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023_300_PerSp_205x270_Oman 1 15.02.10 11:25

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EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief: HH Sayyid Tarik Bin ShabibEditorial: Mayank Singh, Visvas Paul D. Karra, Sushmita Sarkhel Production Manager: Govindraj RameshArt Directors: Sandesh S. Rangnekar, Minaal G. Pednekar Photographers: Rajesh Burman, Sathyadas C. Narayan

MARKETING Avi Titus Das, Jacob George, Jinu Mathew Varghese, Kush Gupta

CORPORATE Chief Executive: Sandeep SehgalExecutive Vice President: Alpana RoyVice President: Ravi Raman

Senior Business Support Executive: Radha Kumar

Published byUnited Press & Publishing LLCPO Box 3305, Ruwi, Postal Code - 112Muscat, Sultanate of OmanTel: (968) 24700896, Fax: (968) 24707939Email: publish@umsoman.com

Distribution United Media Services LLCAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person or organisation acting or refraining as a result of material in this publication. OER accepts no responsibility for advertising content.

Copyright © 2010 United Press & Publishing LLC

Printed by Oman Printers

Correspondence should be sent to:Oman Economic ReviewUnited Media ServicesPO Box 3305, Ruwi 112, Sultanate of OmanFax: (968)24707939Email: editor@oeronline.com, Website: www.oeronline.com

Foreword

Tee off For most golf aficionados, the news of Tiger woods - the most recognised

sporting icon, having a string of extra marital affairs came as a shocker. But

controversies were neither limited to golf nor were they in shortage. The global

financial crisis was blackened by so many frauds and cheaters that nobody really cared

to recall the names of the culprits, honestly. But life is all about putting the past behind

and looking towards a bright future. The year 2010 has begun on a cheerful note and

the positive feel is spreading fast across the board to everyone.

For Tee Time, the official magazine of oer Ceo Golf, there couldn’t have been a

better time as the most awaited event of corporate oman’s business calendar is happening

on the lively green turf of Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club, the country’s premier

golfing destination. Set amidst dramatic natural mountain settings and billed as the

first of its kind in the Middle east, the greens of Muscat Hills also signal the fact that

oman’s golfing has come of age.

The sixth edition of Tee Time – an oer presentation coinciding with the oer

Ceo Golf 2010 comes with a variety of articles that would appeal to professionals and

laymen alike. over the last five years oer Ceo Golf has been played with unmatched

zing and gusto. The nail-biting action and fun has been carried over into the 2010

edition as well.

Happy teeing.

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NewsA round up of the biggest events

Golf CalendarImportant fixtures

Golf mechanics Commonly used parlances

An aligned approach Corporate Partnerships for OER CEO Golf 2010

Fashion on the fairwayThere’s more to it than what meets the eye on the greens

Golf humourLaughs from the course

Tiger Wood - Rise and shine

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28The Eves reign

A look at some of the prominent women who have

made a mark in golf

20OER CEO GOLF 2009 - A pictorial review

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64Golf Gadgets

Spoilt for choiceWith Oman getting a number of championship standard green courses golf tourism is set to take off in a big way

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10 Looking back

The lasT season was a year of shocks, surprises, broken records and much more. here’s a look aT some of The mosT Talked abouT headlines in The golfing world

NICK FALdo reCeIVeS KNIGHTHood

Faldo was given a knighthood by Queen

elizabeth II for his services to golf, the only

athlete to be given one of Britain’s highest

honours on the monarch’s birthday list last

year. Faldo, only the second professional golfer

to receive a knighthood following Sir Henry

Cotton in 1988, won his first professional title

in 1977 and added 46 more wins worldwide—

including three Masters and three British

opens. The 51-year-old golfer has made a

series of entrepreneurial moves, designing

golf courses all over the world and working

as a television commentator. He received a

Member of the order of the British empire

(MBe) in 1987.

“I am more than a little bit humbled to have

been afforded this great honor,” Faldo said. “It

has come as a real surprise, and the reaction

from my children, family and friends has made

this a very special moment for me.”

AMATeUr dANNY Lee BeCoMeS YoUNGeST wINNer

New Zealand teenager danny Lee became the youngest player to

win a professional european Tour event with victory in the Johnnie

walker Classic at Perth. The 18-year-old produced a superb finish to

win the tournament by a single stroke and enhance his reputation as

one of golf ’s most exciting young players.

“It was a pro event. All I wanted to do was make the cut and play

well and get in the top-20. But I played extremely well and I won it.”

Lee, who is 18 years and 213 days old, beat the previous european

Tour record of South African dale Hayes, who won the 1971 Spanish

open at the age of 18 years and 290 days. Lee was born in South

Korea but moved to New Zealand with his family when he was eight.

He made headlines in 2008 when he eclipsed Tiger woods as the

youngest U.S. amateur champion.

That victory earned him an automatic place in last year’s U.S.

Masters and U.S. open, on the condition he retains his amateur

status. By winning the Johnnie walker Classic, Lee would have been

entitled to the first prize of 235,892 euros but does not plan to turn

professional until after his first major appearance.

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10 GoLF CoNFIrMed

For THe 2016 oLYMPICS

The International olympic Committee (IoC)

confirmed that Golf and rugby sevens were added

to the olympic schedule from the 2016 Games in

rio de Janeiro.

The two sports were added to the Summer Games

line-up after a vote of members at the IoC session in

Copenhagen. Golf earned 63 votes for inclusion and 27

against and has been guaranteed an appearance for two

consecutive games. Golf was last featured in an olympics

in 1904, an absence of more than a century. The IoC,

eager to revamp its sports programme to attract younger

viewers, voted to raise the number of sports to 28 for the

rio olympics, including the fast-paced version of rugby

played with seven players instead of 15 and men’s and

women’s 72-hole stroke play for golf.

“we are elated that the IoC membership has

accepted golf as an olympic sport, and look forward to

seeing the world’s best golfers compete for gold at the

2016 olympic Games in rio de Janeiro,” said Ty Votaw,

executive director of the International Golf Federation

olympic Golf Committee, which has coordinated golf ’s

olympic bid. “we thank the IoC for its support, and

also congratulate rugby sevens for its inclusion in the

2016 Games.”

MICKeLSoN SUSPeNded ToUr SCHedULe

Phil Mickelson’s wife, Amy, was diagnosed with

breast cancer, and the three-time major champion

suspended his PGA Tour indefinitely.

However, the good news was that the cancer

was detected early enough to be treated and Amy

had a strong possibility of being completely cured.

Sarah Strange, a breast cancer survivor and wife of

former ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange, said Amy

Mickelson’s outgoing personality would play a big

part in her recovery. Unfortunately, just six weeks

later, Mickelson’s mother was also detected with

breast cancer. It has been reported that Amy is still

undergoing treatment.

Mickelson met his wife in 1992 when he was a

senior at Arizona State, a year after he won his first

PGA Tour event as an amateur. They were married

in 1996 and have three children: Amanda, 9,

Sophia, 7, and evan, 6.

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NICKLAUS HoNoUred wITH GwAA’S BArTLeTT AwArd

Legend Jack Nicklaus, whose commitment to charitable giving has spanned

four decades and is embodied in The Memorial Tournament and the Nicklaus

Children’s Health Care Foundation, was honored with the Golf writers

Association of America’s Charlie Bartlett Award.

The award, named after the first secretary of the GwAA, is given to a

professional golfer for his/her unselfish contributions to the betterment

of society.

The 69-year-old Hall of Famer, has focused his charitable concerns on

children in need. His passion, along with that of wife Barbara, led to the creation

of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, which provides pediatric

health care services for children in a five-county area of South Florida. The

primary beneficiary of the Honda Classic, the Foundation supports activities

that advance and enhance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of childhood

diseases and disorders and supports not-for-profit programs and projects aimed

at children’s health, safety, and well-being. It provides programs and services to

more than 4,000 hospitalized children and their families, free of charge, through

the creation of the Child Life Institute in 2007.

The Memorial Tournament, which Nicklaus founded in 1976, supports the

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus,

ohio, as well as many other leading charitable organizations within

Central ohio.

Nicklaus, whose charitable commitments began shortly after launching his

professional career in 1962, supports such diverse causes as The Buoniconti

Fund to Cure Paralysis, The Barbara and Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf endowment

Fund, The everglades Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the American

Heart Association and the robert T. Jones, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Fund.

New rULe reGArdING GrooVeS IN IroNS & wedGeS

The U.S. Golf Association and royal & Ancient Golf Club

had announced back in 2008 that effective January 1, 2009 the

dimensions in grooves—from the 5-iron through wedges—would

change to create less spin when the ball was struck. The idea was

to make shots out of the rough more difficult, putting a higher

premium on driving accuracy. Finchem was under increasing

pressure from players and some equipment companies to postpone

this by one year. But after a spirited discussion by the PGA Tour

policy board, Finchem decided to stay the course.

Grooves previously were U shaped with sharp edges, allowing

high-skilled players to generate enormous spin. The USGA was

concerned that players were able to spin the ball out of the rough,

allowing for shots to stop more quickly on the green. It felt that

players no longer were penalized severely for missing the fairway.

Golf officials said recreational players could continue using irons

that were manufactured through 2010, and the new rules would

not apply to them until at least 2024. Also, the grooves rule would

not apply for events like the U.S. Amateur until 2014.

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eUrASIA GoLF LAUNCHed New ToUrNeY IN INdIA

The first new tournament for the alliance between the european

and Asian golf tours was staged at an Arnold Palmer-designed course

in New delhi in February. The joint venture company, known as

eurAsia Golf Ltd, co-sanctioned the $2.1 million Avantha Masters

with the Professional Golf Tour of India at the dLF Golf and

Country Club from February 11-14.

The european Tour co-sanctioned two events in New delhi in

2008, including the Johnnie walker Classic at the dLF club, with

the Asian and Indian tours. It has been co-sanctioning events with

the Asian Tour since 1999.

“Professional golf in India has taken an enormous step forward

in recent years, assisted by the superb achievements of a number

of players, led by Jeev Milkha Singh,” said european Tour chief

executive George o’Grady. “The european Tour has always enjoyed

a rich and varied tournament portfolio and we are delighted to be

returning to New delhi for the first event in our new collaboration

with the Asian Tour, under the eurAsia banner, and the PGTI.”

The New delhi event was among five new tournaments in

an expanded schedule for the Asian Tour, which expanded to 28

tournaments. The tour also planned to launch a second tier circuit,

the Asian development Tour, for emerging players who do not have

full playing rights on the Asian Tour, similar to the Nationwide Tour

in the United States and the european Challenge Tour.

eurAsia Golf Ltd was formed in July 2009 to solidify the

relationship between the tours and handle commercial operations of

all the existing and new events co-sanctioned by the european and

Asian tours.

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10 MUNIYAPPA wINS

THe INdIAN oPeN IN PLAYoFF

Chinaswamy Muniyappa of India won the

Indian open in a playoff against Lee Sung of

South Korea to earn his first Asian Tour title.

Muniyappa shot a 2-under 70 on Sunday and

then won with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

Lee (69) forced the playoff with a birdie on

the 18th that tied him with Muniyappa at

12-under 276. The win his first Asian Tour title

and the future promises many more. Muniyappa

held his nerve in the playoff to add his name

to list of Indian golfing greats. “This is the first

year I am playing on Asian Tour. I have played

10 events in Asian Tour and learnt a lot. Before

this I didn’t had a sponsor or money to go and

play. Now I have got money and I can play in

european Tour,” said Muniyappa.

PAKISTAN QUALIFIeS For FIrST worLd CUP

Pakistan qualified for its first Mission Hills

world Cup last year by finishing in the top

three at the Asian qualifying tournament.

The Pakistan duo of Muhammad Shabbir

and Muhammad Munir shot a 3-under 68

in the final round foursomes at Seri Selangor

Golf Club, Malaysia for a 10-under 269 total.

Pakistan was third behind Singapore and the

Philippines, who also qualified.

The Singapore team of Lam Chih Bing

and Mardan Mamat won the qualifying

tournament with a four-day total of 15-under

269, a shot ahead of the Phillipines duo of

Mars Pucay and Angelo Que.

MICHAeL JoNZoN’S 12 YeAr wAIT For VICTorY

Michael Jonzon ended his 12-year wait for

his second european Tour victory when the

Swede won the Castello Masters last year. The

37-year-old stayed calm to birdie the final hole

and post a four-under-par 67 for a 20-under

total of 264, one stroke better than Germany’s

Martin Kaymer and Swede Christian Nilsson.

Since he won the 1997 Portuguese open,

Jonzon’s career had failed to take off. But

Castello Masters’ victory moved him from

158th on the money-list to 65th. “I was so

proud of myself holing that putt on the last,”

he told reuters. “I was determined not to let

the win get away from me.”

PGA ToUr rAISed $108 MILLIoN For CHArITIeS IN ’09The PGA Tour announced on January 25, 2010 the creation of a new

web site to tout its charitable endeavors, which raised $108 million

last year. The amount, raised through tournaments on the PGA Tour,

Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour, raises the organization’s all-time

total to nearly $1.5 billion. The 2009 contributions, achieved during a

depressed economy, fell short of the record $124 million raised in 2008.

The Tour plans to enhance its charitable efforts with a new public-

service campaign – “Together, anything’s possible”. The campaign

complements the new web site – www.pgatour.com/together – that will

provide information on tournament and player causes and provide a

means of contributing to them. The web site, in part, will highlight the

significant contributions tournaments make in their communities. Among

the events that raised the most money: The Valero Texas open led the

way with $8 million, and both the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

and Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial topped $5 million. Those that

raised more than $4 million were the waste Management Phoenix open

(formerly FBr open), HP Byron Nelson Championship, John deere

Classic, THe Players Championship and The Presidents Cup.

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ABU dHABI GoLF CLUB wINS BeST GoLF CoUrSe & BeST GoLF CLUB AT MIddLe eAST GoLF AwArdS

Abu dhabi Golf Club (AdGC) scooped the

“Best Golf Course in the Middle east” award and

“Best Golf Club (overall) in the Middle east” at this

year’s Middle east Golf Awards.

It was in fact the third straight year that

Abu dhabi Golf Club has claimed the title, an

unprecedented achievement in the Middle east

golf ’s history, and the second time in three years to

win the Best Golf Club (overall) award.

AdGC, home to the european PGA Tour’s Abu

dhabi Golf Championship, so deservedly won the

coveted “Best Golf Course in the Middle east”

award for the third year running as well as the award

for “Best Golf Club (overall) in the Middle east”.

Players at this year’s Championship were consistently

rich in praise for the condition of the course and the

challenge they were presented with as well as their

enjoyment of the time spent in the ever growing

emirate. Abu dhabi Golf Club remains a central

part of the vision in promoting the UAe capital of

Abu dhabi as an international golf destination and

is viewed very much as the home of golf

in the region.

ANNA NordQVIST ANd SoPHIe GUSTAFSoN wIN 2009 oMeGA dUBAI LAdIeS MASTerS CHALLeNGe MATCH

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and Sophie

Gustafson birdied the closing hole to win the

omega dubai Ladies Masters Challenge Match,

sponsored by Jumeirah Golf estates, at emirates

Golf Club’s par-3 course. The Swedish duo, were

leading by one shot going into the final round

of a greensomes format competition, kept up

their dominance to see off the challenge of their

nearest rivals In-Kyung Kim (US) and Anja

Monke (Germany), who also picked up a shot

on the final hole.

2009 LPGA Champion Anna Nordqvist,

provided a glimpse of her precocious talent

when she drilled her tee shot close to the pin,

agonisingly missing out on a hole-in-one feat by

just two inches.

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LPGA LAUNCHed ‘oUTSIde THe roPeS’ ProGrAMMe

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA)

formally launched LPGA outside the ropes – an

outreach program embraced by LPGA Tour players

to elevate their significant off-course activities. The

community and charitable activities primarily have been

designed to benefit tournaments and title sponsors.

“Community outreach is part of the dNA of the

LPGA, and with LPGA outside the ropes, we will

further expand our commitment to help tournaments,

sponsors and the media in 2010,” said the then LPGA

Acting Commissioner Marty evans, who had been

participating in several outside the ropes activities in

the 2009 season.

As part of the initiative, an outside the ropes logo

was created and to be associated with activities to

further raise awareness and help provide a central link

for players’ significant contributions. Under the outside

the ropes heading, this body of work served as both

an asset and a tool for the LPGA, its tournaments and

other stakeholders.

The new outside the ropes program will enable

the LPGA to effectively organize, capture, quantify

and leverage all of this good work in 2010 and beyond.

The association-wide program incorporates the LPGA

Tour, LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals, duramed

FUTUreS Tour and the LPGA Foundation.

LPGA GeTS New BoArd oF dIreCTorS

Carolyn Bivens resigned as LPGA Tour commissioner, bowing to pressure from players who were

upset about the organization’s economic woes and her leadership and Marsha evans had taken over

as interim commissioner.

Bivens’ departure seemed increasingly likely after a group of players had written a letter to the

LPGA Tour’s board of directors calling for her to quit. “we reached a point which made it difficult

for Carolyn herself to see herself going forward and being able to lead in this environment,” board

chairwoman dawn Hudson said. “we had to change something.”

Bivens’ four-year tenure had been plagued with difficulties and controversies. The tour has lost

seven tournaments since 2007, and in 2008 Bivens was widely criticized when she proposed an

english-only policy for tour players. It was never instituted.

Mike whan was appointed the new Commissioner and began his tenure on January 4, 2010.

Tony Ponturo, Ceo of Ponturo Management Group and former top executive at Anheuser-

Busch, was elected as an independent director of theLPGA Board of directors by the membership

of the LPGA Tour. Ponturo and Leslie Greis (Vice President), were reelected, and will be serving

three-year terms starting this year.

The 2010 LPGA Board of directors consists of player members Helen Alfredsson, Michelle

ellis, Pat Hurst, Stacy Prammanasudh, Sherri Steinhauer, Katie Futcher and Kim Hall; dana rader,

national president of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals; and independent directors Hudson,

Greis, Ponturo and Bill Susetka. Two additional independent directors will be added at a later date.

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March

15th – 21st USPGA : Transitions Championship Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Palm Harbour, florida, USA

18th – 21st Hassan II Golf Trophy Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco

22nd – 28th USPGA : Arnold Palmer Invitational Bay Hill Club and lodge, Orlando, florida, USA

22nd – 28th lPGA : Kia Classic Presented by J Golf la Costa Resort & Spa GC, San Diego, California, USA

25th – 28th Open de Andalucía de Golf Parador de Málaga Golf, Málaga, Spain

26th – 28th Berenberg Bank Masters The links, fancourt, South Africa

april

1st – 4th USPGA : Shell Houston Open Redstone Golf Club, Houston, Texas, USA

1st – 4th lPGA : The Kraft Nabisco Championship Mission Hills Country Club Rancho Mirage, California, USA

8th – 11th The Masters Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, USA

15th – 16th lPGA : The Mojo 6 Cinnamon Hill GC, Montego Bay, Jamaica

15th – 18th USPGA : Verizon Heritage Harbour Town Golf links, Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA

19th – 25th USPGA : Zurich Classic of New Orleans TPC louisiana, New Orleans, louisiana, USA

26th – 2nd May USPGA: Quail Hollow Championship Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

May

3rd – 9th USPGA : The Players Championship Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, florida, USA

13th – 16th lPGA : Bell Micro lPGA Classic Robert Trent Jones GC, Mobile, Alabama, USA

13th – 16th USPGA : Valero Texas Open TPC San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA

19th – 23rd USPGA : HP Byron Nelson Championship TPC at four Seasons, Irving, Texas, USA

20th – 23rd lPGA : Sybase Match Play Championship Hamilton farm Golf Club, Gladstone, New Jersey, USA

27th – 30th USPGA : Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Colonial CC, ft. Worth, Texas, USA

June

3rd – 6th USPGA : The Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio, USA

10th – 13th USPGA : St. Jude Classic TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

14th – 21st US Open Golf Tournament Pebble Beach, California, USA

18th – 20th Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open Royal Porthcawl G.C., Mid Glamorgan, Wales

21st – 27th lPGA Championship presented by Wegmans locust Hill Country Club, Rochester, New York, USA

29th – 4th July USPGA : AT&T National Aronimink Golf Club, Newton Square, Pennsylvania, USA

July

1st – 4th Alstom Open de france le Golf National, Paris, france

MAJORTOURNAMENTS OF

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8th – 11th US Women’s Open Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA

15th – 18th The 139th Open Championship Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, UK

22nd – 25th RBC Canadian Open St. George’s G & CC, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

29th – 1st August Ricoh Women’s British Open The Royal Birkdale Golf Club, South Port, England, UK

august

3rd – 8th USPGA : Bridgestone Invitational firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio, USA

9th – 15th PGA Championship Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin, USA

26th – 29th USPGA : Barclays Golf Classic first Tennessee Pavilion, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

26th – 29th Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland, UK

septeMber

2nd – 5th Omega European Masters Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans Montana, Switzerland

8th – 12th USPGA : BMW Championship Cog Hill Country Club, lemont, Illinois, USA

30th – 3rd October Viking Classic Annandale GC, Madison, Mississippi, USA

30th – 3rd October Acapulco lPGA Classic Acapulco, Mexico

OctOber

1st – 3rd The Ryder Cup Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, South Wales, UK

7th – 10th The McGladrey Classic Seaside Course, Sea Island, Georgia, USA

7th – 10th Alfred Dunhill links Championship Old Course St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, Scotland, UK

14th – 17th frys.com Open CordeValle Golf Club, San Martin, California, USA

21st – 24th Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open TPC Summerlin, las Vegas, Nevada, USA

28th – 31st Andalucia Masters Valderrama GC, Sotogrande, Andalucia, Spain

nOveMber

4th – 7th World Golf Championships – HSBC Championships Sheshan International GC, Shanghai, China

5th – 7th lPGA : Mizuno Classic Shima-shi, Mie, Japan

11th – 14th Children’s Miracle Network Classic Magnolia GC and Palm GC, lake Buena Vista, florida, USA

11th – 14th Barclays Singapore Open The Tanjong & The Serapong, Sentosa GC, Singapore

18th – 21st lPGA Tour Championship TBD

18th – 21st Hong Kong Open Hong Kong Golf Course, fanling, Hong Kong

25th – 28th Dubai World Championship Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, UAE

DeceMber

8th – 11th Omega Dubai ladies Masters Emirates Golf Course, (Majlis Course), Dubai, UAE

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Golf mechanicsThe intricacies of golf are only understood when you actually get down to the brass-tacks. Here are some commonly used golf parlances.

Stroke mechanicslThe drive is used on the tee box to tee off

long distances. lThe approach is used in long to mid distance

shots lThe chip is used for relatively short distance

shots around the green. The goal of the chip

is to land the ball safely on the green allowing

it to roll out towards the hole. lThe putt is used in short distance shots on or

near the green. The goal of the putt is to get

the ball in the hole or as close to the hole

as possible.

PenaltiesPenalties are incurred in certain situations.

They are counted towards a player’s score as if

there were extra swing(s) at the ball. Strokes are

added for rule infractions or for hitting one’s

ball into an unplayable situation. A lost ball or a

ball hit out of bounds result in a penalty of one

stroke and distance.

ParA hole is classified by its par – the number

of strokes a skilled golfer should require to

complete play of the hole. For example, a skilled

golfer expects to reach the green on a par-four

hole in two strokes. This would be considered

a Green in regulation or GIr: one from the

tee (the ‘drive’) and another, second, stroke to

the green (the ‘approach’); and then roll the ball

into the hole in two putts for par. A golf hole is

either a par-three, -four or -five, rarely -six, very

rarely -seven.

The key factor for classifying the par of a

hole is the distance from the tee to the green.

eighteen hole courses may have four par-three,

ten par-four, and four par-five holes, though

other combinations exist and are not less

worthy than courses of par 72. Many major

championships are contested on courses playing

to a par of 70, 71, or 72. Additionally, in some

Stroke playIn stroke play, the score achieved for each and

every hole of the round or tournament is added

to produce the total score, and the player with

the lowest score wins. Stroke play is the game

most commonly played by professional golfers.

If there is a tie after the regulation number of

holes in a professional tournament, a playoff

takes place between all tied players. Playoffs are

either sudden death or employ a pre-determined

number of holes, anywhere from three to a full

18. In sudden death, a player who scores lower

on a hole than all of his opponents wins the

match.

Handicap systemsA handicap is a numerical measure of an

amateur golfer’s ability to play golf over the

course of 18 holes. Handicaps can be applied

either for stroke play competition or match play

competition. In either competition, a handicap

generally represents the number of strokes

above par that a player will achieve on an above

average day (ie, when playing well).

In stroke play competition, the competitor’s

handicap is subtracted from their total ‘gross’

score at the end of the round, to calculate a ‘net’

score against which standings are calculated.

In match play competition, handicap strokes

are assigned on a hole-by-hole basis, according

to the handicap rating of each hole (which is

provided by the course). The hardest holes on

the course receive the most handicap strokes,

with the easiest holes receiving the least

handicap strokes.

Handicap systems are not used in professional

golf. Professional golfers often score several

strokes below par for a round and thus have

a calculated handicap of 0 or less, meaning

that their handicap results in the addition of

strokes to their round score. Someone with a

handicap of zero or less is often referred to as a

scratch golfer.

countries, courses are classified according to

their play difficulty, which may be used to

calculate a golfer’s playing handicap for a given

course.

BASIC FORMS OF GOLFMatch PlayIn match play, two players (or two teams) play

each hole as a separate contest against each

other. The party with the lower score wins that

hole, or if the scores of both players or teams

are equal the hole is ‘halved’ (tied). The game

is won by the party that wins more holes than

the other. In the case that one team or player

has taken a lead that cannot be overcome in

the number of holes remaining to be played,

the match is deemed to be won by the party in

the lead, and the remainder of the holes are not

played. For example, if one party already has

a lead of six holes, and only five holes remain

to be played on the course, the match is over.

At any given point, if the lead is equal to the

number of holes remaining, the match is said

to be ‘dormie’, and is continued until the leader

increases the lead by one hole or ties any of the

remaining holes, thereby winning the match,

or until the match ends in a tie with the lead

player’s opponent winning all remaining holes.

Specific term Definition

Condor four strokes under par Albatross three strokes under par Eagle two strokes under par Birdie one stroke under par Par equal to par Bogey one stroke over par Double Bogey two strokes over par Triple Bogey three strokes over par Quadruple Bogey four strokes over par

Scoring In every form of play, the goal is to play as few strokes per round as possible. A ‘hole in one’ (or an ‘ace’) occurs when a golfer sinks his ball into the cup with his first stroke (a drive from the tee). Common scores for a hole also have specific terms.

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An aligned approach The prestige and aura of OER CEO Golf 2010 has encouraged some of the biggest

names of Oman Inc. to associate themselves with the event.

The Ceo Sport – golf has always been

a big draw for business leaders. The

challenge of playing against oneself,

focus and attention that the game requires and the

networking opportunity provided by the game

keeps drawing corporate captains to the game.

The game has steadily been gaining popularity

in the Sultanate. And with the opening of the

Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club golf course

which offers an 18-hole, championship standard

experience the popularity of the game can

only sore.

over the last six years oer Ceo Golf has

played a seminal role in educating and spreading

awareness of the Ceo sport in oman. Ceo

golfing - as the event is now referred to by

participants, is more than just golf. The oer

Ceo Golf event has been, traditionally, the

unique networking opportunity every year for

the crème-de-la-crème of oman’s corporate

society. The most anticipated corporate event

in oman, oer Ceo Golf, is being played

this year on oman’s premier green golfing

venue - the 18-hole Par 72 PGA-standard

championship golf course at the Muscat Hills

Golf & Country Club.

The power and prestige of oer Ceo Golf

has encouraged a number of companies to

associate themselves with the event. The oer

Ceo Golf 2010 edition is being presented

by Nawras Business Solutions; in association

with National Bank of oman; in time with

rolex from Khimji’s watches and partnered by

BMw.

The other partners of the event include

Times of Oman and Al Shabiba, the publicity

partners; Hi!, Faces and Al Youm Al Sabe as the

media sponsors. Prize partners include Capital

Store and Samsung. Venue décor is provided

by Al Turki enterprises; Matharoo Trading

and Contracting Company and Green olive

enterprises. The category partners include

Cybex (Fitness), oUA (Beverage), Infoline (Call

centre), Axa Insurance (Insurance), Al Sawadi

Beach resort (Hospitality), oman Printers &

Stationers Co (Printing), Aggreko (energy); Jet

Airways (Airline); Signature (Luxury partner)

and Muscat Hills (Venue). The support partners

include Majees, ramniklal B. Kothary & Co.

and Almarai.

lending support Nawras Business Solutions will again be the

corporate captain at oer Ceo Golf 2010.

That’s not all, the support has, this year, been

signed up for 3 years up to the 8th edition of

oer Ceo Golf in 2012. Speaking about

Nawras’ decision to commit to presenting oer

Ceo Golf, Nawras Ceo, ross Cormack said,

“we are delighted to be sponsoring this event

for the second year running and excited that

this year it will be taking place on the first green

golf course in oman. This is particularly apt

as Nawras is no stranger to introducing many

communication ‘firsts’ for customers. our long

term commitment will see Nawras Business

Solutions presenting oer Ceo Golf with

pleasingly different networking opportunities

in this informal environment for the next

three years.”

oman’s customer-friendly mobile

communications service provider, Nawras,

is committed to enhancing people’s daily

lives, making life more versatile and always

a pleasingly different experience. For real

corporate mobility, and enhancing business

efficiency, Nawras Business Solutions has been

the right choice for many organizations. with

their vision to enrich the lives of people in

oman, Nawras constantly strives to be caring,

excellent and pleasing, striving to build close

relationships. They believe that people should

have the time to focus on the important things

in life. For this reason, they are always on the

lookout for avenues that significantly enhance

the quality of people’s lives. Considering their

corporate ethos, it is not difficult to understand

why they have agreed to be the Corporate

Presenters of the 6th edition of oer Ceo

Golf too.

Speaking about the three-year agreement,

Sandeep Sehgal, Ceo of United Media Services

Tore Solberg, Chief Commercial Officer, Nawras and Sandeep Sehgal, CEO, UMS (right) at the OER CEO GOLF 2010 signing ceremony

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LLC says, “The partnership reiterates Nawras’

commitment to the event and brings value to it.

over the years oer Ceo Golf has grown into

a media asset that gives partners an opportunity

to interact and engage with an elite target

audience. The inherent strength of this property

along with a preferred partner like Nawras

ensures that oer Ceo Golf will grow from

strength-to-strength in the coming years.”

On boardIn addition to Nawras, oer Ceo Golf is

being partnered by National Bank of oman

(NBo). david Power, NBo’s General Manager,

Chief of retail Banking said: “NBo is well

known in the banking industry for launching

many firsts. we are indeed honored to sponsor

the prestigious oer Ceo Golf Tournament,

which will be held at Muscat Hills, oman’s

first green golf course. The decision insures

that professional golf will continue to grow

in the Sultanate as we look forward to a long

lasting relationship with oer and their many

initiatives.” Humayun Kabir, NBo’s General

Manager, Chief of Business Banking said:

“NBo continues to remain committed to

supporting all major sporting and community

related events in the Sultanate. we are proud to

be ‘Associate Presenter’ of the prestigious ‘oer

Ceo Golf Tournament’. The tournament

provides us an ideal opportunity to mingle

informally with our valued customers and

high profile members of oman’s Business

Community

National Bank of oman (NBo), the first local

bank in the Sultanate of oman, was founded in

1973 and is today the second largest bank in

oman. The Bank offers cutting-edge financial

solutions, designed to keep pace with businesses

as well as tailor-made to meet individual needs.

whether it is financial requirements within the

Sultanate of oman or beyond, the Bank has

the people, the expertise and the technology,

to be a trusted partner, in everything that

customers do.

rolex from Khimji’s watches continues to

partner the event this year too. Says Anil Khimji

director, Khimji ramdas, “rolex is associated

with premium golf events globally; and it was

quite natural for Khimji’s watches to have tied

up with oer Ceo Golf from its very inception.

rolex stands for perfection and class and these

values resonate well with all those who would

be participating in this event. Khimji’s watches,

the final word in luxury watches and accessories

in oman today, is happy to be associated again

with this much anticipated and high profile

event of the year. It’s a win-win situation for us

as event partners; but for the most promising

golfer-to-be this could be the most exciting

win of all; when he takes home a rolex. I wish

this programme grand success.” Says Alpana

roy, executive Vice President, UMS, “This is

the opportunity for real top-flight brands to be

associated with a high-profile event in oman.

It’s become the most anticipated up-market

event of the year in oman, and every year, we

try to make more exciting.” with some of the

biggest names in corporate oman associating

themselves with the oer Ceo Golf, the event

can only get bigger and better from here.

Sandeep Sehgal, CEO, UMS (left) with Anil Khimji, Director, Khimji Ramdas at the OER CEO GOLF 2010 signing ceremony with Rolex

(Top) Humayun Kabir GM, Chief of Business Banking, NBO

David Power GM, Chief of Retail Banking, NBO

OER CEOGOLF2009 -A walk down memory lane

eves reign

Women have made their mark on the greens around the world asserting their supremacy on demanding greens across the globe. The following pages give a glimpse of some of the great ladies on the fairways.

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1FullPage:BusinessToday 2/24/10 12:21 PM Page 1

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Lorena ochoaThe prodigy

Growing up next to the Guadalajara

Country Club, ochoa took up golf

from the tender age of five and won

her first national event at seven. As a junior she

won 22 state and 44 national events and went

onto win five consecutive titles at the Junior

world Golf Championships. In 2000, ochoa

enrolled at the University of Arizona and was

very successful in women’s collegiate golf in the

next two years. In 20 collegiate tournaments,

ochoa posted 12 victories and six seconds.

In November 2001, ochoa was presented

with Mexico’s National Sports Award by

Mexican President Vicente Fox and was the

youngest recipient of her country’s highest

sporting accolade, and the first golfer to receive

it. In 2006 she was named NCAA division I

women’s Golf Most outstanding Student

Athlete, an award which was bestowed as

part of the 25th Anniversary of women’s

Championships celebration, taking into

account outstanding performances over the

past 25 years. She was the recipient of the

2003 Nancy Lopez Award which is presented

annually to the world’s most outstanding female

amateur golfer.

ochoa turned pro in 2002. Playing on the

Futures Tour, ochoa won three of 10 events she

entered and led the money list, earning her LPGA

Tour card for 2003. Her first LPGA victory came

at the 2004 Franklin American Heritage. She won

one more time that year, while setting LPGA Tour

rookies for most birdies, most rounds under par

and most rounds in the 60s. At The old Course at

St. Andrews, in the 2007 women’s British open,

ochoa earned her first major title. She went

on to win eight times total in 2007, becoming

the first LPGA golfer to cross the $3 million

single-season earnings mark, and was named

one of the 100 most influential people in the

world by TIMe.

At The Old Course at St. Andrews, in the 2007 Women’s British Open, Ochoa earned her first major title

mexican golfing prodigy, lorena ochoa plays on The us-based lpga Tour and is currenTly The

number one ranked woman golfer in The world. she was only The second mexican To become a

member of The us lpga, where she quickly became one of The Tour’s Top players, becoming The firsT

mexican golfer of eiTher gender To be ranked number one in The world.

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Suzann PetterSenThe fighTer

Suzann “Tutta” Pettersen was born in oslo, Norway

on April 7, 1981. She started playing golf as a six

year old and played her first tournament at the age

of 10. She plays on the US LPGA Tour (which she started

in 2003) as well as the Ladies european Tour. Pettersen

had an extremely successful amateur career and has some

extra ordinary wins to her name. Pettersen was a two-time

member of the european Team in the Junior ryder Cup

Matches. She won the 2000 world Amateur Championship

and the British Girls Championship in 1999. She is also a

five-time Norwegian Amateur Championship winner from

1996 till 2000.

In the year 2000, Pettersen turned pro. In 2001 was

named LeT (Ladies european Tour) rookie of the Year. In

her 2001 Ladies european Tour rookie season she played in

ten events without missing a cut and won the French open

in only her second start as a professional after beating Becky

Morgan in a playoff. She finished second on the order

of Merit. In the following year (2002) she recorded three

top 1- finishes at the LeT, including runner-up finishes at

the AAMI women’s Australian open. In 2004, however,

Pettersen missed a few events due to an elbow surgery and

in 2005 was limited to only nine events because of a back

injury. She bounced back into the golfing scene in 2007

by winning the rolex First-Time winner at the Michelob

ULTrA open at Kingsmill. Pettersen won her first LPGA

major championship the same year at the Mcdonald’s

LPGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, where

she crossed the $1 million mark in season earnings, and

also won the Longs drugs Challenge, where she defeated

Lorena ochoa.

Last season was also a good one for Pettersen. She won

the CN Canadian women’s open, where she crossed the

$1 million mark in season earnings and $5 million mark

in career earnings. She also carded a season-low 64 in the

second round of the Corona Championship and went 68

holes without a bogey (a record that year). Pettersen also

qualified for her fifth consecutive european Solheim Cup

Team and posted a 1-4-0 record.

If not a pro golfer, Pettersen claims that she would either

like to be a pro skier or a physiotherapist. Pettersen will

begin her 2010 season, ranked three in the rolex rankings.

Pettersen was a two-time member of the European Team in the Junior Ryder Cup Matches

in 2004 peTTersen missed a few evenTs due To an elbow surgery and in 2005 was limiTed To only nine

evenTs because of a back injury. she bounced back inTo The golfing scene in 2007 by winning The

rolex firsT-Time winner aT The michelob ulTra open aT kingsmill.

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ai MiyazatoThe golf sensaTion

Currently competeing on the US LPGA Tour and

the Japan LPGA Tour, Miyazato is a professional

golfer who was born on June 19, 1985 in Higashi,

Japan. Her amateur career was capped with a victory in a

2003 professional event, the Miyagi TV dunlop Ladies

Golf Tournament - a remarkable feat for a girl who was still

a senior in high school. She also won the 2003 Japan Junior

Golf Championship and the Japan women’s Amateur Golf

Championship and in october that year, she turned pro and

began competing at the JLPGA.

In 2004, she added five more wins at the JLPGA Tour to

her name, tied for second at the Mizuno Classic and carded a

career-low 63 in the final round. In 2005, Miyazato won six

events on the JLPGA, including the Japan women’s open Golf

Championship; competed in six LPGA events partnered with

rui Kitada to win the inaugural women’s world Cup of Golf,

an unofficial LPGA event; and won the LPGA Final Qualifying

Tournament by a record 12 strokes to earn her exempt card

for the 2006 LPGA season. Miyazato was the #2 ranked player

on the JLPGA Tour behind Yuri Fudoh and had become the

youngest player in Japan to win a major. She continued her

winning streak in 2007 and managed to record six top – 10

finishes, including a second – place finish at the HSBC women’s

world Match Play Championship and crossed the $1 million

mark in career earnings.

In 2009, Miyazato became a rolex First – Time winner at

the evian Masters presented by Societe General. She tied for

sixth at the LPGA State Farm Classic, where she crossed the $2

million mark in career earnings. She won more events that year

and crossed the $3 million mark in career earnings when she

tied for 10th at the P&G Beauty Nw Arkansas Championship

presented by John Q Hammons.

Miyazato was the #2 ranked player on the JLPGA Tour behind Yuri Fudoh and had become the youngest player to win a major

ai miyaZaTo won more evenTs ThaT year and crossed The $3 million mark in career earnings

when she Tied for 10Th aT The p&g beauTy nw arkansas championship presenTed

by john q. hammons.

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karrie anne WebbThe consisTenT golfer

Karrie Anne webb was born in

the town of Ayr, Queensland on

december 21, 1974. A member of

the Australian Amateur Team, webb appeared

in six major international appearances from

1992 till 1994. In 1994 she also appeared in

the espirito Santo Trophy world Amateur

Golf Team Championships and became the

Australian Strokeplay Champion where she

scored a 128 on a par 68. In the same year, webb

began her professional golfing career, playing

on the Ladies european Tour (LeT) where she

finished second at the Australian Ladies open

and the Futures Tour in the US, where she

won one tournament. In 1995 she became the

youngest ever winner of the weetabix women’s

British open in her rookie season in europe,

prior to it being classed as an LPGA major, and

was european rookie of the Year.

In 1996, webb won three other tournaments

and was the first player in the history of the

LPGA to win the $1 million mark in a single

season. She also won the LPGA rookie of the

Year in the same year. Continuing the same

steak, in 1997 webb went on to win the LPGA

Tour three times more including a win at the

weetabix women’s British open. She also won

her first Vare Trophy that year and was voted

eSPY Best Female Golfer 1997.

In 2000, Webb won two more major championships, gaining her a second consecutive Rolex Player of the Year title

perhaps her highesT achievemenT in her golfing career was when webb enTered The hall of fame in

2005. aT 30 years of age, webb was The youngesT player To have enTered The hall of fame and kepT

ThaT disTincTion Till 2007.

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angeLa StanfordThe shining sTar

Born in Fort worth, Texas on November

28, 1977, Angela Stanford began

playing golf and winning accolades at

a very young age. As a junior golfer Stanford

won the Fort worth Girls Championship four

times, the 1996 Texas State 4A High School

Championship and the 1996 PING Texas

State Jr. Championship. She attended the Texas

Christian University and during that time, won

nine collegiate tournaments. She was also a

four time All – American and a four time All –

western Athletic Conference (wAC) selection.

In 1997 she was named wAC Freshman of the

Year and in 1999 the wAC Player of the Year.

In 2000, Stanford graduated from University

with a degree in Speech Communication. In

the same year, Stanford turned professional and

won the Futures Tour Championship on the

Futures Tour. She tied for fourth at the LPGA

Final Qualifying Tournament to earn exempt

status for the 2001 LPGA season. She became a

rolex First – Time winner at the Shoprite LPGA

Classic in 2003 and immediately the following

week, tied for second at the US women’s open.

Stanford was also a member of the 2003 US

Solheim Cup Team. In 2004, Stanford recorded

two top 10s: Mcdonalds LPGA Championship

presented by Coca-Cola where she tied for

4th and the Kellogg-Keebler Classic where she

tied for 5th.

Stanford crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings in 2007after she tied in at third place at the MasterCard Classic

2008 was a good year for sTanford; she recorded her second and Third lpga vicTories aT The bell

micro lpga classic and inaugural lorena ochoa inviTaTional presenTed by banamex and corona

lighT and carded a career – low 62 aT The safeway inTernaTional presenTed by coca cola, where she

finished fourTh.

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Morgan PreSSeLThe youngesT major champion

Morgan Pressel was born on May

23, 1988 in Tampa, Florida. She

was raised in Florida and grew up

playing golf at the St. Andrews Country Club.

She currently plays for the LPGA Tour and is

the youngest-ever winner of an LPGA major

tournament. Pressel has reached number 4 in

the women’s world Golf rankings.

She attended Banyan Creek elementary

School, omni Middle School, and graduated in

2006 from the Saint Andrew’s School in Boca

raton. Pressel’s well-decorated amateur career

speaks volumes about the incredible player

that she is. Marked with victories, her career

was capped with a runner up finish at the 2005

US women’s open. Pressel also qualified for

the U.S. women’s open in 2001 and 2003,

setting a record in 2001 for the youngest player

to qualify for that event at the age of 12 (this

record has since been broken). She was the top-

ranked girls junior and women’s amateur by

Golfweek magazine for much of 2005. Pressel

also had great success on the American Junior

Golf Association (AJGA) circuit, compiling 11

AJGA wins. She won all five AJGA Invitational

events in which she was eligible to play and was

named the 2005 AJGA Player of the Year. She

was a five-time rolex Junior All-American and

was a member of the U.S. PING Junior Solheim

Cup Team in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Pressel also

dominated high school golf in Florida, winning

three state titles from 2003-05.

At the age of 17 she earned her LPGA exempt card after tying for sixth at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament

in 2007, pressel became a rolex firsT-Time winner and youngesT player in lpga Tour hisTory To win a

major championship aT The krafT nabisco championship. her besT finish was runner – up aT The jamie

farr owens corning classic presenTed by kroger.

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PauLa creaMerThe pink panTher

Paula Creamer, born on August 5, 1986, in

Mountain View California started playing

golf from the age of 10. Her parent’s house in

Pleasanton overlooked the first tee of the Castlewood

Country golf course. when she was 12 years old,

Creamer won 13 consecutive regional junior events

and became the top ranked female junior golfer in the

state the consecutive year. during her amateur career,

Creamer won 19 National Tournaments, including

11 American Junior Golf Association events, and was

named Player of the Year by the AJGA.

In June 2004, Creamer placed second in the LPGA

Tour’s Shoprite LPGA Classic, finishing one stroke

behind Cristie Kerr. Later that year, she tied for 13th

in the U.S. women’s open and represented the United

States in the Curtis Cup. In december 2004, Creamer

won the LPGA Tour Final Qualifying Tournament by

five strokes, thus gaining membership on the Tour for

the 2005 season. She turned professional immediately

after the event at the age of 18.

Upon joining the LPGA, Creamer immediately

became a top player and in 2005 became the youngest

winner of a multiple-round tournament in LPGA

history. In her first year, she won the NeC open on

the Japan LPGA tour, the evian Masters tournament

in France, and the Masters GC Ladies Tournament.

Her performances earned her a spot on the US

Solheim Cup Team and helped the team win. In 2005

Creamer was awarded the LPGA rookie of the Year for

an incredible first year. Her second year however wasn’t

as strong due to wrist and foot injuries, but she still

managed to keep her earnings above $1 million.

In the 2008 season, Creamer won a career-high four

LPGA events and made more than $1.8 million, the

highest amount she has earned in a season. She also

became the first American with four or more wins in

an LPGA Tour season. Although she played reasonably

well in the 2009 season, Creamers health hampered

her performance and was placed 13th on the all-time

LPGA Career Money List.

If not a pro golfer, Creamer would’ve liked to work as a

fashion designer.

Creamer was awarded the LPGA Rookie of the Year for an incredible first year in 2005

in december 2004, creamer won The lpga Tour final qualifying TournamenT by five sTrokes, Thus

gaining membership on The Tour for The 2005 season. she Turned professional immediaTely afTer The

evenT aT The age of 18.

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yani tSeng The rising sTar

ranked number five in the official

rolex world ranking for the LPGA,

Taiwanese born, Yani Tseng started

playing golf since she was six years old. She

was the top ranked amateur golfer in Taiwan

from 2004 till 2006. The highlight of

her amateur career was winning the 2004

U.S. women’s Amateur Public Links. Her

remarkable amateur career included four wins

in the US and 15 international victories. Some

of her amateur victories include the 2003

Callaway Junior Golf Championship (finished

runner up in 2004), the 2005 North & South

women’s Amateur Championship, the Arizona

Silver Belle Championship in 2005, and the

Asia Pacific Junior Championship in 2003-05.

Yani took the golfing world by storm when she

turned professional in 2007. After finishing

sixth in the final LPGA Qualifying Tournament

in december 2007, Yani earned full playing

privileges on the LPGA Tour for 2008. After

joining the LPGA, Yani was also awarded

the Louise Suggs rolex rookie of the Year

Award and won the 2008 Mcdonald’s LPGA

Championship for her first career win. In

June 2008, she claimed her first LPGA tour

victory — the LPGA Championship — to

become the first player from Taiwan to win an

LPGA major tournament. At age 19, she was

also the youngest player to win the LPGA

Championship and the second-youngest player

to win an LPGA major. In 2009, Yani won the

LPGA Corning Classic and became the fastest

in LPGA history to cross the $2 million mark in

career earnings in the month of March.

Apart from golf, she is also an avid billiards

player. Today, Yani is one of the most

successful and celebrated female golf players

worldwide. And there’s no doubt that there’s

more to come.

At age 19, she was also the youngest player to win the LPGA Championship and the second-youngest player to win an LPGA major

Taiwanese born, yani Tseng sTarTed playing golf since she was six years old. she was The Top ranked

amaTeur golfer in Taiwan from 2004 Till 2006. The highlighT of her amaTeur career was winning The

2004 u.s. women’s amaTeur public links.

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feature There’s more To golf fashion Than meeTs The eye…

Golf fashion has swung onto the links in a

major way with big brands coming out with

lines exclusively for the game. Golfwear is

increasingly evolving to suit the game better, fabrics that

block sunlight, stretch panels on shirts; athleticism seems to be

dictating the rules of golf more and more. But of course, clothing

shouldn’t only be about fashion but comfort and etiquette as

well. wearing proper golf attire not only shows respect for the

game but also for your opponents. Most clubs have very strict

dress codes and extremely casual clothing is frowned upon.

Here are some rules worth remembering if you’re unsure how

to blend functionality with style.

A golf shirt is fairly standard for all occasions. It can be long-

sleeved, though most are short-sleeved. ensure that shirts have

full cut armholes that allow free swings. Make sure it is has a

collar, and doesn’t have any inappropriate messages written on it.

Find a polo shirt that’s made of a light, breathable material – especially

when playing in the hot and humid summers. If it is a chilly day, a

light sweater or vest is appropriate, as long as it is worn over a golf shirt.

For women, the collar rule isn’t mandatory, however, the shirt needs to

be dressier than usual workout ones. And for both genders, t-shirts are a

complete no-no. These days, flashy colours like reds, magentas, and even

inspired animal prints are becoming popular among the pros, however, if

those don’t sound too appealing then sticking to basic, safe colours like

black, navy, white or pastels is the best option.

Fashion on the fairway

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featureMost golfers wear thin slacks or casual pants

such as khakis. Shorts, although not incredibly

popular, might be worn if the event/club leans

more towards the casual side or if the weather

is exceptionally hot. Jeans are definitely out of

the question (unless you’re playing at the local

YMCA). Pockets big enough for a couple of tees

and an extra ball are a good idea as well. Pants

should be worn with a belt (extra points if they

match with your shoes), but are not mandatory.

women also tend to wear lightweight pants,

capris, or else, skirts or skorts (shorts with a

skirt ‘flap’ in the front). Skorts are not only

elegant but also extremely comfortable and ideal

for sports.

Shoes are an important part of any golfers

outfit and there are a wide range of golf shoes

to choose from at most sporting goods stores.

Keep in mind that the shoes need to have soft

spikes or special golf-course designed tread.

Shoes with metal spikes may ruin the course and

they best avoided. Shoes are an investment, so

remember not to skimp when it comes to the

right kind. Nowadays, special golf sandals are

also available at certain sporting goods stores.

They may be worn without socks and are ideal

for hot summers.

Visors, hats and sunglasses are not only stylish

but a necessity, especially since golfer spend

hours on an end under the sun.

Most golfers tend to go for a classy or preppy

look and the key is to look elegant without

drawing too much attention to the attire.

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SPOILT FOR

CHOICE

With Oman getting a number of championship standard green courses golf tourism is set to take off in a big way

Promoting tourism is an integral part

of the Sultanate’s Vision 2020 and the

beautiful terrain lends itself naturally

to Golf tourism. The opening of an 18-hole,

‘championship’ standard, green golf course

at the Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club

(MHGCC) in 2009 and the upcoming 18-hole

Green Links Golf Course at The wave, Muscat

is sure to give an impetus to golf tourism.

MHGCC is the result of HH Sayyid Kais

bin Tarik al Said’s vision to have a grass golf

course in the Sultanate of oman. It is the first

course in the Middle east that is built into the

terrain using the natural underlying features of

the area. This unique feature also makes it one

of the most challenging courses in the region.

Players are required to carefully position each

shot since their usual game may not work too

well with the undulating terrain of the course.

MHGCC has been carefully crafted by the

internationally acclaimed golf course designer,

Paul Thomas, of dave Thomas Associates,

whose portfolio includes La Manga west

(Spain), Seve Ballesteros Golf Club and the Top

Players Golf Club (Japan). It was constructed by

Southern Golf who, with 30 years experience of

building and maintaining courses around the

world, is among the top golf course contractors

and consultants in the world.

TRADITIONAl TOUCHThe designers of the course have also tried to

work in keeping with omani tradition as much

as possible, which is evident from the ‘Khanjars’

used in the teeing areas and the rocks placed

around the course. These rocks have been

hand-picked from around the area to reflect the

features of the magnificent omani mountains.

In addition to this, there are three large ponds

and also a sort of ‘wadi’ simulator.

Currently, Muscat Hills has a temporary

club house with an accompanying caddy shack.

Also present is a pro shop which, although in a

temporary facility, has all the conveniences of

a full-fledged pro shop and stocks everything

from clubs, golf balls to golfing apparel. There

is even a catering facility at the club house which

is through the oman Tourism College.

For those of you who just want to practise,

Muscat Hills is also home to the first grass course

driving range in oman which will be floodlit at

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night. And at the reasonable cost of five rials

you get an unlimited amount of balls to use on

the range. once you pay the green fee, the balls

are included, so if you want to get some practice

before a game, you are free to do so.

The course currently has 90 golf carts; the

latest models from Yamaha. each is outfitted

with a colour GPS system that tells you exactly

where you are on the course and how far away

the hole is from the teeing area. Also, through

it you can actually interact with the pro shop;

this is a two-way interaction that is just a button

press away. This facility is a first of its kind

in oman.

At the heart of Muscat Hills, helping with

the maintenance and running of the operations

are the greenkeepers and the golf operations

boys, a large number of which, close to 90 per

cent, are omanis.

while the course may already be open, there

are a number of facilities that are still under

construction. Chief among these is the first

PGA academy in oman. when this facility

becomes operational, it will offer high-quality

golf teaching facilities to new golfers of all ages,

based on a dedicated academy hole near the

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driving range and will be handled by PGA staff.

There will also be a Turf Academy. A first of

its kind in all of the Middle east, this facility

is designed primarily to train young omanis

and apprentices in the skilled vocations of

turf maintenance and management. delivered

in three-five week segments to small batches

of students, the courses have been designed

by experienced professionals from around the

world, who will travel to Muscat Hills to deliver

them. After which the students will be certified

and, if needed, the Academy will help them find

placement with the various golf courses opening

up throughout oman.

And finally the greatest milestone that Muscat

Hills is aiming for is the PGA tour. when it

comes to Qatar, Abu dhabi and dubai, this

time round their aim is to try and invite them

into Muscat to play an event here in 2011. This

has never been done before but it sure will put

oman on the worldwide golfing map.

GOlf lINKS designed by legendary golfer Greg Norman,

the 18-hole Green Links Golf Course at The

wave, Muscat, is a PGA-standard course.

Situated on six kms of natural beach and just

10 minutes away from the airport, The wave,

Muscat, is nothing less than a mesmerising

pearl on the Sultanate’s shoreline. The varied

and dynamic landscape of The wave also lends

itself perfectly to the development of a signature

18-hole Green Links Golf Course. extending

over 800,000 sqm, the course is oman’s first

eversea-facing PGA-standard course. with

each hole overlooking the sea and the signature

holes having water on three aspects, the Greg

Norman golf course promises to take the game

of golf to a whole new high.

Based on US PGA standards, and at a

length of 7000 yards, the course will offer

golfers of all levels an opportunity to enjoy a

unique golfing experience. The golf course

has been crafted to capture the essence of the

surrounding environment and enhance it to

produce a challenging course of varying hole

lengths and configurations. To date, more than

750,000m3 of earth has been moved and the

18-hole standard course along with a dedicated

academy, driving range and floodlit par 3

practice facility is expected to fully open in 2011

with the initial 9-hole golf facility scheduled for

the end of 2010.

In January 2010, Southern Golf oman,

expert international golf consultants, was

appointed as the Golf Course Construction

Contractor, to ensure timely completion of

the construction of the facility. The Greg

Norman ‘design philosophy’ aims at creating

a unique design character for each project

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through in-depth perceptions of the terrain

and surrounding elements. The philosophy

focuses on aesthetics and playability, resulting

in courses that would create a memorable

golfing experience and blend seamlessly with its

surroundings as if it’s a natural component of

the landscape. The designers have made certain

that the course preserved an ‘omani’ character

through the desert landscapes of the Middle

east, incorporating native plants and dune

grasses so that players can feel connected with

the course, and with the spectacular scenery of

the Arabian Gulf to the North and the Hajar

mountains to the South.

The PGA Links golf course will also feature a

floodlit 9-hole academy course, a driving range

and short game practice facility, an academy

building offering tuition, a pro shop and a

restaurant along with an extensive clubhouse

catering to all the needs of golfers across all levels.

In addition, golfers will have access to and can

enjoy the other facilities at The wave, Muscat,

such as five star hotels, restaurants, retail shops,

and the sea berth at Al Marsa Village.

These courses will offer a wide range of

facilities, which will support the advancement

of golf as a sport, and assist in building the skills

of current and new golfers. These will play a

significant role in making oman a sporting hub

for golf in the Middle east and an international

arena for Golf tourists. So golfers what are you

waiting for.

Healthcare has a new Face in Oman

We accept most Insurance cards For “Honest Health care” Visit & Feel at Home at Our Hospital

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PO Box 1522, Jibroo, Postal Code 114, Sultanate of Oman.Near Muscat Municipality HQ, Adjacent to Shell Filling Station, Darsait

Largest custom built hospital in the Sultanate of Oman with 50 beds

Three state of the art operation theatresMedical, Surgical and Neo-natal ICUs.

Multi-slice CT Scan, Digital X-Ray, 4 D Ultrasound.24 hrs Ambulance, Emergency, Pharmacy .

A team of experienced and dedicated doctors.Excellent Nursing care.

Special Maternity PackageKIMS Care Card for families,

VISA Medical at a Special Rate.Special Corporate packages.

Executive Wellness Check.

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featurefIRST-TIME GOlfERA retiree was given a set of golf clubs by his co-

workers. Thinking he would try the game, he

asked the local pro for lessons, explaining that

he knew nothing whatever of the game.

The pro showed him the stance and swing,

then said, “Just hit the ball toward the flag on

the first green.”

The novice teed up and smacked the ball

straight down the fairway and onto the green,

where it stopped inches from the hole.

“Now what?” the fellow asked the speechless

pro.

“Uh... you’re supposed to hit the ball into the

cup,” the pro finally said, after he was able to

speak again.

“oh great! Now you tell me.” said the

beginner.

SENIOR GOlf lOGICA foursome of senior golfers hit the course

with waning enthusiasm.

“These hills are getting steeper as the years go

by,” one complained.

“These fairways seem to be getting longer too,”

said one of the others.

“The sand traps seem to be bigger than I

remember them too,” said the third senior.

After hearing enough from his senior buddies,

the oldest and wisest of the four of them, at 87

years old, piped up and said, “Just be thankful

we’re still on the right side of the grass!”

POOR EYESIGHTArthur is 95 years old. He’s played golf every

day since his retirement 30 years ago. one day

he arrives home looking downcast.

“That’s it,” he tells his wife. “I’m giving up

HUMOURG O L F

golf. My eyesight has gotten so bad...once I’ve

hit the ball, I can’t see where it went.”

His wife sympathizes, and as they sit down,

she says, “why don’t you take my brother with

you, and give it one more try. He may be a 103

but his eyesight is perfect.”

So the next day, Arthur heads off to the golf

course with his brother-in-law. He tees up,

takes a mighty swing, and squints down the

fairway. He turns to the brother-in-law. “did

you see the ball?”

“of course I did!” says the brother-in-law. “I

have perfect eyesight.”

“where did it go?” asks Arthur.

“I can’t remember.”

HOlY SHOT!one Sunday morning, a priest wakes up and

decides to go golfing. He calls his boss and says

that he feels very sick, and won’t be able to go

to work.

way up in heaven, Saint Peter sees all this and

asks God, ‘’Are you really going to let him get

away with this?’’

‘’No, I guess not,’’ says God.

The priest drives about five to six hours away,

so he doesn’t bump into anyone he knows. The

golf course is empty when he gets there. So he

takes his first swing, drives the ball 495 yards

away and gets a hole in one.

Saint Peter watches in disbelief and asks, ‘’

why did you let him do that?’’

To this God says, ‘’who’s he going to tell?’’

lONG TIMEGolfer: “well, I have never played this badly

before!

Caddy: “I didn’t realize you had played

before, Sir.”

Golfer: “That can’t be my ball, caddie. It looks

far too old.”

Caddy: “It still could be; it’s a long time since

we started, sir.”

STRANGE CHOICEMany a golfer prefers a golf cart to a caddy

because it cannot count, criticize or laugh.

There’s no game like golf: you go out with

three friends, play eighteen holes, and return

with three enemies.

GOlfA 5 mile walk punctuated

with disappointments

TOP 5 SIGNS YOU’RE GOlfING TOO MUCH• Whenyoupickupsomethingoffthefloor,

you have to lean on your putter.

• Wheneveryouseeaholeintheground,

you squat, squint and read the line.

• You’revaguelyawareoflivingwitha

woman, allegedly your wife.

• Youasktheshopperaheadinthecheckout

line if you can play through.

• Beforeyoupickupthesaltshaker,you

mark its position with a dime.

Golf balls are like eggs. They’re white.

They’re sold by the dozen ...and a week later

you have to buy more.

A good golf partner is one who’s always

slightly worse than you.

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for that Perfect ShotFor some budding golfers, one of the most frustrating challenges is looking where

the lie is and trying to gauge how far out they are so as to choose the right club. The

Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC GPC can help mitigate some of that stress and frustration.

But you still have to work out that slice.

The Yardage Pro has a sharp high resolution LCd screen which gives shot information

in full colour and with it’s matte finish, can be seen with little glare in bright ambient

light. The Yardage Pro gives you distance to hole information for up to 100 different

courses around the world and can be updated with a simple upload. It has both hole

up tracking and down the hole fairway perspectives and even keeps track of stroke

information. Comes with scorekeeping and statistic utilities, rechargeable lithium ion

battery, belt clip and storage pouch.

GAdGeTSGo

LF

ShadoW gaMeSLooking for an automated caddy? Then the Shadow Caddy is the answer. It automatically follows

you on the fairway that too in a very automatic and eerie fashion. The way it works is relatively

simple. Budding Tiger woods carry an rSS transmitter on their belt as they play. The Shadow

Caddy, which carries golf bags in the back, picks up the transmitter and follows it wherever it may

lead. There’s no remote control, no joystick and it’s completely hands free. In addition to following

the transmission, the Shadow Caddy has a sophisticated detection avoidance system which prevents

collision with other carts, people, trees, and the like and then picks up the transmission and goes

right back to following the game. The Shadow Caddy will also carry any drinks, sand buckets, and

whatever else the golfer needs to focus on his game.

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GAdGeTSParagoLfing

finding the range

Life is markedly challenging for the disabled. And when technology helps in

that regard, so many of life’s passions – namely golf – suddenly come into

view. And with Paragolfer, it’s flat out the truth.

Paragolfer is a three wheeled buggy which has a rising seat to take the

occupant from a sitting to standing position. The seat has chin and waste

belts to keep the golfer balanced and in the seat and the buggy is fully all

terrain, meaning it can go in and out of sand traps, high grass, wherever

the ball may end up. And it’s design is gentle on the greens as well, making

the Paragolfer easy for courses to embrace. Cost is steep at this point, about

$20,000 but for the freedom it offers, it’s money well spent for the disabled

sportsman.

The Garmin Approach G5 Golf GPS is essentially a hi-tech digital range finder which uses GPS to

ascertain your position (after you’ve found your ball) and gives you range data to the pin based on

preloaded maps of thousands of golf holes from all around the world. In addition to range data to

the pin, it has a green view for up close putting data (again, a range finder) as well as being able to

keep track of your score digitally. duffers can then download and track their scores onto their PCs.

Practice MakeS Perfect

well, just like many other things in life, practice makes perfect, so why not make sure your putting is in tip-top condition with the

electronic Putting Trainer. It helps you improve your ball striking, club path, and putt alignment. The system’s infrared sensors detect

both the speed and direction of each putt, providing precise, instant feedback by showing exactly where the midpoint of the ball has

struck the bar in relation to its “virtual hole”. A series of putts are displayed on the bar as separate illuminated tick marks. The flexible

bar automatically bounces the ball back to you. The sensitive trigger bar can be set to any green speed and distances between four and

32’. The trainer challenges you with six games; you can play a game of ‘500’ which requires you to place a series of five putts as close

as possible to the hole. Putts are graded on a scale of 0-100 and can be played on any surface.

All your favourite magazines

www.oeronline.com

Now availableas -magazines

RISE And SHInE

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edit

Tiger Woods remains a sportsman par excellence of our generation and for the sake of golf we wish him a speedy return to the game

Tiger woods is preparing for a

comeback to golf after being

embroiled in a scandal involving a

string of extra-marital affairs last year. woods

indicated his imminent return to the game in

his February 19, 2010 televised speech from the

PGA Tour headquarters in Florida in which he

admitted his infidelities and apologised to his

wife elin Nordegren. Though his decision may

be greeted by ridicule by many, this is sure to

cheer golfing fans. Ironically, the press coverage

and the interest levels about his recent crisis

proves his standing in the world as a multi-racial

superstar athlete and celebrity whose appeal

transcends the world of golf.

In the wake of the scandal several companies

reconsidered endorsement deals with woods.

Gillette suspended advertising featuring woods,

and said they would not be hiring him for any

appearances for the company. Accenture cut its

sponsorship of woods, stating that the golfer was

‘no longer the right representative.’ TAG Heuer

dropped woods from its advertising campaigns

and AT&T ended its sponsorship with him. A

december 2009 study by Christopher r. Knittel

and Victor Stango, economics professors at the

University of California at davis, estimated

that the shareholder loss caused by woods’

alleged extramarital affairs to be between $5bn

and $12bn.

despite these setbacks his achievements as

a golfer rank him among the most successful

golfers of all time. Currently the world No. 1,

he was the highest-paid professional athlete in

2008, having earned an estimated $110mn

from winnings and endorsements. woods has

won 14 professional major golf championships,

the second highest by player, and 71 PGA Tour

events. He has more career major wins and career

PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer and

is the youngest player to achieve a career Grand

Slam. Additionally, woods is only the second

golfer, after Jack Nicklaus, to have achieved a

career Grand Slam three times. He has held the

number one position in the world rankings for

the most consecutive weeks and for the greatest

total number of weeks and has been awarded

PGA Player of the Year a record ten times.

while the debate on woods personal

transgressions will continue, for the sake of Golf,

we wish for his speedy return to the game. Tiger

is the sportsman in excelsis of our generation,

the child prodigy who breathed life into a game

that was traditionally seen as the preserve of the

old and the retired.