HK Golfer May 2012

Events: HK Junior Close Review, HKPGA Championship Preview

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION ISSUE 64

HKGOLFER.COM MAY 2012

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contents

HK Golfer

Issue 64

May 2012

48 On the Cover:

Bubba Watson won his first major championship in sensational style at the Masters Tournament last month.

Photo by AFP

Features

Plus…

30 | One Wild Week

10 | In Focus

Bubba Watson fired his way into Masters history courtesy of a shot that few others would ever contemplate, let alone produce

By The Editors

36 | Masters in Review

A look at the present and future of watchmaking, and all the fascinating timepieces in between

By Evan Rast

40 | Hong Kong Junior Close Review

22 | Liquid Assets Special

Mimi Ho secures her second title in a play-off, while Fritz Lo shows he’s one to watch following a brilliant final round

By The Editors

A special report on Modern Wine Cellar, the stateof-the-art wine storage facility located in Tai Po

By The Editors

48 | Comeback Casey

Recent and upcoming changes to property tax legislation in the United Kingdom means current and prospective owners will need to carefully review their options

By Howard Bilton

54 | Chic Retreat

Cannes may be renowned for attracting film stars to the French Riviera, but it also plays host to a number of top-quality golf courses. We look at what Europe’s film capital has to offer both off and on the course

By Mark Alexander AFP; Daniel Wong

60 | The Land Below the Wind

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17 | Tee Time

A numerical look at how the 76th edition of the Masters Tournament, the first major of the year, played out at Augusta National Golf Club

By Alex Jenkins

After a year blighted by injury and divorce, Paul Casey says he now focused on getting the very best out of his game

By Lewine Mair

40

A pictorial review of the past 30 days – locally, regionally and globally

By The Editors

With two first-rate resorts and myriad off-course pursuits, Sabah may not be flying under the golf tourism radar for much longer

By Paul Myers

26 | Seismic Shifts

68 | Gallery

May 15 sees the eagerly anticipated opening of the Gagosian Gallery’s new show featuring Andreas Gursky

By The Editors

70 | Final Shot

Q& A interview with Gary Player, South Africa’s nine-time major champion

By The Editors HKGOLFER.COM

HK Golfer

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION MAY 2012 • Issue 64

Editor: Alex Jenkins email: alex.jenkins@hkgolfer.com Editorial Assistant: Cindy Kwok Playing Editor: Jean Van de Velde Photo Editor: Daniel Wong Contributing Editors: Lewine Mair Ariel Adams, Robert Lynam, Evan Rast David Cunningham III Published by:

TIMES INTERNATIONAL CREATION Times International Creation Limited 10A Lockhart Centre 301-307 Lockhart Road Hong Kong Phone: +852 3590-4153 Fax: +852 3590-4533

54 D E PA R T M E N T S 08

HK Golfer Mailbag

10

Local Focus

12

China Focus

14

Global Focus

28 Divots 38

Around the HKGA

38

From the President

Publisher: Charles McLaughlin Art Director: Derek Hannah Assistant Designer: Mimi Cheng Office Manager: Moira Moran Advertising: For advertising information, please contact: ads@hkgolfer.com For purchasing information contact: sales@hkgolfer.com For subscription information contact: subs@hkgolfer.com Hong Kong Golf Association Suite 2003, Olympic House 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Phone (General): +852 2504-8659 Fax: +852 2845-1553 Phone (Handicaps): +852 2504-8197 Fax: +852 2504-8198 Email: hkgolf@hkga.com handicaps@hkga.com In association with: www.thymedesign.hk

42 Rules

Mark Alexander

44

Local Tournament News

HK GOLFER is published by Times International Creation, 10A Lockhart Centre, 301-307 Lockhart Road, Hong Kong.

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HK Golfer Mailbag China’s Olympic Push After it was announced nearly three years ago that golf would return as an Olympic sport at the 2016 Summer Games, there were a flurry of articles written about how China would pull out all the stops in an effort to increase the country’s chances of gaining medals in the sport. While it is true that the number of amateur competitions, and therefore competitive playing opportunities, for better players on the mainland has increased, very little has been done at a grass roots level.

And by that I mean golf courses. There are at least 500 courses in China and yet, only one of them is a true public facility. The rest are private and extremely costly to play. I would suggest that China’s dream of securing a future gold medal in golf can only be realised by the construction of many of what I call ‘low-cost’ courses – simple layouts that don’t cost a lot to maintain, with green fees set accordingly. China has plenty of topquality venues where elite golfers can practice, but it needs to make the sport attractive for more sectors of the population if it is to really succeed.

Creating affordable golf courses is where they need to start.

Geoffrey Law Shouson Hill

The Name Game Having just watched the PGA Tour’s Shell Houston Open I kept wondering when Louis Oosthuizen would grab a mic from an on-course commentator and scream at the commentary box, ‘It is pronounced West-hay-zen, you idiots!’ One only has to Google “How does Louis Oosthuizen pronounce his name” to hear an actual recording of him introducing himself as Louis “West-hay-zen”. When Oosthuizen was on the way to winning The Open at St Andrews in 2010 our very own Hong Kong resident Jean Van de Velde was an on-course reporter for the BBC and he was asked by the commentary team to ask Louis how is name was pronounced, and the answer came back from Jean, perfectly clearly over the air, “West-hay-zen”. Despite this, even the European Tour commentators continue to pronounce his name as Ooster-hay-zen or Oost-hay-zen. Any hope we might hear it pronounced correctly the next time he appears in front of the cameras?

GJ Bailey Via email

AFP

Editor’s reply: Certainly not in time for the Masters, where both CBS and ESPN constantly referred to the sweet-swinging Louis as “Oost-hay-zen.” Commentators seem to find South African names in particular hard to grasp. Retief Goosen, who was featured in the April 2012 issue of this magazine, is another whose name is routinely mangled. Apparently, if you’re a Dutch-speaking South African you 8

HK Golfer・MAY 2012

Course critical: If China is to produce more world-class players like Liang Wen-chong it needs to start building affordable places to play

pronounce his surname “Roosen”. But the man himself prefers if everyone just sticks to “Goosen”. I, like many, have heard “Huer-son” and goodness knows how many other variations.

Seriously?

In “Bulls, Golden Bears and Tiger” [April 2012 issue], the writer refers to Tiger Woods’ personal and professional ‘meltdown’ in 2010 as ‘almost incomprehensible’. Shocking it was, but not incomprehensible once we take into account the debilitating injuries, disgraceful public revelations about philandering, and painful divorce. What this reader finds truly incomprehensible is the idea that the two golf stars’ performances had anything to with trends on the stock market! Armstrong’s concocted correlations are strangely amusing, but let’s hope we’re not meant to take the proposed Nicklaus and Woods ‘indexes’ seriously.

Paisley Livingston Sai Kung We Want to Hear from You! Have something to say about an article in HK Golfer or a topic affecting golf in our area? Send your thoughts and comments to letters@hkgolfer.com. Please also include your address, contact number, email and HKGA #. The winner of the best letter (appearing first on this page) will receive a bottle of Champagne Louis Roederer courtesy of Links Concept.

HKGOLFER.COM

Local Focus Mimi Makes it Two Sixteen-year-old Mimi Ho secured her second MacGregor Hong Kong Junior Close Championship title in three years courtesy of a play-off win over Kitty Tam in mid-April. Ho, a Discovery Bay Golf Club member, is seen here teeing off on the first hole of the Jade Course during the event. In the Boys’ division, rising talent Fritz Lo, just 13, impressed with a fine 69 in the second round to ease to a comfortable victory.

Photo by Daniel Wong

China Focus The Amazing Grace South Africa's Branden Grace wrapped up his third European Tour win of the season at last month's Volvo China Open in Tianjin. Grace, 23, a Q-school graduate, closed with a three-under 69 over the breezy links at Binhai Lake Golf Club to finish three shots ahead of Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts in second place. Grace's victory at the tournament, which was co-sanctioned with the OneAsia Tour, moved him to fourth in the Race to Dubai standings and up to No 66 in the world rankings.

Photo by Paul Lakatos/OneAsia

Global Focus Bubba’s Major Moment Bubba Watson produced one of the greatest recovery shots in Masters history last month when he hooked a gap-wedge from a difficult position in the trees on the second play-off hole to within 12 feet of the flag some 155-yards away.

Left-hander Watson, who was making only his fourth appearance at Augusta National, would two-putt for par, good enough to overcome the challenge of South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and claim his first green jacket. “That will go down as one of the great shots ever played in the game,” exclaimed Jack Nicklaus.

Photo by Timothy Clary / AFP

CLUBHOUSE Away from the Fairways Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon, the latest addition to Cartier’s high watchmaking line

 TEE TIME

Time Space Continuum

Evan Rast on the present and future of watchmaking, and all the fascinating timepieces in between CONTINUED OVERLEAF HKGOLFER.COM

HK Golfer・MAY 2012

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E

Horological giant: Hong Kong topped the import charts with over CHF4 billion worth of Swiss watch products, like this updated Oyster Perpetual Submariner from Rolex

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urope was the centre of much financial news throughout 2011 and well into the beginning of this year, most of which were unflattering to say the least.

In the heart of Switzerland, however, an industry seemed immune to the chaos. What was a bad year for Europe has actually been a record-breaking one for the Swiss watch industry, with exports rising by 19 per cent to CHF19.3 billion (HK$164.8 billion) from 2010’s CHF17 billion.

This is an amazing feat, considering that the industry was on a downward slope just two years ago. And they’ve got a lot to thank Asia for. In 2011, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, in

decreasing order, accounted for nearly 50 per cent of Swiss watch exports. Swiss watch sales in the mainland was at its highest ever, growing by 48.7 per cent. Hong Kong topped the import charts with over CHF4 billion worth of Swiss watch products, followed by the US at CHF2 billion, while Europe, reflecting the crisis, posted below-average figures, and absorbed only 29 per cent of exports (a two per cent drop from 2010).

This is just the tip of the iceberg, most watch executives believe, as many of the CEOs this writer chatted with at Baselworld and SIHH see no signs of a slowdown. In fact Chinese demand is expected to rise above 20 per cent in 2012, and beyond.

The WorldWatchReport, an annual study by the Digital Luxury Group, presents interesting observations about this Chinese phenomenon.

For the first time since the study was launched in 2004, the mainland surpassed the US as the country with the highest number of web searches for watches, representing 23 per cent of all watch-related searches.

The top brand three brands that came up as most-searched were Omega, Longines and Rolex, followed closely by Tag Heuer and Cartier. In terms of models, Rolex’s Submariner and Omega’s Seamaster were among the most popular, along with Tag Heuer’s Carrera and Cartier’s Tank. With such clamour for their watches, it’s no surprise that these brands released new additions to these aforementioned lines.

Rolex has updated its Oyster Perpetual Submariner, with a subtly redesigned case and a new bezel and bracelet. The unidirectional bezel now comes with a black Cerachrom insert for resistance to scratches, fading and corrosion.

The dial has hour markers and hands with Chromalight, an improved luminescent material that emits a blue glow, for increased legibility in the dark. Equipped with the automatic calibre 3130, the watch has all the features of a Submariner: the parachrom hairspring for shock resistance, the 40mm steel Oyster case water-resistant to 300 metres, and the Triplock waterproof crown.

2012 is also the year of the Tank, with Cartier presenting a new line following the Americaine and the Francaise: the Tank Anglaise. The integrated bracelet, Roman numerals and blued sword-shaped hands remain the same, with the case made sleeker with an integrated winding crown. The large version of the watch is fitted with the manufacture’s in-house automatic calibre 1904 MC, visible through the sapphire caseback. The timepiece comes in three ladies and men’s sizes in three colours of gold, with or without diamonds.

HKGOLFER.COM

Survival of the Fittest

With the Swatch Group, Richemont and LVMH all having record-breaking turnovers in 2011, it is becoming increasingly clear that the large groups are becoming more dominant. And if you include Rolex, whose sales were at CHF3 billion, one would have to wonder where the other smaller, independent brands fit in.

I n s u c h a c o m p e t it i ve m a r k e t , t h e independent watchmakers who will succeed will have pieces that stand out because they look different, they are technologically superior, or they have exceptional workmanship.

A good example would be Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, who have turned their tourbillon obsession into a mechanical art form.

All their timepieces have multiple tourbillons and inclined balance wheels for ultimate precision, an approach that won them an award last year at the International Chronometry Competition for their Double Tourbillon Technique.

At SIHH, Greubel Forsey presented the Quadruple Tourbillon Secret, a watch whose movement is only visible at the back. The dial side redefines the expression of telling the time with its harmonious arrangement of counters with the four-minute tourbillon rotation indicator. The Quadruple Tourbillon Secret offers a 50-hour power reserve with an indicator at 2 o’ clock, and comes in a unique edition of eight pieces in 5N red gold and eight pieces in platinum.

Of course, one cannot talk about independents without mentioning Patek Philippe, a veritable institution and symbol of exquisite craftsmanship and precision timekeeping. This year, it highlights its iconic cushion-shaped case in the ultra-thin perpetual calendar, which comes in an elegant gold case measuring 44.6x37mm. The automatic calibre 5940 has a 22k gold mini-rotor integrated into the back plate, and with all its 275 parts is only 1.35mm in height and 3.88mm thick.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 64

Pushing the boundaries: Cartier’s Tank Anglaise (top), which follows the Americaine and Francaise; the Dove from Vacheron Constantin (bottom).

The brand is one of the few with a recognized Metier d’Art collection 20

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Our Master Watchmaker never loses his concentration With his legendary concentration and 45 years of experience our Master Watchmaker ensures that we take our waterproofing rather seriously. Gilbert O. Gudjonsson, our Master Watchmaker and renowned craftsman, inspects every single timepiece before it leaves our workshop. As a privately owned and operated company, we have the opportunity and duty to give all our timepieces the personal attention they deserve.

www.jswatch.com

Official HK Agent: Times International Creation ltd. Contact: jswatch@timesic.com Tel: +852-3590-4153

 LIQUID ASSETS - SPECIAL FEATURE

Safe in Store

Anthony Mak and his team at the state-of-the-art Modern Wine Cellar in Tai Po have raised the bar for wine storage facilities in Hong Kong

H

ongkongers love their wine. Indeed, a recent survey suggests that 15 per cent of the world’s rare and fine wines is owned by Hong Kong collectors. Since the government abolished import duty on alcohol in 2008, wine imports have risen dramatically; last year saw a massive 65 per cent increase alone. The city is already the world’s largest wine auction centre, overtaking London and New York with auction sales reaching US$229 million in 2011. In the space of just a few short years, Hong Kong has truly become the premier wine hub of Asia.

But where are we supposed to store it all?

In the old days – before the elimination of the 40 per cent duty on imported wines – those of us who bought at auction did so overseas, our resulting acquisitions going into storage at a facility in the country of purchase – usually in Europe – before it would be shipped to Hong Kong at a time of our choosing.

For those of us who wanted to actually enjoy the wine, and not hang on to it for selling at a later date, this was far from practical. And while there were a tiny number of storage facilities in Hong Kong, the cost of housing it here could be prohibitively expensive.

This has all changed. Since 2008 the wine storage business in Hong Kong has exploded, with dozens of new storage centres coming online, many of which are located in former factories and warehouses – the only types of buildings that offer the kind of space that such businesses require.

Such has been the boom in wine storage that the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) has partnered with wine industry experts and

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HK Golfer・MAY 2012

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room, kitted out with an array of entertainment amenities, adds to the allure.

“It’s a great environment,” continues Mak. “Aside from the controlled temperature and humidity conditions, the location of Modern Wine Cellar has advantages too. Tai Po is a quiet area: there are no production plants or excessive industry here, which can cause vibration and therefore unsettle the wines in storage.”

Modern Wine Cellar is more than just a place to store wine, however. While there is no membership structure as such – customers need only pay for the wine that is actually in storage – the company has a wide range of wine for sale, mostly made up of excellent French vintages, and customers may also sell their wine directly to Modern Wine Cellar or through the company on a consignment basis. Regular tasting events are planned for the near future.

But it’s not just Hongkongers that have been attracted to the services offered

by Mak and his professional team. “We also have many Japanese and Korean customers,” he explains, “many of whom moved their wine to us from storage in Europe. They like having their wine stored closer to home. It makes it much more accessible.”

Accessibility, as well as service, says Mak, is central the ethos of the company.

“Our goal is to provide the best possible service in the most convenient manner,” he says. “We can offer same day delivery by refrigerated van and have a dedicated wine team to handle our customers’ requests and enquiries. For us, service is key.”

Cheers to that.

For more information about Modern Wine Cellar, including storage rates, please visit www.mwchk.com or call (852) 3912 0023 the Hong Kong Government to launch the Wine Storage Management System (WSMS) certification in 2009, in order to highlight those facilities that provide and maintain standards that are comparable to international practices. These standards typically ensure against deterioration of wine quality during transportation, and include stringent controls on temperature and security.

One such WSMS-certified facility, is Modern Wine Cellar, which is located in Tai Po and has been operating since July 2011. Headed by Managing Director Anthony Mak, Modern Wine Cellar is, as its name suggests, a state-ofthe-art centre that takes wine storage to another level. At 41,000 square feet it is thought to be the biggest in Hong Kong.

“A f ter t he Hon g Kon g gover n ment eliminated duty our mind was made up – we would develop the best place possible in which to store wine,” says Mak, who has over 20 years’ experience in the wine and spirits industry after lengthy stints with Seagram, the former distillers and Vinfolio.

Modern Wine Cellar’s efforts are impressive.

The company uses CCTV, fingerprint access control and other security devices to keep the wine safe, while a computer-controlled system ensures a constant 12.8 degree temperature and 60-70 per cent humidity environment – the perfect conditions for storing wine over time.

Just as importantly, each wine is bar-coded to protect ownership. A superbly furnished tasting 24

HK Golfer・MAY 2012

State of the art (clockwise from top): Anthony Mak receives the HKQAA Fine Wine Storage Certificate on behalf of Modern Wine Cellar; the grand tasting room at MWC; behind the scenes - the company's cooling technology HKGOLFER.COM

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 MONEY MATTERS

Seismic Shift

Recent and upcoming changes to property tax legislation in the United Kingdom means current and prospective owners will need to carefully review their options, writes Howard Bilton

F

or many years it has been customary and sensible for non-UK T he gover n ment i s a l so con sider i n g domiciled persons to purchase UK property in the name of an introducing a “mansion tax” which would charge offshore company. This allowed the buyer to avoid UK Inheritance corporate owners of UK property valued at over Tax (IHT) which would otherwise be payable on the death of the £2 million an annual fee of between 0.3 and 0.7 owner at 40 per cent of the value of the property (after allowances). per cent per annum depending on value. This tax An additional and increasingly important benefit of buying this may not materialize as the government proposes way was that resale of the property could be effected by transferring the shares to consult before introducing it. of the company leaving the title to the property unaltered. This allowed the It would seem that CGT could be avoided buyer to avoid stamp duty (now called Stamp Duty Land Tax or SDLT). This by transferring the shares in the company rather made the purchase cheaper for the buyer or allowed the seller to charge more … or than selling the property. On a £2 million a bit of both. property that would save the individual buyer In recent years the rate of SDLT has risen rapidly. Following the most recent seven per cent at the current rates of SDLT and Budget the top rate increased to seven per cent of the purchase price of properties give him confidentiality and resale advantages. valued at over £2 million. Raising the rate was designed to allow the government to collect more revenue, so not unexpectedly the increase was With immediate effect a non-UK company accompanied by legislation designed to prevent the which purchases residential property tax being avoided.

With immediate effect a non-UK company which in the UK valued at over £2 million will purchases residential property in the UK valued at have to pay stamp duty at 15 per cent. over £2 million will have to pay SDLT at 15 per cent.

The government also announced that The government also announced that as of April next year non-resident “non-natural persons” will pay as of April next year non-resident “noncapital gains tax (CGT) on the disposal of an UK natural persons” will pay capital gains property. Prior to these changes CGT was not payable tax on the disposal of an UK property. in the UK on the resale of a property by a nonresident individual or entity. This is unusual as most countries charge CGT whenever a property within It would lock the buyer of the company into their jurisdiction is sold, irrespective of who sells it and who buys it. Non-natural paying CGT based upon the original price paid persons are companies, unit trusts, partnerships and anything other than a private by the company for the property (not the price individual. Exceptions to the 15 per cent rate are to be made for property developers he is now paying) if he was later forced to resell and corporate trustees. So far there is no detail on exactly what that means. the property itself. In effect the new buyer is UK domiciled persons also might want to purchase through a company purchasing a company already pregnant with so they can rearrange ownership easily and cheaply. There are many reasons CGT. It could be that the legislation will seek to why they might want to do this. For them, corporate ownership initially treat changes in ownership of the company as a achieves no IHT saving. IHT is payable on their worldwide estate and the change in the owner of the property and charge shares of the company are worth exactly the same as the property. But, if they tax accordingly, but this is thought unlikely due later obtain non-domiciled status they could transfer the shares to a trust and to difficulties in enforceability. The 15 per cent avoid IHT. If they remain domiciled they could transfer the shares to a Family SDLT charge on purchase was thought to be an Investment Company or to a suitable pension structure and avoid the IHT alternative to this. that way.

Setting up a trust with a corporate trustee On the face of it, new purchasers of UK property of £2 million or over (or a property which is likely to be worth £2 million or over in the future) are now to purchase the property would seem to give caught between a rock and a hard place. Individual purchasers are liable to 40 per exemption from all the newly introduced penalty cent IHT. Corporate purchasers avoid the IHT but pay 15 per cent SDLT and taxes. In theory it prevents the property from probably will have to pay CGT. being transferred by a share sale but in practice

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HKGOLFER.COM

it may well be possible for each buyer to set up a separate trust company for each property and to sell that trust company to transfer the property.

Or the sale of the property could be made by simply changing the beneficiaries of the trust.

This seems a little obvious, so it may be that exemption from the new taxes is only granted for licensed or professional trust companies who offer the same service through the same trust company to a large clientele. Discretionary trusts will be subject to the 10-year annual charge. The rate is normally works out to be about 2-3 per cent of the property value but can be as high as six per cent.

A Qualifying Non-UK Pension Scheme (QNUPS) will certainly avoid the new taxes.

Pensions are generally given favourable tax treatment, so purchasing through a QNUPS will avoid the CGT on resale and eliminate IHT as QNUPS are specifically IHT exempt. QNUPS, being a pension, can be a little bit restrictive but look a very attractive option for both UK nondoms and “doms”.

For those who are already holding property in the name of offshore companies the SDLT will not be a concern as it is only payable on purchase of the property. The CGT will bite on resale but, again, could be avoided by selling the shares in the company or, possibly, by converting the company into a private trust company which henceforth holds that property as trustee. It might be worth considering transferring the property out of the company to your own name now before the CGT is introduced next April. That might be attractive for younger buyers who are in good health and are not likely to be too concerned about the 40 per cent IHT. For more elderly buyers, IHT is more of an issue, so individual ownership is particularly unattractive. For them it seems as though ownership through a pension or another sort of trust will be the way to go.

For those purchasing UK property before the details of the new CGT and “mansion tax” legislation become clear it may be best to continue to purchase through an offshore company. This will give f lexibility. If the legislation turns out to be particularly taxing on this form of ownership it is relatively cheap and simple to rearrange. A gift of the property by the company to either a QNUPS, a corporate trustee or back to the individual buyer would not attract SDLT unless the property was mortgaged. If the property is mortgaged then SDLT is payable on the mortgage amount but not on the capital value of the property. Any change of ownership could be chargeable to CGT but it is unlikely that there would be any substantial growth in the value between purchase and details of the legislation becoming clear towards the end of this year or beginning of next.

The above changes to the UK property regime are seismic. Anyone about to purchase or holding UK property which is valued at over £2 million or may become worth that in the future needs to carefully review their options.

HKGOLFER.COM

Purchasing through a QNUPS will avoid the capital gains tax on resale and eliminate inheritance tax. QNUPS, being a pension, can be a little bit restrictive but still look a very attractive option.

Howard Bilton is an U K and G ibraltar barrister, professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego and chairman of The Sovereign Group

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divots

HSBC Champions Moves to Mission Hills The Olazabal Course at Mission Hills Golf Club will host this year’s WGC- HSBC Champions tournament, which will be played the week of 29 October - 4 November.

The event, the biggest in Asia with a total prize purse of US$7 million, previously took place at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, and was won in 2011 by Germany’s Martin Kaymer.

This will be the first time that the world’s largest golf club has hosted a World Golf Championship title – and comes a year after the club’s founder Dr David Chu passed away following a long battle with nasal cancer.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, speaking on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, said, “It is a fitting tribute to David Chu that Mission Hills Guangdong will host the 2012 HSBC Champions. David Chu’s vision for the growth of the game of golf in China was unparalleled and he, along with his sons Ken and Tenniel Chu, have executed on that vision. I have been to Mission Hills Guangdong on numerous occasions, and I know that the 2012 HSBC Champions will be an outstanding success there.”

Nicklaus on Verge of Congressional Gold Medal The United States House of Representatives has voted to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal on golfing great Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus (pictured) was cited for his golfing achievements, including a record 18 major championships, and his humanitarian work. Nicklaus heads the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and has raised more than US$12 million to support pediatric health services.

The Congressional Gold Medal is awarded to prominent military leaders, public servants, athletes and artists. It was last given in 2010 to Japanese-American World War II veterans.

Representative Joe Baca, a Democrat from California, sponsored the bill.

Nicklaus’ contemporary Arnold Palmer received the award in 2009. The legislation now goes to the Senate for a vote.

“It’s sort of like you’re going out and have to wait for your wife to do her hair or something ... I just wanted it to be over and know whether I’d won or not.”

AFP

–Scott Hend (pictured) on waiting to see whether his brilliant finalround 64 was enough to win last month’s ISPS Handa Singapore Classic.

Fortunately for the long-hitting Australian, who finished an hour before the final group completed their round, it was – and he claimed his first Asian Tour title (and US$63,400) since 2008.

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masters review

One

Wild Week Bubba Watson fired his way into Masters history courtesy of a shot that few others would ever contemplate, let alone produce

I AFP

t took a while for the traditional Masters Sunday back nine energy and excitement to start echoing though the Georgia pines, but echo it did as the mercurial creativity of Bubba Watson emerged victorious after closing out the sublime swinging Louis Oosthuizen on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Having experienced major heartache at the 2010 US PGA Championship, the emotions of this breakthrough win on Easter Monday bubbled over for Watson, a devout Christian. With wife Angie and new son Caleb not able to travel to Augusta, Watson calmly two-putted from 12 feet at the 10th hole for the victory and tearfully embraced first his caddie, then mother Molly, followed by close friends Rickie Fowler, Ben Crane and Aaron Baddeley to a backdrop of deafening cheers.

Only moments earlier, Masters patrons had witnessed one of the most outrageous recovery shots in the tournament’s history. Having driven into the trees flanking the right side, Watson left himself a 155-yard shot off pine straw through an opening that required a 40-yard hook to reach the green. Under normal circumstances, this would have been enough of a challenge for the

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Major spotlight: will this be the first of many for the super creative Watson?

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“I had a good lie and I had a gap where I had to hook it, I don’t know, 40 yards or something. I’m pretty good at hooking and somehow it nestled close to the hole.”

AFP

Cometh the hour: Watson’s 155-yard gapwedge from the trees on the second play-off hole will go down in Masters legend 32

HK Golfer・MAY 2012

excitingly imaginative Watson, but to execute the shot perfectly – using a gap-wedge, no less – in the most pressure packed of situations was something truly special.

Not that Watson, who reportedly suffers from attention-deficit disorder, was particularly fazed by what he had been confronted with.

“I was there earlier today in regulation so I was used to it. I knew what I was facing there,” he said from the Butler Cabin before receiving his green jacket from defending champion Charl Schwartzel. (Schwartzel himself had been through the wringer after finishing his own round, watching close friend Oosthuizen’s travails nervously on TV). “I had a good lie and I had a gap where I had to hook it, I don’t know, 40 yards or something. “I’m pretty good at hooking and somehow it nestled close to the hole.”

Oosthuizen, the streaky South African who claimed the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews in such convincing fashion, was magnanimous in defeat.

“I had no idea where he was but when the ball came out of there it looked like a curve ball, an unbelievable shot,” smiled Oosthuizen. “We had a great time out there.”

Thirty-three year-old Watson’s victory in only

his fourth appearance at Augusta is a crowning achievement not only for himself, but also for an approach to the game that is unmatched by any of his peers. Watson proudly flies in the face of the modern path to success, never having received formal instruction and even refusing to analyse his own swing on video. Indeed, such is his common man appeal – something both John Daly and Lee Trevino have by the bucketload – this win could herald a new legion of fans who want to play what has become known as “Bubba Golf”.

Prior to that momentous hook shot Watson had played for him a relatively controlled round of golf from tee to green, appearing to not overdo the curvature of his shots from the fairway and only producing the audacious when required to extricate himself from trouble. After bogeying the par-three 12th, the shortest hole on the course, Watson made four birdies in a row – “I was nervous on every shot and every putt.” But his exercise in control and some clutch putting down the stretch was outstanding and bore witness to a maturing of his game under the crucible of major championship pressure.

With pre-tournament favourites Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy long relegated to the category of also-rans (they would both finish at five-over par in a tie for 40th), the darling of the Augusta galleries Phil Mickelson’s fight back from the brink of disaster on the first day was highlighted by a brilliant six-under 30 on the back nine on Saturday. Mickelson’s magic would ensure an eagerly anticipated showdown for a fourth green jacket with 54-hole leader Peter Hanson, the unheralded Swede, who had stormed to the top of the leader board with five birdies in his last seven holes. But this was no two-horse race. Oosthuizen, Watson, Matt Kuchar and Lee Westwood were all lurking with intent.

Oosthuizen in particular had impressed, with the CBS commentary team, including three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo, swooning at how well he was swinging the club and managing his game.

And as the final round unfolded, it was the diminutive Oosthuizen who got off to the fastest start, stealing the lead from a decidedly nervouslooking Hanson with that rarest of birds – an albatross (double-eagle) – when his four-iron from 253-yards landed on the front of the second green, caught the ridge and rolled perfectly into the bottom of the cup.

“It was tough after that double eagle,” said Oosthuizen. “It was my first double eagle ever and it was tough the next five holes to get my head around it, but I found my rhythm from around 11.”

Despite what he said, Oosthuizen looked the most comfortable man out there, with his fluid HKGOLFER.COM

"I never got this far in my dreams. It’s a blessing.

To go home to my new son, it’s going to be fun."

action matching some clutch putting for par. The only problem: he couldn’t pull away. With a oneshot lead, the man known as “Shrek” made an error with his wedge to the accessible pin location on 14, spinning the ball back off the false front to the fairway. A gutsy 10-foot par putt down the slope was followed by another on 15 for birdie, as Watson looked over an eagle putt which he would narrowly miss.

With Amen Corner, holes 11 through 13, having failed to conjure up its traditional fireworks, the roars heard after Kuchar’s threewood to three feet for eagle on 15 and then Watson’s right-to-left curling putt to tie the lead gave Oosthuizen plenty to contemplate.

Kuchar would suffer the immediate letdown of a bogey after a poor tee shot on 16, leaving leaders Watson and Oosthuizen’s nerves to be tested after wayward drives on the 17th put them out of position on opposite sides of the fairway.

Oosthuizen made a brilliant up-and-down from the front bunker to save par and Watson, after skying the ball over trees from hardpan to 35 feet, hit the hole with his birdie putt before sinking a knee trembler to head to the 72nd hole tied with his playing partner.

After epic drives both players faced short approaches to the home hole, Oosthuizen carrying the ball only a yard or two too far to end

Bubba’s Extraordinary Watch

AFP (Oosthuizen/Mickelson): Richard Mille

Bubba Watson does things a lot differently to most professionals, and that includes wearing a watch when he plays. But his is no ordinary watch. This is a Richard Mille and it is reputed to cost in excess of US$500,000.

Few timepieces are capable of withstanding the shock that a powerful swing produces, but Richard Mille, Watson’s sponsors, specifically designed the eye-catching RM038 (pictured) with the left-hander’s massive drives in mind.

The RM038, which was strapped to Watsons’ wrist for the entire tournament, is not the only model that Richard Mille has brought to the sporting arena. The Swiss brand has partnered with tennis star Rafael Nadal to great success, with the Spaniard wearing the RM027 Rafael Nadal Tourbillon and the RM035 Rafael Nadal Chronofible enroute to a number of high-profile victories over the last two years.

Like Nadal’s RM027, the RM038 is extremely comfortable to wear, its skeleton case being made of an ultra-light and ultra-strong magnesium-aluminum alloy that is mainly used for aerospace and medical applications. Its scratch and corrosion resistant coating gives the RM038 a unique off-white colour.

Sapphire crystal covers the front and back, giving a skeleton view of the pristine manual-wound titanium tourbillon movement within. Thanks to the ingenuity of Richard Mille’s design, the normally delicate tourbillon movement is capable of withstanding forces of 500G. The RM038 was revealed a little over a year ago and only 38 were produced, but Richard Mille has already followed up with a new model especially for the 2012 Masters winner, the RM055 Bubba Watson, which industry experts are already describing as a more than worthy successor.

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on the second tier of the highly contoured green.

Watson, playing second, seized the advantage by spinning the ball back to within 20 feet.

When Watson missed his chance to win in regulation, Oosthuizen would again call on his putter to save him by holing from six feet to force extra holes. The efforts of Kuchar, Hanson, Westwood –who again had faulty putter to blame – and Mickelson were in vain. They finished tied third, two strokes back.

Mickelson in particular will have felt wretched.

His final round 72 included his second triple bogey of the tournament after his tee shot struck a grandstand to the left of the third hole and caromed into bamboo. From there, he opted to play from where it lay as opposed to returning to the tee but needed two right handed stabs at the ball, a pitch, bunker shot and one putt for a six.

Much was made of the fact that Lefty had clawed his way back into contention after a miserable start on Thursday, but the fact is this: he was the overwhelming favourite heading into the final round and made a hash of it. The situation wasn’t quite Winged Foot in 2006 but Mickelson will have spent large amounts of time on his family holiday in the Bahamas the following week reflecting on how he had lost a gilt-edged opportunity to tie Woods with a fourth Masters title.

But this was Watson’s time. When asked what winning so soon after becoming a father meant to him, the tearful Watson was lost for words for some seconds as he battled with his emotions.

“I never got this far in my dreams. It’s a blessing.

To go home to my new son, it’s going to be fun.

“I kept my head down because I knew there were birdies and eagle opportunities on the back nine. Couple of holes in one there already on 16 (by Bo Van Pelt and Adam Scott), so I knew that was a possibility too. I just kept going, kept grinding it out and somehow got into a play-off.

I don’t know what happened for the rest, I was crying a little bit later, that’s about it,” he smiled through red eyes. “It’s nice, I look like you now!” he later joked with Schwartzel, after slipping into that most coveted of blazers.

The question now of course is whether or not this Floridian from Bagdad – “there’s no ‘h’ in my Bagdad” – who has wowed us with his outlandish talent since appearing on the PGA Tour half a dozen years ago – can push on and add to his major haul. At the very least he has erased the doubts of those critics who questioned his putting ability on firm, fast greens.

One thinks that the narrow corridors of play at the Olympic Club, host venue of next month’s US Open, won’t be an easy fit for Watson. But with his natural shot-making ability, Royal Lytham & St Annes should present a far more suitable arena in which to challenge when the HKGOLFER.COM

Open Championship rolls around later in the summer.

Watson is the latest major winner in an era that has now thrown up its eighth consecutive first-timer. He is the highest ranked American in the world – and certainly one the most exciting to watch. If he can remain comfortable with his new-found status – and, having endured a week of chat show interviews with the likes of Piers Morgan and David Letterman, there’s reason to believe he can – then we’ll likely be hearing a lot more from him at the biggest events in the months and years ahead.

The nearly men: Oosthuizen (opposite), possesor of one of the game’s purest swings, came oh-so close to adding to his 2010 Open Championship victory; Mickelson (above), already a three-time Masters champion, threw this one away with one loose shot at the third hole of the final round

2012 Masters Tournament Final Standings 1

Bubba Watson

USA

69 71 70 68278*

US$1,440,000

2

Louis Oosthuizen

RSA

68 72 69 69278

US$864,000

3=

Peter Hanson

SWE

68 74 65 73280

US$384,000

Matt Kuchar

USA

71 70 70 69280

US$384,000

Phil Mickelson

USA

74 68 66 72280

US$384,000

Lee Westwood

ENG

67 73 72 68280

US$384,000

7

Ian Poulter

ENG

72 72 70 69283

US$268,000

8=

Padraig Harrington

IRL

71 73 68 72284

US$232,000

Justin Rose

ENG

72 72 72 68284

US$232,000

Adam Scott

AUS

75 70 73 66284

US$232,000

11

Jim Furyk

USA

70 73 72 70285

US$200,000

12=

Fred Couples

USA

72 67 75 72286

US$156,800

Sergio Garcia

ESP

72 68 75 71286

US$156,800

Hunter Mahan

USA

72 72 68 74286

US$156,800

Graeme McDowell

NIR

75 72 71 68286

US$156,800

Kevin Na

USA

71 75 72 68286

US$156,800

17=

Ben Crane

USA

69 73 72 73287

US$124,000

Bo Van Pelt

USA

73 75 75 64287

US$124,000

19=

Charles Howell III

USA

72 70 74 72288

US$96,960

Fredrik Jacobson

SWE

76 68 70 74288

US$96,960

HK Golfer・MAY 2012

35

 NUMBERS GAME

Masters in Review

3

The number of players who went all 72 holes without a three-putt. Americans Jim Fuyrk, who finished 11th, Brandt Snedeker (tied19th) and Jonathan Byrd (tied 27th) came away unscathed, which on Augusta’s famously fast and contoured greens is some achievement. YE Yang (tied 57th), by contrast, had eight three-putts, the highest of the field.

4 4.39

It took this many attempts for Bubba Watson to win the Masters. Watson’s previous best finish was a tie for 20th on his debut in 2008.

6

The number of strokes it took Phil Mickleson to complete the par-3 fourth hole during the final round.

Mickelson’s triple bogey – which came after his tee-shot ricocheted off a grandstand railing – was the only one made at the hole all week but it proved extremely costly; Lefty missed out on the play-off by just two shots.

8.1

The percentage of American households that tuned into the final round of the tournament, representing a 22 per cent year-on-year drop and the worst television ratings since the 2004 tournament. Tiger Wood’s absence from the leader board and the Easter holiday are thought to be reasons behind the fall. The event was broadcast in over 200 countries.

10

The number of eagles made at the risk-reward 13th. This reachable par-5 played to an average of 4.72, ranking it the third easiest hole on the course, but it still caused problems for some: nine players made double bogey here.

AFP

T he stroke average of Augusta National’s par-4 first hole during the

tournament, making it the hardest hole of the week. The first gave up only 11 birdies in four days, while the field also recorded 13 double bogeys and four dreaded “others” at the 445-yarder. Rory McIlroy, many people’s favourite for the event, played the hole in five-over-par to finish well down the leader board.

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20

The number of birdies that Lee Westwood made during the week, which was the most of any player. Westwood, who finished just two shots out of the play-off, also finished first in the number of greens in regulation category (80.56%) but struggled with his putter. The Englishman had a total of 128 putts, eight more than champion Bubba Watson and a staggering 21 more than Phil Mickelson.

22

Padraig Harrington and Jonathan Byrd’s joint-winning score at the Masters Par 3 Contest, which had to be curtailed due to rain. Eleven players have managed to win the Par 3 and the Masters itself, although not a single one of them won both events in the same year.

47

T he position that Patrick Cantlay finished to earn top amateur honours. Cantlay, who finished on a total of seven-over 295, had a rollercoaster final round. The 20-year-old made just six pars in his closing 72, a round

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that also included two eagles, five birdies, one quadruple bogey, one double bogey and three bogeys.

253

T h e dis t an ce, in y ards , that Louis Oosthuizen’s miraculous four-iron shot for an albatross on the par-5 second hole of the final round travelled. It was the first albatross – or double-eagle – ever made on the hole during the Masters.

292.25

Keegan Bradley’s average driving distance, which was the longest of the field. This number was lower than in previous years due to the softness of the course, particularly in the first two rounds. Bubba Watson, who is considered the longest on the PGA Tour, averaged 290 yards. Only drives on two holes at Augusta – the fifth and 15th – count towards this statistic.

1,440,000

Bubba Watson’s winning share, in US dollars, of the tournament’s US$8 million prize purse. Inaugural Masters Tournament winner Horton Smith received US$1,000 for his win in 1934.

6,821,473

The amount of prize money, in US dollars, t h a t T i g e r Wo o d s h a s e a r n e d f r o m competing in the Masters. Woods, a fourtime winner, finished the 2012 edition in a share of 40th place, good enough for a US$32,000 payday.

Story of the week (clockwise from opposite): Jim Furyk; Rory McIlroy; Lee Westwood; the 13th hole; Phil Mickelson; Louis Oosthuizen's albatross ball; amateur Patrick Cantlay; Tiger Woods

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37

From the President My year-long tenure as president of the Hong Kong Golf Association will end in just a few short weeks and I would like to take the chance to discuss a productive and successful past 12 months.

I’d like to start with the Southeast A s i a n A m a t e u r G o l f Te a m Championship, also known as the Putra Cup, which Hong Kong hosted in September last year. Played at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club for the very first time, the young Hong Kong team of Shinichi Mizuno, Jason Hak, Liu Lok-tin and Terrence Ng performed brilliantly to finish in second place. With a little more fortune the team could have won the title for the first time since the inaugural event in 1961. Nevertheless, the result was the best Hong Kong has achieved in a generation and was a reflection of the hard work that all the players and coaching staff, in particular national coach Brad Schadewitz, have put in.

December witnessed one of the most thrilling Hong Kong Opens in history. Sponsored for the final time by UBS, the championship’s reputation for excitement was enhanced by the fantastic play of world No 1 Rory McIlroy, who magically holed his bunker shot at the last hole to claim the title for the very first time. Our thanks must go to UBS, who have been a fabulous supporter over the past seven years, and

also to the government’s Mega Events Fund, whose financial contribution enabled the tournament to secure some of golf’s most famous names.

The development of junior golf in Hong Kong has long been a key issue for the HKGA and the continuing success of our young players is testament to that. To that end I would like to highlight EFG Bank’s generosity in sponsoring the HKGA’s junior development programme. Their support has enabled us to provide more training and tournament participation opportunities for the territory’s junior golfers, which has gone a long way to explaining the improved results

by Hong Kong players in international events.

My thanks must also go to the golf clubs of Hong Kong for their cooperation with the HKGA. Whether it’s the use of the clubs’ practice facilities or being able to secure tee times for national team training, their help and understanding has proved invaluable, as has the support of all the volunteers and staff at the HKGA. It is greatly appreciated.

Finally, I would like to extend my best wishes to Peter Aherne as the incoming president. I wish him every success in presiding over the HKGA over the year ahead.

And to all HKGA subscribers, happy golfing!

—David Hui

President

HKGA

EFG to Continue Support of HKGA Juniors

Patrick Leung

EFG Bank has announced that it will continue its sponsorship of the HKGA’s junior development programme to the tune of HK$3 million over the next three years.

The private bank, whose relationship with the HKGA commenced in early 2009, has been instrumental in creating increased playing opportunities for Hong Kong junior golfers, said HKGA chief executive Iain Valentine.

“EFG’s generosity and commitment to the development of golf in Hong Kong has been nothing short of superb and their continuing involvement is a tremendous boost for all young golfers,” said Mr Valentine.

Albert Chiu, chief executive of EFG Bank Asia, and Robert Chiu, the bank’s executive chairman, presented the HKGA with a cheque at the annual junior dinner (pictured), which was held at the Hong Kong Football Club in late March.

“We’ve been excited to see the progress of junior golf in Hong Kong over the past three years, so the decision to continue with our support was one we were very happy to make,” said Mr Chiu.

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HK Golfer・MAY 2012

To herald the on-going sponsorship, EFG will host a charity golf day in tandem with the HKGA at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club on 30 April.

HKGOLFER.COM

An intelligent filter The judgement to spot talent early; the expertise to nurture it. Blending the finest solutions for clients.

Proud sponsors of the EFG Bank Hong Kong Golf Association Junior Golf Programme.

Practitioners of the craft of private banking

Hong Kong : 18th Floor, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, T +852 2298 3000 • Singapore : 25 North Bridge Road, #07-00 EFG Bank Building, Singapore 179104, T + 65 6595 4888. Also in Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Seoul and Taipei. EFG Bank is part of EFG International, which operates in 55 locations in over 30 countries. www.efginternational.com

junior close

Close at the Close

Mimi Ho secures second her title in a play-off, while Fritz Lo shows he’s one to watch following a brilliant final round PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL WONG

Mimi Ho claimed her second MacGregor Hong Kong Junior Close Championship title in three years after a nail-biting finish at Discovery Bay Golf Club in mid-April.

Ho, 16, who held a one-shot lead heading into the final round after a splendid 72 on day one, overcame fellow international Kitty Tam on the first play-off hole after the pair had tied on a total of 147 (five-over-par). Discovery Bay member Ho calmly two-putted for a par to clinch the win in sudden death after a resurgent Tam missed her approach to the green and made bogey.

Isabella Leung and Michelle Lee tied for third, six shots back.

Ho first won the title at the rain-shortened 2010 edition at

Overall Girls’ Results 1 Mimi Ho 2 Kitty Tam 3= Isabella Leung

Michelle Lee 5 Carrie-Ann Lee 6 Michelle Cheung 7 Christy Chong 8 Kimberly Wong 9 Emily Vickie Leung 10= Jasmine Chee

Andrea Au

Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club.

In the boys’ category, a superb 69 by rising talent Fritz Lo gave the 13-year-old a comprehensive eight-shot win over Jackie Chan in second place. It was the Elegantia College student’s first Junior Close title and comes two months after he triumphed in his age division at the Hong Kong Schools Team Championship.

On this showing, however, it won’t be his last. Lo’s twounder-par effort was the lowest round of the championship by three strokes. Michael Regan Wong and Shinya Mizuno – the younger brother of former Hong Kong Close champion Shinichi – tied for third.

Overall Boys’ Results 72 75 73 74 78 75 77 76 81 75 79 81 81 83 88 82 93 79 88 87 85 90

147* 147 153 153 156 160 164 170 172 175 175

1 Fritz Lo 2 Jackie Chan 3= Michael Regan Wong

Shinya Mizuno 5 Tony Jiang 6 Leon D’Souza 7= Linus Lo

Justin Lok 9 Ambrose Tam 10= Marcus Lam

Eric Yiu

74 69 78 73 78 74 78 74 73 81 81 74 80 76 78 78 81 76 85 73 82 76

143 151 152 152 154 155 156 156 157 158 158

* Won on first hole of a sudden-death play-off

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Junior contenders (clockwise from opposite): Girls' champion Mimi Ho in action; 13-year-old Fritz Lo fired a fine 69 on day two; Michael Regan Wong shared third with Shinya Mizuno; Tony Jiang led after the first round; Ho flanked by second-placed Kitty Tam and Michelle Lee; Boys' division runner-up Jackie Chan

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41

 RULES

By the

L

Book

Daniel Wong

ate March saw the Charles Schwab HKGA Rules Seminar take place at the Hong Kong Golf Club. Dr Brian Choa, HKGA chairman of Rules and Decisions, and Candi Anna Chan led the highly informative and entertaining rules theory section of the seminar before the 60-plus attendees adjourned to the first hole of the New Course for the practical on-course portion of the day.

Afterwards, many of the participants sat the R&A Level 1 accreditation exam, making the HKGA the first governing body in Asia to offer the accreditation using locally-qualified referees as instructors.

Hong Kong rules officials are international recognised and many have refereed at European and Asian Tour events.

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The attendees included James Sun, managing director of Charles Schwab, Hong Kong, Ltd. The US financial services giant, title sponsor of the event, has a long and distinguished association with golf and Sun, an active golfer himself, oversaw the proceedings with enthusiasm.

“Chuck Schwab [the founder and chairman] is a very good player and taking up the game is very much encouraged at our company,” said Sun, who has been with Charles Schwab for 14 years.

“There are many connections between investing and golf, especially on the mental side: the ability to control your emotions is crucial in both. And naturally, you have to respect the rules, which is why we at Charles Schwab were keen to be involved and support this important day.”

HKGOLFER.COM

HKGOLFER.COM

Daniel Wong

Favourable ruling (clockwise from opposite): Dr Brian Choa shares his expertise with the attendees; rules officialsTed Ling and Roy Lee; James Sun of Charles Schwab; Dr Choa in full flow; Candi Anna Chan oversees an attendees drop from a bunker on the New Course at Fanling HK GolferăƒťMAY 2012

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hkpga preview

The

Stage is Set ...

This month’s Ageas HKPGA Championship will boast a record prize purse and one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s 38-year-history

A

Daniel Wong

g eas, the title sponsor of the Hong Kong PGA Championship, has announced that prize money for the 2012 edition will increase by 25 per cent to HK$400,000.

To be played from 21-23 May, the event also welcomes back major champion Wayne Grady, who memorably claimed the 1990 US PGA Championship at Shoal Creek. The Australian, who narrowly lost out in a play-off to Mark Calcavecchia at the 1989 Open Championship at Royal Troon, finished second to Shenzhenbased American CJ Gatto at the 2010 edition but was forced to retire because of injury after the first round of last year’s event, which was won by Frenchman Jean Van de Velde.

“To pack away my clubs early last year was disappointing, so I’m really looking forward to getting to Hong Kong and competing. I feel like I’ve got some unfinished business to settle,” said Grady, who works as a commentator for the BBC and Channel Nine i n Au st ra l ia when he ’s not competing on the Champions Tour. “The HKPGA is a fantastic tournament, one which continues to go from strength to strength. Thanks to Ageas’ involvement, it has a really bright future.”

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HK Golfer・MAY 2012

The 54-hole stroke play event will be played over three different courses, which is how the championship started life back in 1974 at the inaugural event. The first and second rounds will be held over the New Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club and Discovery Bay Golf Club respectively, while the Gary Playerdesigned North Course at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course will host the all-important final round.

Stuart Fraser, CEO of Ageas Insurance Company (Asia), said: “It’s all set to be an exciting championship, with the best Hong Kong profe ssiona l s going up against players from around the region for the title and a record prize purse. We’re delighted to welcome back Wayne, who has been a fantastic supporter of the championship, and look forward to witnessing three days of first-class golf.

“The decision to increase the prize money underlines the growth of the tournament since our involvement started in 2010 as well as Ageas’ commitment to professional golf in Hong Kong,” added Fraser.

In a further boost for the tournament, Lam Chih Bing, an Asian Tour regular who won the coveted Masters of Asia tournament in 2008, has also confirmed his entry. The longhitting Singaporean, who will be making his debut in the HKGOLFER.COM

HKPGA Championship Past Winners 1974

N Prathana

Thailand

1975

Not played

1976

R Magat

Philippines

1977

D Piloto

Philippines

1978

Lai Wai-che

Hong Kong

1979

Peter Tang

Hong Kong

1980

Lai Wai-che

Hong Kong

1981

Yau Sui-ming

Hong Kong

1982

Lee Parker

Hong Kong

1983

Yau Sui-ming

Hong Kong

1984

Yau Sui-ming

Hong Kong

1985

Alex Tang

Hong Kong

1986

Yau Sui-ming

Hong Kong

1987

Carl Mason

England

1988

Yau Sui-ming

Hong Kong

1989

Yau Sui-ming

Hong Kong

1990

Alex Tang

Hong Kong

1991

Yau Sui-ming

Hong Kong

1992

Tang Man-kee

Hong Kong

1993

Kyi Hla Han

Myanmar

1994

Kyi Hla Han

Myanmar

1995

Dominique Boulet

Hong Kong

1996

Lim Kian Kee

Singapore

1997

Lin Fu-chin

Taiwan

1998

Zhang Lian-wei

China

1999-2000 Not played 2001

Derek Fung

Hong Kong

2002-2003 Not played 2004

Dominique Boulet

Hong Kong

2005-2009 Not played 2010

CJ Gatto

United States

2011

Jean Van de Velde

France

championship, said he has high expectations.

“Hong Kong is one of my favourite cities in the world, so the opportunity to play in the Ageas HKPGA Championship was one I couldn’t resist,” said the 35-year-old Lam. “I don’t think my scores so far this year have reflected how well I’ve been playing, but I’ll be arriving in Hong Kong with confidence and the goal of winning the title.”

L oca l professiona ls v y i ng for t he championship include t wo-time winner Dominique Boulet, 2001 champion Derek Fung, who placed third last year, Timothy Tang, who earned his Asian Tour card in 2011 and reigning Ageas Order of Merit winner Jimmy Ko. HKGOLFER.COM

Stars on show (clockwise from top): Two-time winner Dominique Boulet with 2010 champion CJ Gatto, Ageas CEO Stuart Fraser and HKPGA Chairman Daniel Liu; Lam Chih Bing of Singapore will make his HKPGA debut; major winner Wayne Grady returns for a third time

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2012 University Golf Seminar/tournament & Camp Overview - How to become a noticed prospect - Recruiting process, NCAA rules and academic requirements - Benefits to attending university and receiving an education - University life and expectations of an NCAA athlete - How University golf works (format and learning to play team and individual golf) - How a successful collegiate career can impact post university life on and off the course

Provide a 4 day training camp hosted by The Leadbetter Golf Academy to prepare kids for the upcoming summer tournaments in America and China.

At the conclusion of the camp, there will be 2 day tournament for all the kids to particpate in, which the university coaches will be watching.

Option 1

Camp & Seminar (for kids planning to attending the full week camp & seminar) June 20: Students Check-In, Registration June 20: ½ Day Organized training run by Andy Leadbetter and staff June 21: Full Day Organized training run by Andy Leadbetter and staff +9 holes play June 22: Full Day Organized training run by Andy Leadbetter and staff 7:00-8:30 PM Session #1 of University Seminar June 23: 8:00 AM Day #1 of competition run in accordance with AJGA handbook and age divisions.

7:00-8:30 PM Session #2 of University Seminar June 24: 8:00 AM Day #2 of competition run in accordance with AJGA handbook and age divisions 3:00 PM Award Ceremony and Depart

Option 2

Seminar and Tournament (for kids attending seminar and tournament only ) June 22: Students Check-In, Registration 6pm 7:00-8:30 PM Session #1 of University Seminar June 23: 8:00 AM Day #1 of competition run in accordance with AJGA handbook and age divisions.

7:00-8:30 PM Session #2 of University Seminar June 24: 8:00 AM Day #2 of competition run in accordance with AJGA handbook and age divisions 3:00 PM Award Ceremony and Depart Prizes: The top 2 boys and girls will receive a free recruiting/placement service to attend US universities!

Contact details for all enquiries: Hong Kong James Stewart - Tel: +852 9381 9670 – Email: James@jstewartgolf.com China CJ Gatto: Tel: +86 15012965380 – Email: cjgattogolf@gmail.com Monica Lee: Tel: +86 15813870818 – Email: service@leadbettergolf.com.cn

interview

Comeback

Casey

After a year blighted by injury and divorce, Paul Casey says he’s now focused on getting the very best out of his game, writes Lewine Mair

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AFP

n obvious opening question for Paul Casey was whether had been affected by demons at one point in his he feels he has had rather more than his quota of bad luck. career. Sergio Garcia was another to come to After all, a veritable litany of things have gone wrong for the mind. He had fallen out of love with the game Englishman since he was No 3 in the World Rankings in and taken ages to rediscover his all-important 2009. Barely had he hit that high note than his troubles began. zest for the game.

First, there was a rib injury which kept him out of the game “ I ’ve cer ta i n ly had my sha re of bad for three months. Then, just when he moments,” continued the was nicely poised to win the following “I’ve certainly had my share of now 34 -year-old Casey, year’s Open Championship at St “but things could have been bad moments ... but things could Andrews, his drive at the 12th kicked so much worse. Take my into a bush and he ultimately lost out have been so much worse. Take divorce. It was neither as to Louis Oosthuizen. A couple of my divorce. It was neither as public nor as destructive as it months on from there and, against public nor as destructive as it could have been for the two all expectations, Colin Montgomerie could have been for the two of us.” of us. left him out of his European Ryder “Also, I can’t worry too Cup side for Celtic Manor.Moving much about my misfortunes on to 2011, Casey was stricken with an acutely painful condition going under when I have a friend, a really good friend, who the name of turf toe at much the same time as his marriage to Jocelyn Hefner (a has just lost his daughter to cancer. You see distant cousin of Playboy publisher Hugh) was heading for divorce. what people go through when they are caring All of the above was hideous enough but, no sooner had he embarked on a for someone close to them and you think to “back-to-basics” regime by way of sorting himself out in life and in golf than he yourself, ‘I don’t know how I would cope with was involved in a snowboarding accident. He dislocated a shoulder and lost three that.’ further months’ play as he tumbled to 42 in the world. At the time of writing, he “All I do know that the kind of relatively was starting up again in Europe from the lowly position of 111 on the Race to minor things I’ve had to endure make you Dubai. stronger as a person. I try to see them as a Casey, who was speaking during the recent Bahrain Invitational, nodded challenge.” gamely, as we came to the end of the list. (Had this interview taken place a week This former double English A mateur later it could have included the 12 he amassed in the second round of the Volvo champion can still hear the ripping sound China Open to miss the cut.) that accompanied last winter’s snowboarding “If you play this game for long enough,” said Casey, taking a few seconds accident in Aspen. to couch his reply, “you’re bound to have plenty of downs to set alongside the He dusted himself down and, as he jumped ups.”Catching sight of Thomas Bjorn across the room, he recalled how the Dane up, he assured himself that whatever the damage, 48

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Up and down: the Englishman, who missed the early part of the season due to a snowboarding accident, is back to full health and is hungry for success

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AFP

“I’m going to be watching how I walked, how I was approaching my shots and how I was thinking [during his Match Play win] ... I need to take a closer look but, essentially, I was playing good, aggressive golf and playing it with a smile on my face.”

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it could not be that bad. Twenty seconds later and he was revising that initial diagnosis as he realised that he had done himself a real mischief.

“By the time I got down the mountain,” he continued, “the pain was excruciating.”

In hospital, they shoved the joint back into place and the agony subsided “from a nine out of ten to a one”. Casey was mighty relieved, with his first thoughts along the lines that he would not need to tell any of this to his coach, Peter Kostis. He hatched a plan to take the rest of the week off as holiday before going home to resume work for the start of the 2012 season.

Alas, things were not that simple. When he was seen by a specialist back at his Arizona base, he was told it could take anything from three to six months for the joint to be good for golf.

Both predictions seemed too far into the future to be believed but, once he had processed the possibilities, Casey poured his all into his rehab work – he put in three or four hours every day – and was back in action in the three months.

Mentally, however, his on-course thoughts were a million miles from where they had been, say, in 2006, the year he won the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth and defeated HKGOLFER.COM

Shaun Micheel by a resounding 10 and 8 in the 36-hole final.

In those days, there were periods when he felt almost Tiger-like in his absolute belief that ball would go in the hole. “It was to do with focus or, as they say, being in the zone,” he elaborated.

“I didn’t have it all the time but there were definitely periods when I was dancing in and out of that state.”

T he Ba h ra i n I nvitat iona l, where h is fellow competitors were Suzann Pettersen, Montgomerie and Bjorn, was the right venue for Casey to start looking for his old self. After all, it was only 14 months before that, in a brief respite from his problems, when he had won the Volvo Champions at the Royal Golf Club Bahrain.

As it was, he confessed that even though the Invitational did not count for anything – it was conjured up as a precursor to the day the

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Volvo Champions returns to the island – he was proceeding with caution.. “I’m saying to myself, ‘Is my shoulder going to hold out?’ ‘Am I going to be able to swing as I want to?’ And, more than either of those things, I’m wondering if my game is going to get back to where it was.”

He had noted with interest that Woods seemed to be experiencing related symptoms a couple of weeks before at Augusta. “Tiger was Tiger for a long time,” he began. “OK, he got cross and kicked a couple of clubs in anger, but that was him giving 100 per cent and he was frustrated with himself.

“It was when he got to the point that there was nothing he could do to keep himself in with a chance that things changed.

“I’d never seen him tapping in to finish the Masters so early on the Sunday before. I’d never seen him laughing, joking, almost trying to

Cross that bridge (clockwise from top): Casey at St Andrews, where he finished runnerup to Louis Oosthuizen at the 2010 Open; sharing a laugh with Tiger Woods, in happier times with exwife Jocelyn Hefner

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laugh off the situation. The rest of us have all done that ... you reach the point where you can’t put them right. You put your hands up and you say, ‘OK guys, have a laugh at me’ and you show a bit of humility. But, as I say, it’s not something you associate with Tiger.”

Casey’s way of getting back to something like that wavelength will be to build up on little things, on small successes such as hitting a series of shots precisely as he would want to hit them.

He will also study video of old victories, of

which he has had 13 – one in Houston, one in Korea and the rest on the European Tour. In particular, he wants to examine his demeanour at that aforementioned Match Play event.

“I’m going to be watching how I walked, how I was approaching my shots and how I was thinking ...

“I need to take a closer look but, essentially, I was playing good, aggressive golf and playing it with a smile on my face.”

The Casey File DATE OF BIRTH: 21 July, 1977 PLACE OF BIRTH: Cheltenham, England TURNED PRO: 2000 (plus 4) PROFESSIONAL WINS: 13, including 2009 BMW PGA Championship, 2009 Shell Houston Open, 2006 HSBC World Match Play Championship MAJOR PERFORMANCES: T6 – Masters (2004), T10 – US Open (2007), T3 – Open (2010), T12 – US PGA (2010)

AFP

Forward focused: the Ryder Cupper wants to get back to playing golf with a smile on his face 52

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RYDER CUP RECORD: 9 matches: 3 wins, 2 losses, 4 halves ACCOLADES: 2006 European Tour Player of the Year, 2001 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, two-time English Amateur champion (1999 and 2000), three-time Pac-10 champion (1998-2000)

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GOLF ATRAVEL Player’s Guide

French spectacle: the water-strewn 18th at the wonderful Saint Donat, a Robert Trent Jones II design and one of the country’s finest courses

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Chic Retreat

Cannes may be renowned for attracting film stars to the French Riviera, but it also plays host to a number of top-quality golf courses.

Mark Alexander finds out what Europe’s film capital has to offer both off and on the course Photography by Mark Alexander

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Old world charm: the fragrance-laden town of Grasse (top), a short drive from Cannes, offers a scent-filled adventure into the world of perfumes; the idyllic ninth hole at the highly-rated Golf Country Club de Cannes Mougins (opposite) 56

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ou k n ow you a re on a flight to Cannes when you overhear the other passengers debating the relative merits of the latest blockbuster or knowledgeably discussing the careers of Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie.

Without doubt, Cannes is a film town and even during a midweek flight from London in March, there is only one topic of conversation.

Apart from the motion picture references and the obligatory name-dropping, another telltale sign that Cannes awaits is the number of passengers wearing sunglasses and the plethora of designer labels that make this flight as much to do with fashion as it is about travel. We are, after all, heading for the Côte d’Azur, otherwise known as the French Riviera – a stretch of coastline that has been synonymous with chic elegance and lofty living since the 1950s. The original playground for the rich and famous, Cannes and its surrounding villages have welcomed glamorous film stars, wealthy tycoons and fashion icons, with the town reaping the rewards.

We fly into Nice airport, which is less than an hour from the elegant boulevards and beach-front hotels of Cannes. Here, amid the Hollywood murals, cherry-red supercars and opulent jewellery shops, the city has embraced its starlight status ever since the first film festival took place in 1946.

The breathtaking super yachts anchored in the marina and the manicured beaches with nearby cafes and restaurants make this a wonderful place to people watch. But Cannes offers much more than just the opportunity to overindulge in celebrity spotting.

The steep hills and tranquil villages that surround Cannes are home to twelve 18-hole golf courses all within an hour’s drive of the beach. Indeed, since many are found on the outskirts of the city, the idea of playing a morning round followed by an afternoon soaking up the Mediterranean sun is a very real possibility.

More importantly, the courses are as diverse as they are beautiful ensuring the range of golfing challenges will keep you engrossed throughout your stay.

One constant that links all the courses together is the standard of catering which never seems to falter. In fact, the food on offer exemplifies all the finest traditions of French fine dining, but with the added benefit of perfect views across the 18th green. Simply magnifique.

As well as the courses reviewed here, the Côte d’Azur has a number of up-and-coming tracks that deserve a mention. Opio Valbonne Golf Club, for instance, is undergoing a substantial make-over that is being supervised by the experts at Nicklaus Design. The work, which is due to be completed in May, will dramatically improve this parkland layout.

Elsewhere, Terre Blanche Resort and Golf Club in Provence will welcome the European Senior Tour for the first time when it hosts the French Riviera Masters in September. The club recently became the 10th member of the European Tour Properties Portfolio, and the third venue – alongside the London Club and Le Golf National – to gain European Tour Destination status.

Without doubt, Cannes has a lot to offer, not only on the golf course but also on the beach and boulevards. If you’re looking for a chic retreat, it doesn’t get much better than this.

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Where to Play Saint Donat Expectations are funny things – sometimes you expect too much; sometimes not enough. When I visited Saint Donat, my expectations were not up to much which, in hindsight, is baffling. It might have been something in my morning tea, but I wasn’t holding out much hope for this parkland track. As it turns out, De Saint Donat is a testing, beautiful and exquisitely presented championship course of the highest order.

I could sense that my intuition was off when I entered the open-plan clubhouse with a welcoming bar and fully-stocked pro shop.

Standing on the first tee and presented with an opening left-handed dog-leg to a raised green, my doubts gained momentum. By the time we reached the extraordinary par-3 third, which is carved through a ravine and banked by a gurgling river, I had completely replaced my indifference with heart-felt admiration.

Opened in 1993 and designed by Robert Trent Jones II, Saint Donat is a very special course indeed which combines visual delights

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with an intriguing layout that entertains, tests and delights in equal quantities. For instance, the superb third was followed by a sweeping par-4 from an elevated tee that gave me goosebumps. And so it continued – hole after hole, the standard of design continually improved and, gratifyingly, the high design standards were met by the care and attention lavished on the course by the green keeping staff.

The par-3tenth must be one of the prettiest in Europe guarded as it is by a sweeping lake with an ancient chapel serving as a serene backdrop.

The approach to the 404-metre (442-yard) 13th from an elevated position is taxing but hugely rewarding as long as you hit the putting surface, and the closing hole, which is deceptively long and potentially punishing, is the ideal finale to an invigorating round.

With tee shots to savour, attractive green complexes and smooth putting surfaces, Saint Donat is a course to relish.

De Saint Donat Golf & Country Club Yardage: 6,405 Par: 71 Designed by Robert Trent Jones II Contact: golfsaintdonat.com

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Cannes Mougins

Festival of golf (clockwise from top): the picturesque 14th hole at Golf Country Club de Cannes Mougins; the impressive facades of Cannes’ grand beachfront hotels; the closing hole at Golf de la Grand Bastide 58

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Cannes Mougins has a traditional feel about it – an austere, refined atmosphere where shorts and T-shirts are not tolerated. The old stone clubhouse encapsulates this old-world appeal epitomising the virtues of a country club retreat.

Dating back to 1923, the club has a long and celebrated history and can boast among its illustrious founder members the Aga Khan, Prince Pierre of Monaco and Edmond de Rothschild. What they created was a delightful parkland course surrounded by oaks, pine trees and fields of jasmine.

Despite its distinguished start and idyllic setting, as the century drew to a close, the Cannes Mougins club was in dire need of some attention and in 1978 became a private club owned by 500 shareholders who duly commissioned the architectural team of Peter Allis and Dave Thomas to overhaul the course.

The layout was fittingly revamped and made ready for the modern era. The extensive work done by Allis, the famed TV commentator, and Thomas received rave reviews and the rejuvenated club went on to host the Cannes Open between 1980 and 1994. For a while,

it was one of the jewels in the crown of golf in Cannes and still maintains a rarefied feel perfected over decades of providing top-tier golf.

In fact, last year it welcomed for the second time the Cannes Mougins Masters – a Seniors Tour event that was won by Spaniard Juan Quiros who defeated Irishman Des Smyth in a play-off.

The tree-lined fairways of this old master provide plenty of trouble off the tee. As a result, accuracy, rather than length, is required if you wish to emulate Quiros’ win. As well as trees, the fairways are also narrow and often doglegged which further adds to the need for pinpoint accuracy.

There is little let up when you get to the greens which contain subtle undulations that sometimes only become apparent after you hit the ball. Sadly the putting surfaces are marred somewhat by the abundance of pot marks that tarnish what is otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable golfing experience.

Golf Country Club de Cannes Mougins Yardage: 6,747 Par: 72 Redesigned by Peter Allis and Dave Thomas Contact: golf-cote-azur.com

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Grande Bastide Cabell Robinson, the architect behind Grande Bastide, has a reputation for producing highquality layouts that demand golfers to think their way round the course. La Grande Bastide is no exception. While the property could have produced a bland, run-of-the-mill layout, Robinson instead created a testing 18-holer that punishes those who adopt a rash approach to the game. The tee shot at the par 4fifteenth, for instance, is all about positioning rather than power – the two lakes on either side of the zigzagging fairway takes care of that.

The final hole is another example of how Robinson squeezed every ounce of difficulty out of the land. The downhill tee shot to a lefthanded dog-leg teases you into taking a ‘tiger’ line but, once again, position off the tee is the way to go. The folly of an aggressive line becomes all too apparent when the 386-metre (422-yard) hole concludes at an undulating green that slopes dangerously towards one the course’s eight lakes. Scoring is possible, but only with care.

As well as testing your golfing metal, the course also provides wonderful views over the rustic French countryside. Indeed, being located at the foothills of the Niçoise hinterland, Grande Bastide has a marvellous backdrop of Grasse, Opio and Châteauneuf de Grasse.

With so much going for it, it is a shame the course isn’t presented to a standard befitting of its layout. The truth is, Grande Bastide is a fine course blighted by some poor finishing touches. This becomes most apparent on the tees and even more so on the greens which are almost unmanageably fast. Thankfully plans are afoot to rectify these issues through an extensive renovation project that has been planned but has yet to start. The sooner it does, the better.

Golf de la Grande Bastide Yardage: 6,484 Par: 72 Designed by Cabell Robinson Contact: opengolfclub.com

TRIP PLANNER WHERE TO STAY There are around 130 hotels and accommodation providers in Cannes offering some 8,000 rooms. The most prominent are the beach-front, five-star hotels like the Majestic (lucienbarriere.com), Martinez (hotel-martinez.com) and Grand Hotel (grand-hotel-cannes.com). These are obviously the most expensive places to stay but certainly the most appropriate if you are seeking the film-star treatment.

WHAT TO DO If the paparazzi are trying your patience and you have had enough of the beach, Cannes provides plenty of alternatives. A 15-minute sail by shuttle boat will take you to the beautiful Sainte Marguerite Island, famed for its fort in which the “Man in the Iron Mask” was incarcerated. The nearby island of Saint Honorat is home to the monks of the Abbey of Lerins who pass their time producing excellent wines and a liqueur named Lerina. Further afield, the fragrance-laden town of Grasse offers a scent-filled adventure into the world of perfumes.

FESTIVAL DE CANNES The film festival (festival-cannes.fr) takes place in May and sends the city of Cannes into whirlwind of parties, film premieres and film-star glamour. The excitement that accompanies the influx of A-list actors, directors and producers is felt by everyone and leaves its indelible mark on the city for the rest of the year. If you want to see the rich and famous rub shoulders with Hollywood greats, this is the time to visit. As you would expect, May is also the time when Cannes is most in demand, so prepare to pay a premium for the privilege of partying with the stars.

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 DESTINATION

Land Below the Wind

The

With two first-rate resorts and myriad off-course pursuits, Sabah may not be flying under the golf tourism radar for much longer, writes Paul Myers

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Sabah Golf

ny place once known as “The land below the wind” must surely appeal as a golf destination, especially if it’s in a coastal environment. Wind, after all, can cause big problems for a small white ball in flight – as anyone who has played seaside courses around the world will attest.

But that’s not all. Throw in pristine jungle, the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, wildlife reserves, an eclectic mix of cultures, rich colonial history, affordability, a moderate tropical climate and some wonderful golf resorts and you’ve got a perfect golf tourism destination.

This is Sabah, Malaysia’s most eastern state on the northern tip of the island of Borneo.

But before singing Sabah’s golf virtues, let’s set things straight about the wind: Sabah does have wind in the form of (usually) pleasant cooling coastal breezes. What it doesn’t have, and what its former epithet implies, are typhoons that regularly batter the coastlines of destinations to Borneo’s northeast, usually in February/March and September/October.

Sabah’s capital, Kota Kinabalu, is what many residents of major metropolises like Hong Kong might describe as the perfect entry point for a golf holiday. Such as it is, the “city”, known as KK, has less than half a million residents, is only 10 minutes from the airport, sits handsomely beside the turquoise waters of the South China Sea and has a championship golf course on its doorstep.

What more do you want? Well, try another beautiful golf resort course along the coast just 45 minutes away, complete with an on-site orang-utan wildlife sanctuary that, in itself, provides a totally unique experience.

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Located closer to the Philippines than the Malay peninsula, Sabah is a potpourri of cultures and religions. Its three million inhabitants comprise 32 ethnic groups that live in peaceful harmony. Almost a third of the population is Filipino or Indonesian and 10 per cent are of Chinese origin.

Formerly known as British North Borneo, Sabah and much larger neighbouring Sarawak are Malaysia’s two most eastern states on Borneo. They joined the Malay federation after North Borneo achieved independence from Britain in 1963.

Sabah’s two premier golf courses are, respectively, part of Sutera Harbour Resort Tand Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort. Recognising their potential to substantially increase international golf tourism, the pair has put aside competitive differences to form a destination-marketing progra m ca l led Saba h Gol f (sabah-golf.com).

Sabah Golf showcases some of the most friendly, accessible and enjoyable golf in Southeast Asia, which means Sabah may not be flying under the golf tourism radar much longer.

The two courses hosted the World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship in April, at the same time as a group of 25 tour operators from Europe, Australia and other markets were visiting the properties before the International HKGOLFER.COM

Association of Golf Tourism Operators meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Their verdict? A big thumbs-up for Sabah as a legitimate golf tourism destination. As any tour operator will attest, most golf tourists are looking for something different. Sabah certainly fits this bill.

Sutera Harbour, a large complex that, as its name implies, nestles on its own mini harbour on the edge of Kota Kinabalu, boasts 27 holes of championship golf designed by former Australian tour pro, Graham Marsh.

Host of two stages of the One Asia qualifying school in 2012 and 2013, Sutera Harbour’s golf credentials are considerable. Split into three nines – Garden, Lakes and Heritage – every hole plays within sight of the sea, the city or the resort hotels. Despite a relatively flat layout, Marsh’s clever use of mounds and bunkering HKGOLFER.COM

– combined with a modicum of man-made water – makes this an interesting and enjoyable test of golf. Coconut palms provide a visual differentiation between holes and frequent views across the South China Sea to the Manukan Islands provide a scenic element to the complex.

Sutera Harbour also has the only night golf in East Malaysia, providing a pleasant outlet during the mild evenings that characterise this part of the tropics and, if you’re willing, enabling 17 hours of golf to be played each day!

Among the best holes are the short par-4 24th hole on the Garden layout that plays right beside the water and has a precariously placed green. Miss it to the left and you’re dead; play right and you’ll have an awkward chip to the pin.

Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort is home to Dalit Bay Golf Club, situated at the entrance to the property. This beautiful water and woodlands

Picture perfect: tackling a stout par-three at Sutera Harbour (opposite), a fine Graham Marsh design; a sky-high look at Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club (above) HK Golfer・MAY 2012

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Sunshine coast: the idyllic Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort, home to Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club

course rests in the shadow of the 4095-metre-Mt Kinabalu, the highest mountain in the region.

Set within the 400-acre resort that nudges the ocean at Pantai Dalit beach, the golf course was designed by another Australian, Ted Parslow.

Bordered by the Tambalang and Mangkabong rivers with stunning vistas to Mt Kinabalu in the distance, it offers a classic wetland golf experience with water on every hole.

The course can be easily walked, or golfers may take carts if they wish. The mountain scenery provides a perfect backdrop for an enjoyable round at any time of year.

The signature hole, the par-3 11th, plays across the mouth of the Tambalang River, right beside the South China Sea. Like every hole on the course, a precise shot is needed to avoid a wet result.

TRIP PLANNER WHERE TO PLAY Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club **** 27 holes designed by Graham Marsh Green fees (weekday/weekend): MYR 250 / 330 (HK$650 / 835) Contact: sabah-golf.com

Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club **** 18 holes designed by Ted Parslow Green fees: MYR 320 (HK$810), which includes cart and insurance Contact: sabah-golf.com

ATTRACTIONS As well as golf, among Sabah’s other highlights are a visit to Kinabalu Park, which in 2000 became Sabah’s first World Heritage site, and to Mt Kinabalu itself; a steam train trip on the 36-mile North Borneo Railway, which first operated in 1914; and a short boat trip from Sutera Harbour Resort to Manukan Island, the second largest island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park.

A special highlight of the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort is its nature reserve, established in 1996 in collaboration with the State Wildlife Department of Sabah. The reserve protects endangered species of fauna in Sabah and species that that are endemic to the region.

Here visitors can see at first-hand how orangutans and other species are being protected from human intervention. Typically, young orangutans are brought into the reserve where they are fed and nurtured until able to fend for themselves, when they are released back into their natural habitat.

Getting There Air Asia (airasia.com), Dragonair (dragonair.com) and Malaysia Airlines (malaysiaairlines.com) operate direct flights from Hong Kong to Kota Kinabalu (journey time: three hours).

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

Mighty Developments

Investing in the future has become more vital for companies that want to remain competitive and keep production running smoothly, especially with the planned stoppage of deliveries of component parts and movements by ETA and Nivarox – owned by the Swatch Group – to third parties beginning this July.

Investments to increase production capacity and the amount of work done in-house have been made across the industry, with the big brands leading the way.

At Richemont, Cartier is investing CHF100 million in a new facility with a goal to increase the number of in-house mechanical movements.

Vacheron Constantin plans to double its watch production over the next few years. Panerai’s new atelier in Neuchatel is currently under construction, while Piaget is investing CHF15 million to double its production capacity.

Rolex has apparently invested millions of Swiss francs over the last 10 years to complete its 230,000sqm facility that will house assembly, machining and finishing.

At LVMH, Louis Vuitton is constructing an atelier in Geneva that will vertically integrate production. Focus is also being given to developing different workshops for finishing techniques. Hublot is expanding to double its production capacity, and TAG Heuer, while building a new facility, has also already partnered with Atokalpa, of the Sandoz Family Foundation, which owns Parmigiani and Vaucher manufacture, for production of their balance springs.

The Swatch group is expanding as well, with plans to build their new headquarters, and expand the production facilities for a number of their brands, including Breguet and Omega.

A significant move by the Festina Group has been to focus on the production of quality escapements, aiming for as many as one million units annually. This will be especially important to brands that are not able to make all the parts for their escapements. Companies like Sellita, Technotime, Soprod, Lajoux-Perret, DuboisDepraz and Vaucher Manufacture, which is partly owned by Hermes, are also focusing on providing the parts and components that the industry will require.

Leading contenders (clockwise from top): the Governeur Chronograph from Piaget; Parmigiani’s Tonda 1950 Special Edition and its spiral-inspired dial; the Extra Thin Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet, which was released this year to mark the 40th anniversary of the brand’s iconic timepiece 64

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Artisans in Demand

With this massive movement and expansion, there are more watchmaking-related careers on offer. In fact, there is an increasing demand for technical people and artisans that have the knowhow and can train aspiring watchmakers. In the last few years, the watch groups have established schools, or partnered with colleges to develop a watchmaking programme that will benefit them in the future. Metier d’ art is a trend, with enameling, engraving, gemsetting and special finishing techniques in high demand.

Vacheron Constantin is one of those brands with a recognized Metier d’ Art collection, and this year, it presented the Les Univers Infinis Series, inspired by the tessellation periodic paving technique and the works of Dutch artist Maurits Cornelis Escher, which display a fascinating interplay of esthetic and mathematics.

The Dove features the birds in flight on an 18k gold dial hand-guilloched and enameled, wit h one dove set wit h 40 brilliant-cut diamonds. The watch is fitted with an automatic 2460 SC calibre with a 40-hour power reserve, housed in a 40mm white gold case with a transparent caseback.

Meanwhile at Hermes, known enamellist Ines Hamaguchi has been commissioned to do a unique piece, the Arceau Astrolabe pliqueà-jour pocket watch. She uses the plique-à-jour technique, plus cloisonné, in-laid enamelling, ronde-bosse, and incorporating gold- and silverleaf patterns to produce mesmerizing pocket watch. She starts a year-long partnership with Hermes, whom she will be working on pieces with the theme, “The Gift of Time.”

automatic calibre with 40-hour power reserve.

Another unique watch from SIHH is the Tonda 1950 Special Edition from Parmigiani, which features a dial inspired by the spiral. A unique ‘grille’ that shows a glimpse of the gear trains and was created using the LIGA technique (a combination of lithography, electroplating and moulding that provides very precise results), gives the watch a very modern look. Fitted with the in-house automatic calibre PF701 – among the world’s thinnest at 2.6mm – the timepiece offers a 42-hour reserve, with hours, minutes and small seconds at 6 o’clock.

At Piaget, a new line was presented this year, a sophisticated collection called the Governeur, distinguished mainly by the use of oval and round shapes on the case and the dial. The Governeur Chronograph is one of the highlights of the range, which is powered by the 882P calibre, a new ultra-thin mechanical movement with a flyback function. The 43mm case comes in pink gold, with a sapphire crystal caseback that allows a generous view of the self-winding movement.

And last but not least, it is worth mentioning Cartier’s latest addition to its high watchmaking line, the Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon. Yes, the name is a mouthful, but Carole Forestier-Kasapi and her team of watchmakers really did their research on this one, creating a watch in materials that would give it the best sound. The Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater uses a 45mm titanium case combined with hardened steel gongs resulting in chimes that reach 68 decibels. The watch is fitted with the handwound calibre 9402MC and features the Cartier flying tourbillon at 12 o’clock.

Diversity in Key

With all these exciting developments in the watch industry, and ever-growing demand from t he East, t here is much room for experimentation. The brands know that classic and iconic pieces will continue to be bestsellers, but there is also a gap for the innovative, the daring and the game-changers. A diversified product range ensures that there is one watch that is perfect for each unique individual.

This year, with the Royal Oak’s 40th anniversary, Audemars Piguet decided to modernize its most iconic watch, presenting several models, including the Extra Thin Royal Oak. The watch bears the same size as the original from 1972 at 39mm, gold screws and tapering lugs on the steel bracelet. But this time, the trademark pattern on the dial was created using a special antique machine that cuts the squares on the dial simultaneously resulting in the ‘ramolaye’ pattern. The watch houses the 2121 HKGOLFER.COM

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gallery

Epic and Everyday

Sculpture at Gagosian Gallery In a first for the Gagosian Gallery Hong Kong, a group exhibition focused exclusively on sculpture opened on 23 March. Featuring the work of a trio of post-war game changers, A mer ic a n s Joh n Cha mb erla i n , Rob er t Rauschenberg and Cy Twombly, as well as the irrepressible Austrian Franz West, an opening reception hosted by gallery director Nick Simunovic was held the night before.

The reception was followed by a private dinner at Café Grey Deluxe, which was attended by many well-known local collectors.

Guests included Hallam Chow, A ndrew Cohen, Samuel Chu, Robert and Sally Lo, Steve and Mina Martinez, Haewon Hwang and William Zhao.

The exhibition ran through 27 April.–CM

Gagosian Gallery

Franz West's Untitled (2011)

Stacey Morse, Samuel Chu, Robert Morse and Christopher Cheng

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Douglas Wurth and Hema Prakash

Arne Eggers and Esther Merino

Nadia Chan, Vivian Lam, Lois Lo and Anne Cheung

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At the end of a great day... ... a sublime experience

As Jim Murray said in his Whisky Bible, “…A whisky that gives you the will to live !” We chose this as our first release because we had never tasted a distilled spirit at once so old – and so young. Only a taste can tell you how splendid it really is. And when it’s finished (which is very soon, now) there may not be anything like it for a while; it took us many years to find these 1,348 bottles, and it will be a long search for its successor. Meanwhile, we suggest you have a look at our cognac 1950, 478 bottles of which have just been released.

lastdrop@hkgolfer.com; (852) 3590 4153 lastdropdistillers.com

gallery

 OPENINGS

Andreas Gursky

at Gagosian Gallery May 15 sees the eagerly anticipated opening of the Gagosian Gallery’s new show featuring Andreas Gursky. Interest, already high, will surely have been boosted by the world record price of US$4.3mm achieved for Gursky’s work “Rhein II” at Christies , New York last November. The price made this the most expensive photograph ever sold.

The exhibition combines Gursky’s most recent work with earlier works, in monumental large-scale formats as well as smaller formats, to show a comprehensive range and provide the

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context for a broader appreciation of his oeuvre by new audiences. Notably, the exhibition includes the Bangkok series of 2011, representing a bold new direction in his work, alongside some of his bestknown images such as the iconic 99 Cent II (2001) – previously the most expensive photograph ever sold at US$3.4m - and Pyong Yang IV (2007), as well as a selection of the first pictures he made as an artist, taken in Hong Kong in 1994.

From May 15-June 16

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ANDREAS GURSKY Bangkok I, 2011 Inkjet print 120 7/8 x 93 3/8 x 2 3/8 inches 307 x 237 x 6.2 cm Andreas Gursky, VG BILD-KUNST, Bonn.

Courtesy Gagoswwian Gallery

ANDREAS GURSKY 99 cent II, Dyptichon, 2001 Two chromogenic color prints mounted with Plexiglas in the artist’s frame 81 x 268 1/2 inches, overall 205.7 x 682 cm Edition of 6 Andreas Gursky, VG BILD-KUNST, Bonn.

Courtesy Gagosian Gallery

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final shot

Gary Player

The nine-time major champion, one of golf ’s true legends, talks flying, fitness and Kau Sai Chau You famously slept on the beach at St Andrews on your first Open Championship appearance in 1955 because you didn’t have enough money for a hotel room.

How much of that experience do you remember?

All of it, and I’ve been back to the spot too. I got off the train with about £200, which was my total life assets, and couldn’t get a room at the hotel for less than around £40, so I wasn’t going to spend that kind of money. I put on a sweater and my waterproofs and I slept in the sand. I slept well; it was a very positive experience. The next night I managed to find a hotel room for a lot less money, so I went there. But years later, when I was back in St Andrews, I went down and found the dune where I slept. They’re very good memories.

You’re reportedly one of the most travelled individuals of all time and commute from your homes in South Africa and America to all corners of the world. Have you worked out far you’ve flown in your career?

It’s true, I fly even more than airline pilots because they’re required to take a rest after each flight! I really love flying. I’m nearing 25 million kilometers, approximately.

Presumably flying has become easier over the years ...

Absolutely. In the old days, when I was playing, I travelled all over the world to compete. Flying for 40-plus hours from South Africa to the United States, stopping at places along the way, was a regular trip. And that was in the old Constellations, with my kids! Now it’s barely 16 hours – and it’s nonstop – but the seats are so much better. You have a seat that turns into a flat bed. Those would have been very useful during my career. These days, of course, the likes of Tiger Woods and Ernie Els get to tournaments on their Gulfstream jets. Plenty has changed. Having said that, while it’s certainly easier to travel these days, to hole a 15-foot putt to win a major is because of you, not because of the private jet.

AFP

You’ve achieved so much in the game but is there a single event that stands out for you?

It’s difficult to choose just one. Obviously the nine major wins were very special, as was the time when I completed the Grand Slam on the Champions Tour. That, for me, was a great accomplishment. To get them both is something I’m very proud of.

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Aside from your playing career, you’re known in Hong Kong as the man who designed the North and South courses at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau. Where does that particular project rank among the many hundreds that you’ve been involved in?

Very high. I’m very proud to have designed 36 holes at Kau Sai Chau. When I finished with it, I felt so gratified, like I really contributed to society knowing that it was something not only for the rich. It was something for everybody.

You could have perhaps left a bit more room on the 14th of the North Course, the par-three with the peninsula green ...

[Laughs] You like that one, yeah? Good, strong hole. Beautiful. Causes plenty of heartache, I’m sure.

Who has had the most influence on your life?

Many people influenced the way I approached my career and my life, but my family were the most significant. I have always admired the following five people: Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Gandhi, Mother Theresa and the Dali Lama.

As someone who has been extolling the virtues of fitness in golf you must be delighted to see the way the modern professional player has taken to the gym?

Absolutely. My playing success was largely down to my diet, my health and my fitness. You asked me about flying before – well, when I’m not sleeping on planes I do push-ups and sit-ups, often to the surprise of my fellow passengers!

But in all honestly, taking your health seriously is crucial. Staying in good physical shape is of paramount importance. The Chinese have a great diet ... my hope is that they don’t ignore it and take up Western-style food.

Finally, what do you most want to be remembered for?

For being a good father, a good husband and a good grandfather. For giving back to those in need. – As told to Alex Jenkins

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