Anvaya Cove has also caught the attention of international investors and end-users; it has emerged as an attractive investment in every

sense of the word. With the excitement of a seaside resort and the tranquility of a mountain retreat, its seaside residential community features the highest standards of construction, design, services and amenities.

“The Philippines’ robust economy – fuelled by strong domestic consumption and bolstered by its investment grade and stable currency – sets the context for property investment,” says Jose Juan Jugo, Managing Director of Ayala Land Premier.

Perched on Anvaya Cove’s prime elevated location, Seascape Ridge boasts a unique combination of tropical features providing its residents with the best that nature has to offer. It captures the best of both worlds – the convenience of a condominium with the luxury of home. It is part of a 495,140 sq. ft master planned community of 16 quadrangles (or quads) featuring four separate units. There are a total of 64 corner units, 24 of which are complete and in ready-to-move-in condition.

It offers 2 and 3 bedroom units measuring 1,797 sq ft and 2,012 sq ft respectively, and priced from S$572,000 to S$692,000.

This year, Anvaya Cove will be turning over an additional 16 units while the remaining 24 units will be completed next year. The quads were designed along tropical inspired architecture structured under a condominium set up and managed by Ayala Property Management Corp. Seascape Ridge offers hassle-free planning and construction and worry-free ownership for all nationalities in search of their seaside leisure getaway.

On the other hand, the Sea Breeze Verandas is a low-rise walk-up condominium located at the highest point in Anvaya Cove. It offers thoughtfully designed, ready-to-move-in 1- to 3-bedroom units in 635 sq ft to 1,485 sq

S$671,500.“We’ve welcomed expats who have

chosen to make Anvaya Cove their primary homes. We anticipate further interest in this sort of investment – from what we see as a global market,” added Jugo.

The name “Anvaya” is a Sanskrit word which means “family”, thus, the development of

with an extensive array of facilities for the whole family, including a spa, sports and pool complex, restaurants and cafés, a nature camp and a pristine, private beach. Bringing together family, leisure, and nature, your Anvaya Cove home will be ready to welcome you anytime.

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56 57 ASIAN GOLF

GAME IMPROVEMENT

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

I want to hit it longer!” - this is probably the num-

ber one request by students at my golf school. When I was mentored

by the legendary golf coaches Ed LeBeau and the late Manuel

de la Torre I was reminded by Mr. Torre that “distance is

like a flower, it blossoms from accuracy and

confidence!”

Show me a golfer who does not want to experience optimum distance with his driver and I would simply tell you that he is not being totally transparent. Every golfer wants to hit the ball as far as he can because distance (especially if accurate) gives a golfer a better scoring chance at the short end of the game. It’s as simple as that!

He would always advise that golfers

should understand how to hit

the ball straight first because this

would then lead to increase in

distance and it will get better with

more practice. All this takes time.

I’ve used this teaching repeatedly and this is

how it works:

There are basically two ways a golfer can hit it

longer. Either increase clubhead speed or change

the club. Most golfers prefer to increase club-

head speed because having to hit a 7-iron when

everyone else is hitting an 8-iron would damage

one’s ego!

Nevertheless, if you want to maximize dis-

tance for each club, try the following approach.

It’s been tested and our students have had great

success. Some students will improve right away,

and some will take a few weeks. Be patient and

I know you will experience satisfaction.

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. His signature Black Hat Golf Camps and Schools offered at various clubs in Thailand, including Lotus Valley Golf Resort, portrays the unique curriculum and teaching philosophy. Recently, he co-founded the International Preparatory Golf Academy at The American School of Bangkok, which combines an academic and golf educa-tion program for junior golfers. Voted 2015 Top 3 Best Professional Golf Coach in Asia Pacific, he continues to strive to grow the game of golf in Asia. For further information, please visit www.tmggroupasia.com or email to tony@tmggroupasia.com.

ABOUT TONY MEECHAI

www.tmggroupasia.com58 59 ASIAN GOLF

GAME IMPROVEMENT

To increase clubhead speed, the three

factors that affect speed in a golf swing are

strength, flexibility and tension.

Here are the ways a player can improve.

We’ve experienced better improvement

when you begin with checking your tension,

followed by flexibility and then improving

your overall strength. This is the order that

has helped many students at the golf school.

Again, it’s different for everyone, but this

checklist will help you keep to a good

regimen.

First start with understanding your

TENSION in your swing. From the ad-

dress position, raise the clubhead until

the shaft is parallel to the ground. Now

close your eyes and become aware

of the tension in your arms, body

and legs necessary to stand and hold

the club in this manner. Using that

“standing level of tension’ as a bench-

mark, make a swing without feeling any

increase in that level of tension. Often

the first place you will feel tension is in the

grip pressure. If you believe you under-

stand the role of tension in your swing, then

move on to the next item on the checklist.

FLEXIBILITY- Make a backswing as far

back toward a parallel position as you can go

without increasing tension or stress. If the

body does not allow the club to easily go to

parallel, then you will need to increase your

flexibility, which you can achieve over a few

days. Do some stretching exercises com-

bined with swinging a club without a ball on

a daily basis.

Finally, how is your STRENGTH? There

are a number of calisthenics that can help

increase the strength of the muscles used to

swing a club. Additionally, there are many

exercise machines that work well for this pur-

pose. Consult a trainer and make sure the

trainer tailors his advice to the swing instead

of tailoring the swing to his advice.

Trust me, if you follow this routine and

remain patient, you’ll experience tremen-

dous success with your golf game!

60 61 ASIAN GOLF

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

GAME IMPROVEMENT Pro Tour Golf College

You will be more committed to a goal that you value highly, and that you believe is possible to achieve; however, if the value of your chosen goal weakens in value, so will your dedication for achieving it.

PART 3

You are aiming at smaller and

more challenging targets,

instead of hitting to large

target areas, and you are hit-

ting a smaller quantity of golf

balls (in sets of 5 or 10), and measuring your

results.

In this month’s article, we want to take

your golf practice one step further by

introducing a simple goal setting process

to help you develop your pathway to better

and more consistent performances on the

golf course.

If you have been following the last two articles in our series “How to Pressure Proof Your Golf Practice” in Asian Golf, and applying what you have learned, then you are now thinking about and actually practicing quite

You are now designing your golf practice around your weakest—most important golf skills, which are the golf

One of the biggest challenges we face

as golfers is deciding exactly what we want

from our game. This seems to be a continu-

ally challenging condition for virtually all

golfers. As you experience improvement in

your game, you want more improvement,

it becomes a never-ending cycle of finding

ways to keep improving.

Therefore, we think you’ll agree with us

that you can get caught up in just perform-

ing the repetitions at the range without

having a clear idea of why you’re actually

doing it.

This is where goal setting is helpful,

because it can give you the clarity you need

to get to an outcome you want.

We say to our students that you need

lots of “way-power” or directional focus,

before you need lots of “will-power” or

determination.

Having said that, when discussing goal

achievement, maintaining consistency of

effort—or determination to achieve your

goal (the will-power), will be the most chal-

lenging aspect of the goal achieving process

for you.

You see, talking about goals is easy,

sticking with them is harder. Many golf-

ers who start out on a journey of change

eventually lose interest in their goal and

eventually back-slide into their old and reli-

able habits.

So let us show you how to change that

for good.

The Golf Goal Setting FormulaIn our experience goal achievement is

hugely influenced by the following 2 factors;

1. The importance of your goal or outcome;

2. Whether you think you can actually

achieve it;

So goal achievement must be driven

ISSUE 189 JUNE 2016

www.ProTourGolfCollege.com

first and foremost by your perceived value

in the goal, coupled with your ability to

actually achieve it.

This is simple enough to understand, and

the following formula we use at Pro Tour Golf

College seems to express it pretty well;

D = V x A

Dedication to your Goal = Value of

your Goal (importance) x Attainment

of your Goal (knowing how to get it).

You will be more committed to a goal

that you value highly, and that you believe

is possible to achieve; however, if the value

of your chosen goal weakens in value, so

will your dedication for achieving it.

The Key StrategyA well-chosen goal will stretch you out of

your comfort zone, which simply means

that you will be operating from a place of

unfamiliarity and uncertainty. This is impor-

tant because if the goal you choose is not

challenging you, then it is probably not as

important as you first believed it to be.

Our observation of golfers establish-

ing goals for the first time is that they tend

to pick goals that are often too multi-

faceted—like a difficult and complex swing

change that they invariably give up on

because they often also choose an unrea-

sonable time frame for implementing it.

Thus, the goal you choose will be

important enough for you to maintain a

consistency of effort, it will be realistic and

within your sphere of capability (with a

stretch), and the time frame you estimate

for achieving it will be possible.

What is Your Most Important Goal Today?So the question for you right now is of all

the things that you could achieve with your

golf this year, which goal would be the one

you would choose that would give you the

most satisfaction if you achieved it?

Following are the seven most popular

Golf Goal Types we work with our students

on to help them to improve their game on

the golf course.

1. Golf tournament goals

2. Golf technique goals

3. Golf shot-making goals

4. Golf score goals

5. Golf mind goals

6. Golf body goals

7. Golf strategy goals

Right now rank the seven golf goal types

in order of importance from 1 (most impor-

tant) to 7 (least important) so you can start to

formulate your plan for improvement.

Secondly, let’s say you chose your golf

goal type as improving your golf score,

and you’ve decided that you wish to shave

4 strokes off your average score over 48

weeks.

Well, the next step in the process is to

chunk the 4 strokes down into 4 smaller

sub-goals. To aim for a 1 stroke improve-

ment in 12 weeks will seem easier to

achieve than trying to improve 4 strokes

over a 48-week period.

Now which weak skill will you upgrade,

or, what strategy will you use to help you

lower your score by 1 shot in the next 12

weeks? Hint; go back through the seven

Golf Goal Types to find the answer to the

next critical step in the process.

In our next article we will show you

how to do this and help you design a golf

improvement plan to help you shave 4

strokes from your average score by the end

of the year practicing no more than 2 hours

per week.

So look out for our next article in Asian

Golf.

David Milne and Lawrie Montague – Pro Tour Golf College

PRESENTED AND PRODUCED BY OFFICIAL VENUE & HOTEL ALBATROSS SPONSORSHIPSTAGING AND CONCEPT BY

STRATEGIC BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP

his is the new paradigm for golf. It is the beacon that will drive the growth of golf in Asia in the years to come. It is all Asian – conceived,

conceptualized, implemented and working like a dream in Asia.

Golf Summit. It is a theme that is tried and tested and it’s all about helping to make golf clubs in the region successful.

It draws from the success of the world’s largest golf complex in the world – Mission Hills China. Over one million rounds of golf played a year. A sensational

blueprint on how to operate a golf club that will keep members and guests coming back for more.

Come and listen to Dr. Ken Chu, chairman of the Mission Hills Group share his thoughts about how Golf And More keeps twenty-two golf clubs in his complex humming like a precision machine. Never before has anyone been given a look at the inner workings

Golf Summit.

If you are a golf course owner, operator or general manager, this is a once in a life-time opportunity to learn from one of the world’s most powerful men in golf.

ASIA PACIFIC GOLF SUMMIT

Asia Takes The Lead In Golf October 29-30, 2016

Hyatt Regency Hotel | Hua Hin | Thailand

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ASIAN GOLF ISSUE 190

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

America, home to the highest number of golf clubs is witnessing a new trend. That

trend is the migration of golf clubs, especially private country clubs that are seek-

ing out third party management companies to take over the operation of these facilities.

One third party company that looks like the company of choice is Troon Golf – arguably

the most prestigious and largest third party management company in the world. Asian

Golf sets out to explore if the time is right for golf clubs in Asia to seriously consider the

third party management route. For a sense of the migration trend, we sat down for an

exclusive interview with Dana Garmany, the founder and chairman of Troon Golf.

Third Party Management – The Elixir For Golf Clubs

2016 Golf Hall Of FamersTwo very important and powerful men in golf will be

honoured during the 2016 Asia Pacific Golf Summit

which is scheduled to be held in the Royal Thai City of Hua

Hin on October 29-30. One of the highpoints of the longest

running golf business conference in the Asia Pacific will be

the induction of Mr. John Solheim, chairman of PING and Dr.

Ken Chu, chairman of the Mission Hills Group, China to the

prestigious Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame. The induction will

be part of the 17th staging of the Asian Golf Awards which

will be staged on October 30.

Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) has

made a very high level foray into

Asia. The company started up two years

ago by Internet mogul Bob Parsons is

perhaps the most revolutionary golf

equipment company in the world. Asian

Golf has been following the growth of

this exciting company from its early

days and we got a chance to sit down

with this “out-of-the-box” thinker in

South Korea during which time, he

shared his thoughts about the state of

golf as he sees it.