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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION ISSUE 67
HKGOLFER.COM AUGUST 2012
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HK Golfer Issue 67
August 2012
26 On the Cover:
Ernie Els on his way to his fourth major championship title with victory at the Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes Photo by AFP
Features
Plus…
26 | The Agony and the Ecstasy
15 | Tee Time
Our Open Championship notebook captures the highlights from a memorable week at Royal Lytham & St Annes, which saw Ernie Els claim his fourth major following Adam Scott’s dramatic collapse By Lewine Mair
32 | Numbers Game A numerical look at how the Open Championship was won and lost By Alex Jenkins
AFP (Scott); Daniel Wong (Leung)
34 | Profile: Peter O’Neill
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Our watch editor revisits the making and evolution of a cultural icon, the Cartier Tank By Evan Rast
18 | Liquid Assets
A review of the wines of Greenock Creek, a favoured winer y of t he a l l-power f u l Robert Parker By Robin Lynam
20 | Single Malts
One of Shek O Country Club’s legendary characters talks to us about his love of golf By Alex Jenkins
Despite several misgivings, our whisky editor visits Loch Lomond and comes away (mostly) impressed By John Bruce
48 | Inside the Ropes
22 | Driving Range
A n i nter v ie w w it h Hon g Kon g-b a s e d gol f photographer Richard Castka, owner of the largest independent golf archive in Asia Interview by Alex Jenkins
A profile of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster, arguably the most exciting car in its class By Ben Oliver
54 | Caribbean Greens From Barbados to the Bahamas, we pick the top five resorts from this most alluring of golfing destinations By Andrew Marshall
For those investors out there, you might find that golf and investing share a lot of similar attributes By The Editors
70 | Final Shot: Paul McGinley
60| Check In
The resurgent Irishman talks to us about the importance of character in golf By The Editors
24 | Golf & Investment Academy
The Hotel de la Paix in Cha-Am makes a great base in which to explore the courses of Hua Hin By The Editors HKGOLFER.COM
HK Golfer
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION AUGUST 2012 • Issue 67
Editor: Alex Jenkins email: alex.jenkins@hkgolfer.com Editorial Assistant: Cindy Kwok Playing Editor: Jean Van de Velde Senior Editor: Roy Kinnear 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
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Local Focus
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Global Focus
14 Divots 38
Around the HKGA
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Junior News
42
Albert KW Lai Championship
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HKGA July Stableford
46
Local Scene
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Players to Watch: Jbe Kruger
66
Scottish Open
Paul Marshall
HK GOLFER is published by Times International Creation, 10A Lockhart Centre, 301-307 Lockhart Road, Hong Kong. HK GOLFER is published monthly © 2012 by Times International Creation. Published in Hong Kong. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. PRINTED IN HONG KONG. 6
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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
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HK Golfer Mailbag I Was Wrong I arrived in Hong Kong barely 18 months ago with some trepidation. My problem: I love golf. Leaving my previous home in Dubai (where I played at least three times a week) I was worried that Hong Kong, with its relative lack of courses, couldn’t possibly compare. Don’t get me wrong – I came for work; but around the world, Hong Kong is known for a) lacking any countryside to speak of and b) it’s ultra-exclusive golf courses. What a load of rubbish! OK, so I’m not fortunate enough yet to have membership anywhere, but I have joined a society and that gets me – through organized golf days as well as the extremely well-run Kai Sai Chau: HKGA events – fairly regular access to the an "awesome private clubs. Plus – and this is huge in my public facility" opinion – there’s the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau, which is a quite frankly awesome public facility. I might not be playing three times a week, but I cycle, hike course. Her points were very well made and I agree with them and, most importantly, golf. Hong Kong is a far more positive experience golf-wise than I ever hoped it would be. Oh, and 100 per cent. At the risk of sounding a lot older than I actually am, I would there’s a great golf magazine to complement it. I’m glad I took like to add one more: take off your hat when enjoying a pre- or the job! post-round meal in the clubhouse. My own golf club enforces J Robinson this – not on my instruction, I would add – but I very much Via email support this policy because to me this is basic good manners.
Where’s St Andrews? Thanks, as ever, for a very enjoyable read – I always look forward to HK Golfer landing in my letterbox. Indeed, the July issue – “The British Issue” – was on par with the best magazines you’ve ever produced, but that could be because I’m nationally biased. But I have a very serious question: where was St Andrews? Yes, I know you included a bit about the ‘Home of Golf’ in the property section, but I turned to your travel pages and the “Great British Courses” feature, and very little of the “Auld Grey Toon” was mentioned at all. Why? Surely, St Andrews ranks upon the very best places in the United Kingdom to play? Flying Scotsman Clearwater Bay Editor’s reply: Rest assured, FS, the brief inclusion of St Andrews in that particular feature was deliberate. The reason being is we’re putting together an all-encompassing piece on this most splendid of towns for the a future issue. As wonderful as the place is, we thought it best not to bombard our readers with all things St Andrews!
Caps Off Please
We should all wear hats when golfing in Hong Kong. The obvious dangers of the sun makes this a very real requirement. But I find it a shame that so many of us find it necessary to carry on wearing one in an indoor dining room. Golf is a traditional game – I think the majority of golfers understand and respect this – but there are some who seem to think that the tradition ends at the 18th hole and forget all about the clubhouse element. I’m sorry, but I cannot doff my own hat (outside, of course) to that. KS Chan New Territories Editor’s reply: I wholeheartedly agree with you, KS, but appreciate it’s a somewhat delicate issue in this day and age. I look forward to readers’ thoughts on the matter. 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 (which appears first on this page) will receive a bottle of Champagne Louis Roederer courtesy of Links Concept.
Graham Uden
I was gratified to read Fiona Donnelley’s letter in the last issue. In it she outlined various points to which any golfer worth their salt should adhere to in terms of etiquette on the golf
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Local Focus Chong’s Stout Defence Christy Chong hits her tee shot at the difficult par-three 8th hole during the Albert KW Lai Junior Championship, which was held over the New Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club in early July. Five-handicapper Chong, the defending champion, carded 25 stableford points, to finish solo fifth in the girls’ division of the 18-hole event, seven shots behind winner Li Kai Wing, who collected her first HKGA title. The tournament, now in its 10th year, is named after Albert Lai, who donated HK$1 million to local junior golf in 1995. For a full report on the tournament please turn to page 42. Photo by Daniel Wong
Global Focus Phil’s Wild Ride Phil Mickelson broke out of one of the worst slumps of his illustrious career by shooting a brilliant 64 during the second round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in mid-July. The American left-hander, who hadn’t broken par since May, couldn’t keep it up however, ending the tournament in a share of 16th place, five shots behind eventual champion Jeev Milkha Singh of India. Much worse was to come for the four-time major champion at Royal Lytham the following week. Rounds of 73 and 78 left him in a tie for 145th of the 156 starters. Photo by Charles McLaughlin
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Mission Hills Announces ‘Fantasy’ Course Ju st when you t hou g ht t he world’s biggest golf course developer couldn’t build any more, Mission Hills has announced that it will start construction this summer on a “fantasy golf course” at its resort on Hainan island. The company, which already has 12 courses at its Shenzhen/ Dongguan complex and another 10 near the Hainan capital of Haikou, has commissioned Schmidt-Curley Design, t he a rch itect s for t he majority of its layouts, to create what has been described as a “full-scale, mini-golf experience”. But whatever you call it – and the course, which is set to open in 2014, has yet to be named – it promises to be totally different to anything that has come before. Plans for the 18-hole course include a 400-yard tee-to-green reproduction of the Great Wall, a par-five that weaves through towering Mayan ruins and, perhaps most astonishing of all, an island-green par-three where the “lake” is a 90-yard-wide noodle bowl featuring gigantic chopsticks (pictured). Three of the holes, including “Noodle Bowl”, which is expected to play 130-yards from the back tee, are the handiwork of winners from a worldwide fantasy design contest held last year. “Unlike mini-golf on artificial grass, the fantasy course is played at full-scale with standard equipment on real turf,” says
Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design. “Other regulation courses frame holes with trees, bunkers and lakes; this course will incorporate many unique visuals while still requiring players to execute full shots and hole putts.” Mission Hills says that corporate sponsors are already lining up to be associated with the course. “The fantasy course will be a fun alternative for families, novices and children on holiday,” says Dr Ken Chu, Chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group. “Golf is typically a very conservative, tradition-filled game, yet there are many calls to make it more ‘fun’. We are taking this desire for change to the extreme, feeling many golfers will seek out this new adventure and, while here, play our other wonderful courses.”
Chapman Makes it Two Majors
Schmidt-Curley Design (Fantasy Course); AFP (Roger Chapman)
The unheralded Roger Chapman joined Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Hale Irwin as the only players to win the US Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship in the same year, thanks to a brilliant come-from-behind victory at Indianwood Country Club in Lake Orion, Michigan last month. Englishman Chapman, 53, whose career highlight before 2012 was a victory in Brazil 12 years ago, shot a four-underpar 66 to overtake third-round leader Bernhard Langer and win the US Senior Open by two strokes in mid-July. Just six weeks previously, Chapman, who describes himself as a European Tour journeyman, notched his senior major – and first tournament win in the US – at the Senior PGA. “It ’s a true honour,” said Chapman, who collected US$500,000 for the victory. “I’ve been playing well and doing what my coach has told me – but I can’t really explain it.” Former US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin, Chapman’s playing partner in the final round, was more succinct: “He’s always been a very solid player. [But] sometimes, people bloom a little later.” 14
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CLUBHOUSE Away from the Fairways TEE TIME
Right on Track
Actress Lucy Liu and her Cartier Tank Anglaise HKGOLFER.COM
Evan Rast revisits the making and evolution of an icon, the Cartier Tank CONTINUED OVERLEAF HK Golfer・AUG 2012
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The Tank Anglaise offers generous proportions for masculine wrists, with ample curves complementing the seamless integration of the lugs, case and bracelet.
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A noticeable feature of the Anglaise (top) is the blue sapphire winding crown, which is now integrated within the signature parallel brancards 16
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t takes a Herculean effort to elevate a design to an iconic status, but when one captures the imagination to such a degree that it is still relevant and appreciated 95 years after its creation, then that design is worth taking note of. Louis Cartier probably didn’t have such a grand plan in mind when he created the Tank in 1917. He simply wanted a watch that was sleek and forward-looking, a timepiece that would serve as a dashing replacement to the pocket watches that were still popular (though becoming inconvenient to carry around) at that time. Inspired by the Renault tanks used by the American Forces in the First World War, the watch is simultaneously rectangular and square. Cartier archives reveal a top-view diagram of a tank, with its caterpillar tracks drawn next to a similarly rectangular watch case that had a seamless integration of lugs and the case as an extension of the strap. The first prototype was reportedly presented at peacetime to General
John Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe. First sold in 1919 as the Tank Normale, the watch’s simplicity in design automatically garnered universal appeal. Apart from the integrated case, lugs and strap, key to the design were the brancards, or vertical bars on the sides of the case, Roman numeral hour markers, and the chemin-de-fer (railway track) design on the square dial. Since then, about 16 different versions of the Tank have been released, all with Louis Cartier’s design ethos in mind. The key elements of the watch remain the same, proving a timeless appeal that has stretched decades. The Tank has for much of its history been deemed a rare watch, with Cartier limiting production during the first 50 years, but it continued to grace the wrists of cultural icons, from Clark Gable to Muhammed Ali. Duke Ellington, Rudolph Valentino and Cesar are just a few of the other well-known Tank owners. Throw in the French couturiers, Pierre Balmain, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, and Yves Saint Laurent, and it’s no surprise that the watch has become one of the most recognised status symbols of the 21st century. Artist Andy Warhol, an avid Tank collector, once admitted, “I don’t wear a Tank to tell the time. In fact, I never wind it. I wear it because it’s the watch to wear.” It ’s fundamentally androgynous, too. Elizabeth Taylor had one, as well as Jackie Kennedy- Onassis and the late Princess Diana. Michelle Obama even posed for a White House portrait wearing her stainless steel Tank Française. Launched in 1996, the Tank Française would go on to become Cartier’s bestseller and perhaps the most recognised Tank of our generation. But this year the maison has released a possible challenger: the Tank Anglaise.
All Hail the Anglaise Something of a hybrid between the Tank Française and Ballon Bleu, this perfectly natural progression after the Tank Américaine and Tank Française comes in a sleek, contemporary silhouette, but features the same classical elements as the original. The Tank Anglaise offers generous proportions for masculine wrists, with ample curves complementing the seamless integration of the lugs, case and bracelet. Blue-steeled sword-shaped hands, the cheminde-fer ring and Roman numerals complete the dial. A noticeable feature is the blue sapphire winding crown, which is now integrated within the signature parallel brancards. Cartier calls this CONTINUED ON PAGE 64 HKGOLFER.COM
LIQUID ASSETS
A Matter of Taste Robin Lynam reviews the wines of Greenock Creek, a favoured winery of the all-powerful Robert Parker
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The expression “It’s a matter of taste” usually means “This issue the wines are known as powerful expressions is subjective and there is room for different opinions”. of Barossa terroir, sometimes reaching alcohol This is not always so in the world of wine. Matters of levels of 18 per cent. That’s stronger than some taste often provide the basis for long running bitter feuds, Australian ports, and only two per cent weaker particularly when the taste being questioned happens to be that than most Portuguese ones. of The Wine Advocate’s Robert Parker. There are only 45 acres of vines, and yields In 2005 matters came to a head between Parker and the redoubtable James are low. The winery produces only around 2,500 Halliday, a well regarded winemaker himself, but more importantly the doyen of cases per year. Australian wine writers. His Australian Wine Companion, published annually, It used to be said of a Parker score that if the is regarded by many of his countrymen, and by wine lovers overseas, as the most wine rated below 80 it couldn’t be sold, and if authoritative guide to the wines of the country. it scored above 90 nobody could afford to buy Addressing the Wine Press Club of New South Wales, Halliday compared the it. That’s no longer quite true, but a high Parker findings of Australia’s wine show score will still drive up the price judges with the scores awarded considerably. Parker likes Greenock Parker likes big powerful reds by Parker to what he described as Creek a lot, and their limited and so long as he continues to “monstrous red wines”, meaning production keeps the prices high at award points to them in the 95 vintages high in alcohol. auction. to 100 range, they will continue The gist of his argument was that The 2006 Alices Shiraz just to command hefty prices – Australia should be moving towards makes it over the 90 barrier at 91+ wines with what he considered a but the 2003 got 97 points and the particularly if they come from higher degree of finesse. estates able to make only a small 2004 made 98. Pa r k e r, n o t s u r p r i s i n g l y, The Wine Advocate recommends number of cases per year. disagreed, accusing Halliday and laying it down until 2015, but those who shared his opinions if you decant some hours before of turning “their backs and palates on the true glories of Australia,” and the trying it opens up tremendously and can be winemakers Halliday champions of making “vapid, innocuous and no better enjoyed now. Decanting is necessary but it’s well than very minor wines”. worth the wait. Generous berry fruit and sound The wines of the southern hemisphere have always tended to pack more of tannic structure are very apparent and, at 17 per a punch than those of the north but many “New World” winemakers are now cent ABV, this is certainly a vintage that port working to reduce their alcoholic content. drinker’s will love. Parker, however, remains unrepentant. He likes big powerful reds, with, as HK Golfer is offering a selection of Greenock he elegantly puts it, “gobs of fruit”, and so long as he continues to award points Creek wines of impeccable provenance for sale to them in the 95 to 100 range, they will continue to command hefty prices from the company cellar, including the ultra – particularly if they come from estates able to make only a small number of rare 2001 Roennfeldt Road and 2004 Creek cases per year. Block Shiraz, both of which Parker awarded Parker has a number of consistent favourites, and three of them are from the 99+. They are listed opposite with their Wine Barossa Valley – Torbreck, Chris Ringland and Greenock Creek. Advocate or Parker scores. Thanks to some prescient buying on the part of HK Golfer’s Cellar Master, we “If I had to select the number one Australian had some Greenock Creek available to taste, and a decision was taken to sample a winery, it would be hard not to choose the little of the 2006 Alices Shiraz. Greenock Creek Winery, run by the humble, shy Greenock Creek is a winery in the Seppeltsfield area of South Australia’s Michael and Annabelle Waugh. The quality that Barossa Valley, and was established as a boutique winery in 1978, initially emerges from this estate is extraordinary. In short, producing Shiraz and Chardonnay. Winemaker and owner Michael Waugh now these are thrilling, world-class wines that are about focuses exclusively on reds – Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache – and as compelling as wine can be,” says Parker. 18
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Greenock Creek Winery
The Open... "If I had to select the number one Australian winery, it would be hard not to choose the Greenock Creek Winery... the quality that emerges from this estate is extraordinary." - Robert Parker
Exclusive HK Golfer Offer* Email: wine@hkgolfer.com or call on: (852) 3590 4153 Please quote code: GreenockHKG 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (WA 94) HK$400 2001 Alices Shiraz (RP 98) HK$900 2004 Alices Shiraz (WA 98) HK$500 SOLD OUT 2006 Alices Shiraz (WA 91+) HK$500 2006 Apricot Block Shiraz (WA 91+) HK$500 2006 Seven Acre Shiraz (RP 93) HK$550 2004 Creek Block Shiraz (RP 99) HK$1,450 2001 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz (WA 99) HK3,000
...and pour *Subject unsold. Terms & Conditions apply
Single Malts
Bonnie, Bonnie Banks Despite several misgivings, John Bruce samples Loch Lomond and comes away (mostly) impressed
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he above is not a headline that has been seen much in recent times, particularly in a financial centre like Hong Kong. Unfortunately for Diamond, Dimon, Goodwin and their ilk this does not represent a seismic shift in public perception but rather the reality that last month I attended a wedding at The Cruin Inn on the banks of Loch Lomond, and it was indeed a bonnie setting with the first sunshine for many weeks, a gorgeous bride and free miniatures of single malt to along with the wedding supper. I thought that my good friend Gillian’s nuptials would also provide me with the opportunity to visit the nearby Loch Lomond Distillery but slightly more efficient research would have informed me that it is one of the few distilleries in Scotland that doesn’t put on tours for the public. I had to satisfy myself with a wee drive around the building and a couple of purchases in the adjacent shop. No matter – and the distillery’s website provides this wonderfully apposite quote: “Whisky is a mystery, a magic of locality. The foreigner may import not only Scottish barley, but Scottish water, Scottish distilling apparatus and set a Scot to work on them, but the glory evaporates; it will not travel.” It is a commonly held view that the location, be it Island, Speyside, Highlands or Lowlands can be tasted in the final product. Anyone who samples an Islay malt will know that this is indeed true as the combination of ocean salt and strong peat produces something that is similar to a Highland malt in the way that both blackcurrants and oranges can be called fruits. I confess that I had not sampled a Loch Lomond single malt whisky before and I must also admit that I harboured a somewhat snobby idea that this was not a real malt and was a bit of a “tartan souvenir”. I do however recognize this failing in myself and counter it with the memory of the proprietor of an upmarket off licence in Scotland where I used to work over the Christmas holidays. This job was revelatory to a young adult. One thing it taught me was which doctors not to consult in the town as at least a couple of them bought two bottles of whisky per night. The second thing was the power of branding. Customers would come in and ask for brandy and he would show them the various Cognacs, even the newly established Armagnac which was making major inroads into the market. However, when the customer pointed at another brand he would state that is only a “mixing brandy” as if it was just slightly preferable to paraquat as an after dinner tipple. Being a student of modest means I always noticed that this poor relation cost more 20
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than my favourite brand of blended whisky which the same man lauded as absolute nectar. Since then I have tried – not always successfully – to avoid being influenced by the great marketing machine. The Loch Lomond Distillery itself is rare in that it is family owned, and represents a fine piece of successful vertical integration on the part of the Bulloch family who started as wholesalers and bottlers in the 19th century and progressed through many incarnations to be the company which purchased Loch Lomond distillery in 1985 to secure adequate supplies of malt whisky for their operations. The company also produces single grain and blended whiskies – and this worried me, as I believe all the great distilleries are single-minded in their pursuit of excellence. Misgivings in mind I sampled two of the expressions released by the distillery. The first appealed because of its name – Inchmurrin Single Malt. Inchmurrin is a privately owned island in the middle of the loch whose owner, an old school Scot named Tom Scott, died earlier this year. This 12-year-old expression is lightly coloured, with a slightly citrus nose. A very fine example, it became quite rich in the mouth and the finish was as sweet as any Highland malt that I have recently sampled. I preferred it neat and in small measures. It was, I’m pleased to say, far from being a feared “tartan souvenir” whisky. The second expression was an 18-year-old Loch Lomond single malt and this was also highly enjoyable – certainly enjoyable enough to convince me that I was wrong in my initial assessment of the distillery. Despite this, however, and to show that my snobbery was not completely unfounded, I cannot recommend Ginger Tam’s, a herb and ginger-infused whisky liqueur that I purchased from the same store. This, quite frankly, was liquid proof that a fool and his money are easily parted. HKGOLFER.COM
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
DRIVING RANGE
Road Thrill Ben Oliver profiles the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster, arguably the most exciting car in its class
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onventional sports-car wisdom says that those buyers who really know how to drive will always buy the fixed-roof version of a new sports- or supercar, whereas those more interested in a little light boulevard cruising, and being clearly visible to those they drive past, will pick the convertible. It’s true that chopping the roof off any car reduces its torsional rigidity, which in turn makes the steering less precise and can cause a nasty judder through the body, especially when you’re driving ‘enthusiastically’. But this has always caused a dilemma for those of us who like open cars – convertibles, cabriolets, roadsters or spiders, call them what you will – for their ability to magnify speed by exposing you to the elements, and for the link they make to some of the great open-topped road and race cars of the past. But occasionally a car comes along on which even the most hardcore driving enthusiasts agree that the open version could be the one to have. The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster is one such car. In theory, you’re giving up more by picking the Roadster version of the SLS than with most sports cars, as the SLS Coupe comes with an extraordinary pair of gullwing doors that both provide terrific kerbside theatre and make reference to the iconic gullwing Mercs of the 1950s. Plainly, these can’t be incorporated into a car with a folding fabric roof. On balance, however, the Roadster is probably the more exciting car. There is almost no degradation in its handling: I was recently able to test both side-
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by-side at Lord March’s very fast Goodwood race track in Sussex, England. Even driven at their limits, coupe and roadster were hard to separate on handling, the open car getting so close to its closed sibling’s stiffness as to make little difference. But with the Roadster’s roof down, you get to enjoy the full, thunderous blast of the mighty 571-hp, 6.2-litre V8 engine by Mercedes’ inhouse tuning division AMG. The SLS simply sounds magnificent, but in the Coupe, those boulevard onlookers get to enjoy more of the soundtrack than you do. Almost all who are lucky enough to have driven both agree that the noise outweighs the loss of those doors, and makes the Roadster the one to pick. Not that the Roadster is in any way uncouth. You can enter and exit the cabin far more elegantly with the roof down than in the Coupe with its wide door sills. There’s little wind buffeting, even at very high speed, and the fierce HKGOLFER.COM
heated seats and ‘airscarf’ system that directs warm air through a vent in the seat directly to the back of your neck means you can keep the roof down even when the temperature is down too. And the engine note is only loud when you want it to be. At a cruise, it is remarkably civilized; so much so that when I turned to ask my wife what she thought of the Roadster as we made our home in one after a lunch date, I found she’d nodded off. There aren’t many opentopped supercars in which that will happen.
Special soundtrack: With the Roadster's roof down, you get to enjoy the full, thunderous blast of the mighty 571-hp, 6.2-litre V8 engine by Mercedes' inhouse tuning division AMG
SCORECARD How much? HK$3,468,000 Engine: 6208cc V8 Transmission: 7-speed sequential with auto mode Performance: 3.8sec 0-100kph, 317mph How heavy? 1,735kg
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Golf & Investment
Academy
For those investors out there, you might find golf and investing share a lot of similar attributes. Both require careful planning, patience, and discipline, to site a few examples. Charles Schwab, Hong Kong, Ltd., a financial services firm serving investors in Asia, certainly believes so. #3
Revisit the Plan
Schwab Investing Tip
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n the last issue we discussed the importance of formulating an investment plan. But it’s just as important to know that you’ll need to revisit that plan from time to time. So how often and when should you do that? There will be occasions in your life or dramatic changes which will affect your risk tolerance, for example. But in addition, you need to revisit your plan to rebalance your portfolio. And you want to do that on a disciplined frequency – at least once a year. It’s important to rebalance because over time your portfolio can shift. If the stock market really takes off, your portfolio could potentially take on a little more risk than you originally planned. And vice versa, if bond markets are doing well, you can have a little less risk in your portfolio, and therefore less expected return. Rebalancing is important to achieve your desired risk level. Disciplined frequency is critical because many investors tend to react to whatever has happened in the recent past. That can be dangerous and you want to avoid that approach. Instead, you want to rebalance on a disciplined frequency irrespective of what’s going on in the marketplace. Bottom line: when it comes to rebalancing, disciplined frequency is the key.
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"It's important to rebalance because over time your portfolio can shift. If the stock market really takes off, you could potentially take on a little more risk than you originally planned."
HKGOLFER.COM
Haney Golf Tip The same applies in golf. Knowing when to revisit or change your plan is extremely important. The game of every golfer changes over time. For instance, as you age you become less flexible, and you might get a little slower. What was once a strength might have become a weakness. At these moments of change, you need to look at each part of your game and reevaluate your situation. If you’re going to be the best player you can be, you also need to have consistency through your game. The crucial part is being able to diagnose your own game, to see which parts
need to be improved. This is where a professional can help you. Knowing when to make changes and knowing what aspects to work on - that’s the real art of teaching.
For more on the connection between golf and investing, visit: schwab.com.hk/golf
"If you're going to be the best player you can be, you need to have consistency ... the crucial part is being able to diagnose your own game."
First Tee Jitters I’m sure many readers have experienced first tee jitters. Even the pros, particularly at a big tournament like a major championship, can feel nervous. So how do you combat that anxiety? You have to stick to your routine. My routine is like that of many pros. I start from behind the golf ball and visualize the shot that I want to play. I pick out an intermediate target, line my club up and take a couple of waggles to help free any tension in my body. Then, before I pull the trigger, I think about what I’m trying to do in my golf swing. Whenever you get those first tee jitters make sure you stick to your routine; you’ll have a far greater chance of hitting a good shot.
Hank Haney is a PGA Teaching Pro and a Charles Schwab client in the US HKGOLFER.COM
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open review
The
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Agony and the Ecstasy 26
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Champion Golfer of the Year Ernie Els consoles close friend Adam Scott following the latter's final-round meltdown at Lytham
Lewine Mair’s Open Championship notebook captures the highlights from a memorable week at Royal Lytham & St Annes, which saw Ernie Els claim his fourth major following Adam Scott’s dramatic collapse
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or most of the last afternoon at Lytham, people were saying that this was a dull Open. Adam Scott, who had started out at 11-under-par and a four-shot lead, was plotting his way carefully round the course and there were no fireworks from anyone behind. All that, of course, changed over the last five holes. The dull Open became a thriller as Ernie Els, though he had reached the turn in the same 36 as Scott and was still six behind, came home in a fourunder-par 32.
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There was a particularly telling revelation from Els in his post-Open press conference. In talking of his 10-year-old son, Ben, who has autism, he said that it was only in the last few years that he had sorted himself out “mentally and emotionally” with regard to the situation: “I’m in a better place than I was.” Els and his wife, Liezl, have raised some US$10 million for the Els For Autism Foundation and are shortly to open a centre for autistic children in Florida. The winner’s thoughts had turned to Ben during the last round. “I made a lot of putts with Ben in mind. He likes the flight of the ball and the sound of it. He gets excited when I make putts and I wanted to make him really excited.”
In talking of his 10-year-old son, Ben, who has autism, Els said that it was only in the last few years that he had sorted himself out “mentally and emotionally” with regard to the situation: “I’m in a better place than I was.”
AFP
Scott (top) can't fail to hide his disappointment after making his fourth consecutive bogey to end his round and lose the championship; India's Arniban Lahiri had an Open debut to remember – a made cut and a thirdround hole-in-one 28
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Scott, in turn, saw his chance of winning evaporate as he followed a birdie at the 14th – the one which everyone thought would seal his victory – before dropping a shot at each of the last four holes – arguably the toughest finish on the Open rota – to end one stroke adrift. How everyone felt for him – and all the more in that he took his fate so well. There was an explanation. Back in 1996, he had had tears streaming down his face as he watched Greg Norman falling apart and losing out to Nick Faldo on the last day of the Masters. “Greg was my great hero,” said Scott. “He was a great role model, not least in the way he handled himself as well in defeat as in victory. He set a good example to us all.”
Mike Kerr, who is four months into his role as the CEO of the Asian Tour, was understandably proud at having 12 members of the Asian Tour in the field. In his latest book, Colin Montgomerie has suggested there could be as many as six Asian winners of majors between now and 2020. Kerr nodded at that. He believes the figure is entirely achievable. “Where the European Tour and the USPGA Tour have it over us,” he volunteered, “is in their long-established history and the fact that they currently have of 50 out of the top 50 players in the world. “That, though, is going to change ... just look at how Thongchai Jaidee won this year’s Wales Open and Jeev Milkha Singh captured the Scottish Open a week ago. “Things aren’t going to happen overnight, but the Asian Tour is the fastest-growing tour of them all. At the moment, the growth-rate is 20 per cent per year and, with the economy as it is in our part of the world, things should remain the same for a few years yet.” Kerr knows that his players, like those in Europe, will continue to head for the PGA Tour when they are winning on a regular basis at home. However, somewhere in the not-toodistant-future, he has this sneaking suspicion that talent drain might happen the other way. Wisely, Ker treasures the glorious multinational mix in his organisation. Not just because of how useful it is in the commercial sense, but because of the degree to which it adds to the tour’s rich tapestry, He gives the perfect illustration of the latter. There is an Indian professional by name of Sujjan Singh who wears in a turban. Kerr has begged him never to be tempted to switch to the ubiquitous cap. He wants him to be known all over the world as the golfer who plays in a turban. HKGOLFER.COM
On Friday night, Kerr was celebrating a first as two Indians – Jeev Milkha Singh and Anirban Lahiri – made the cut in an Open for the first time. Lahiri, 25, drew further attention to himself on Saturday with a brilliant holein-one at the ninth.
On the day he returned his trophy to the R&A, Clarke had said a rueful, “Now that I’ve handed it back, maybe I’ll start to play like I can play again.” HKGOLFER.COM
All year, he had been putting too much pressure on himself, with Pete Cowen, his loyal coach, explaining that he had tried to play each week like the Open champion “instead of being himself”. Clarke acknowledged as much. However, at the back of his mind, he was hoping against hope that once the gun went at Lytham, the support of his fans and the sweep of a linksland wind against his face would whip up the magic of 2011. The fans were there in force but the player’s greatest ally – the wind – was mild in the extreme on the first couple of days and doing nothing to help the Ulsterman stand out from the rest. He was three-over after three on the Thursday and, though there was an outward half of 33 on the Friday to remind him that he could play a bit, he missed the cut at seven-over. The reception he got on the home green could not have been more heartfelt. He smiled, but it was not the smile of a year ago. You could see him thinking of what might have been. “Legends make things happen,” said the award-winning Getty Images photographer, Ross Kinnaird, after he had watched first Tiger Woods and then Tom Watson finishing at the 18th on Friday night. Woods, after miscuing with his second, had just holed out from a greenside bunker to be six-under par and just four shots off the lead. As for Watson, who was in the group behind, he took three putts at the 17th to slip to four-over-par before holing from all of 20 feet on the home green to put things to rights. HK Golfer・AUG 2012
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There are Opens which get off on the right foot but this was not one of them. The 2012 edition started amid a welter of rain-lashed wind, mud, dark skies – and complaints. The bunkers were wet and heavy, while the rough was thick and lush and a haven for escaping balls. Heaven knows how many players – they included World No 1 Luke Donald – had to take penalty drops during the championship when they had strayed only inches from the semi-rough. Away from the players, the public were similarly of sorts at the prices they had to pay for their food. Peter Alliss, of BBC commentary fame, had so many complaints coming his way that, on Saturday, he mentioned the problem on air. The R&A, he said, did so much so well that it was a pity they should get the food pricing so badly wrong. For this correspondent, the first shaft of light amid the uneasy beginnings came that evening. The sun came out and, as spectators were heading for home, so Darren Clarke was standing in the garden of his management team ISM’s house which was virtually opposite the clubhouse. He and his manager, Chubby Chandler, were due at a sponsor’s function and were waiting for their chauffeur to pull up at the gate. As they waited, people stopped and stared and, before too long, they were making bold to ask Clarke if they could have their picture taken with him. The defending champion could not have been more obliging. One by one, he invited them into the garden where they would get a better backcloth for their photo. Even at that point, their week was made.
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The old champion was there for the weekend, though there were moments on Saturday and Sunday when you had to suspect that he was half wishing he was sitting in his hotel with his feet up. He had the Senior Open at Turnberry ahead.
Curing the slow play problem seems likely to be a slow process even if, over Open week, Brandt Snedeker showed the way to go. This American plays at a rate of knots and when, in his Friday 64, there was a row going on at the 18th as spectators yelled at marshals who were in their way, he simply hit through the hullaballoo.
Curing the slow play problem seems likely to be a slow process even if, over Open week, Brandt Snedeker showed the way to go. This American plays at a rate of knots and when, in his Friday 64, there was a row going on at the 18th as spectators yelled at marshals who were in their way, he simply hit through the hullaballoo. To five feet, as it happened. On the eve of the championship, Jim McArthur, Chairman of the R&A’s Championship Committee, said, “Though we will be taking conditions into account, we have a pace of play policy which we intend to apply stringently. “We give each group a time schedule for each hole and we monitor that all the time. If a group is out of position or over the time schedule, we start with words of encouragement and, if they don’t respond to those, we put them on the clock. A second bad time would precipitate a onestroke penalty.” Three groups were on the clock on the first day, with one player the concerned recipient off a first ‘bad time’. The trio of Brad Kennedy, Mardan Mamat and Steve Tiley were among those on the clock as they visited a total of 14 bunkers. Steve Mason, the green-keeper doing the
AFP (Clarke/Snedeker/Woods); Charles McLaughlin (McDowell)
Clockwise from top: Darren Clarke failed to find the form that won him the Open one year before at Royal St George's; Brandt Snedeker, who opened with brilliant rounds of 66 and 64, was singled out for his fast play; Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, faded on the final day at Lytham; Tiger Woods looked to be in imperious form, but a final round 73 dented his hopes of a fourth Claret Jug 30
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bunker-raking for the party, must have been tempted to call for reinforcements on the two occasions where all three players were in greenside traps on the same hole. At the first, he was to be seen hurrying from one bunker to the next in a bid to clear up the mess while the next group waited to play from the tee. The aforementioned McArthur said that they were having to get tougher because of the effect slow play is having on the club game. “It’s killing club membership because of the time it takes to play,” said the official. Rory McIlroy, who had a miserable final three rounds after getting off to a bright start, had a different take on the situation. After a slow Thursday round, he said that he was more concerned about spectators. “They don’t want to look at the golfers standing around. They want to see players hitting shots and they want to see a flow to the game.” Gary Player piled in at the weekend. Only half in jest, he declared that the kind of fivehour rounds which were becoming the norm for club golfers were contributing to the rise in divorce figures. Player, who won the third of his three Opens at Lytham in 1974, also spoke out against USGA and R&A policy when he said that officialdom should stop pretending that professionals and amateurs are playing the same game. He says they are poles apart – and that he wants the professionals to use a different ball, one which goes 50 yards shorter. To him, it is absolute madness that people all over the world are lengthening their courses in a bid to turn them into championship venues. “Most of the time, it’s never going to happen,” he said. “More often than not, members hate playing on them and, when it comes to having to pay levies because of the price of the changes, they resign.” No more was Player happy with mix of tightening and lengthening which has been happening at Open venues. He had asked some 50 members of the public to tell him how they were enjoying the golf at Lytham, and most had replied that they did not like seeing the professionals hitting irons off the tees. “They come to the Open to watch the players whack their drivers,” said this winner of nine majors. It seems he did not go into how these people might feel were the professionals to be stripped of 50 yards. However, since the stars would still be hitting further than them, you would have to assume that they could handle the adjustment. There was one line from Player which might just have officialdom wondering if he is right. Namely, that in 30 years’ time, the longer hitters of the day will be able to drive nine of the greens at St Andrews. HKGOLFER.COM
2012 Open Championship Results 1
Ernie Els
RSA
67 70 68 68
2
Adam Scott
AUS
3= Brandt Snedeker
USA
Tiger Woods
5= Luke Donald
273
€1,136,880
64 67 68 75
274
€656,864
66 64 73 74
277
€375,802
USA
67 67 70 73
277
€375,802
ENG
70 68 71 69
278
€246,324
Graeme McDowell
NIR
67 69 67 75
278
€246,324
7=
Thomas Aiken
RSA
68 68 71 72
279
€180,006
Nicolas Colsaerts
BEL
65 77 72 65
279
€180,006
9= Mark Calcavecchia
USA
71 68 69 72
280
€100,551
Miguel Angel Jiménez
ESP
71 69 73 67
280
€100,551
Dustin Johnson
USA
73 68 68 71
280
€100,551
Zach Johnson
USA
65 74 66 75
280
€100,551
Matt Kuchar
USA
69 67 72 72
280
€100,551
Alexander Noren
SWE
71 71 69 69
280
€100,551
Geoff Ogilvy
AUS
72 68 73 67
280
€100,551
Thorbjørn Olesen
DEN
69 66 71 74
280
€100,551
Ian Poulter
ENG
71 69 73 67
280
€100,551
Vijay Singh
FIJ
70 72 68 70
280
€100,551
19= Steve Alker
NZL
69 69 72 71
281
€64,107
Bill Haas
USA
71 68 68 74
281
€64,107
Hunter Mahan
USA
70 71 70 70
281
€64,107
Louis Oosthuizen
RSA
72 68 68 73
281
€64,107
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The Open in Review 2
The 2012 edition of the Open was the second year in a row that the championship was played in England (following Royal St George’s last year), which is the first time in tournament history that this has happened. Of the 141 championships contested to date, 92 have taken place in Scotland, 48 in England and one in Northern Ireland (Royal Portrush in 1951).
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Although golfers from the United Kingdom now occupy four of the top 10 spots in the world rankings, it has been this many years since a “home” player won the Open Championship. Scotland’s Paul Lawrie was the last to achieve the feat when he came through a play-off to claim the Claret Jug at Carnoustie in 1999.
With his victory, Ernie Els became the 16th different player in a row to win a major. The big South African now has four grand slam events to his name, following victories at the 1994 and 1997 US Opens and the 2002 Open Championship. Runner-up Scott, Miguel Ángel Jiménez (tied ninth) and Troy Matteson (tied 39th) made this many birdies during the week, which was more than any other player. By contrast, English players Richard Finch and Ian Keenan, who both missed the cut, made none.
AFP
The number of bogeys made by Adam Scott – including four in a row to end – over the course of the final round. The talented Australian, who is still without a major championship to his name, made only four bogeys over the first three days.
7.80
T he cost, in pounds sterling, to spectators for a plate of fish and chips during the Open. That amount, which equates to approximately HK$95, was decried by legendary commentator Peter Alliss as “borderline disgraceful”.
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The age difference, in years, between Tom Watson, the oldest competitor at the Open and Ryo Ishikawa, who was the youngest. Fivetime Open champion Watson, who turns 63 in September, made the cut, while 20-year-old Ishikawa missed out on the weekend action.
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Of the field of 156 competitors, 43, including Els and Scott, used a longer-than-standard putter. Els was among 16 players to wield a belly putter, while Scott was one of 27 using a long one.
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Rory McIlroy, the reigning Hong Kong Open champion and one of the pre-event favourites, finished in 60th place to continue his m e d i o c r e s h o w i n g i n m a j o r s s i n ce capturing the 2011 US Open. His best result since that victory at Congressional was a tie for 25th at last year’s Open at Sandwich.
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The Northern Irishman slipped to No 3 in the world rankings, losing second spot to Tiger Woods, who finished the Open in a tie for third.
79.2
While Els’ putting over the final nine holes at the Open was rightly applauded, it was actually his tee-to-green play that earned him the championship. Els found nearly 80 per cent of the greens in regulation, which was four per cent more than Luke Donald, the runner-up in this particular category.
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T here are this many bunkers at Royal Lytham & St Annes, making it one of the most heavily guarded of all the courses on the Open Championship rota. Twenty of these are to be found on the par-four 17th, which perhaps not surprisingly played as one of the most difficult during the week.
598
The length, in yards, that the par-five 11th played during the week of the Open, making it the longest hole at Lytham. The shortest was the par-three 9th, which measured 165 yards.
Clockwise from top: Tom Watson, at the age of 62, made the cut; a few of the 206 bunkers at Lytham; fish and chips made the news; Miguel Ángel Jiménez made as many birdies as anyone; Ernie Els became the 16th different major winner in a row; Rory McIlroy disappointed yet again on the major stage; Adam Scott's seven final-day bogeys was three more than he had made during the first three rounds; Paul Lawrie remains the last player from the United Kingdom to win the Open HK Golfer・AUG 2012
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profile
Aficionado
The
Alex Jenkins talks to Peter O’Neill, Shek O member, entrepreneur and all-round gentleman
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eter O’Neill is one of Hong Kong golf's truly great characters. He from running trading operations, factories and pharmaceutical companies – he’s far more may not be the most famous golfer that the city has ever produced interested in talking about the game he took up but his story is right up there with the best of them. Connecticut-born O’Neill, now in his eighties, arrived in as a youngster in New England. “From the age of nine through 15 I was a Hong Kong via a whole stream of countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Ireland and Vietnam, in 1966 and has since caddie,” he says matter-of-factly. “That’s how I got into golf. You have to remember that in the become one of the most revered members at Shek O Country Club, which he joined that same year. Talk to the club’s membership today and you get a very late thirties and early forties, everyone had a job, clear idea of how highly he is thought of. “There is nobody like O’Neill,” one regardless of age – we were recovering from The member told me over lunch at the Hong Kong Club. “He’s charismatic – a great Depression. I worked at a place four miles from golfer in his time, yes – but he’s much more than that. He has it all. A gentleman, my home, the Wee Burn Country Club, a posh an entrepreneur ... he’s one of the most interesting people you could ever wish to club. We had a couple of pros there, including Jimmy Demaret [the three-time Masters meet.” More than a little intrigued, I bordered the ghastly TurboJet to Macau, champion]. He dressed like a millionaire; he was a movie star. But the pros didn’t where O’Neill now resides. With the Shek O make any real money in those days member’s endorsement ringing in my ears – not “Never let go of your and we caddies were tipped at less to mention the fact that the mysterious O’Neill than minimum.” has won numerous club events in recent years by golf – because nothing Then, following Pearl Harbour, beating his age – I was genuinely excited to meet gives you as much America became involved in the him. Interviewing internationally-recognised socially, physically international conflict. professional golfers for a living is all well and or mentally as this “I had a wonderful war,” says good, but I know from experience, they don’t game. There is nothing O’Neill with a smile, “I can truly always make the best copy. This O’Neill character, more pleasurable.” say that.” I thought, might be worth a yarn. Aged 18, O ‘Neill was trained as a We’ve arranged to meet in the Clube de Militar, a colonial-era establishment in the centre of town, where O’Neill is a member. I arrive tail-gunner on the B-24, a four-engine bomber, early and faff around checking my email in the bar, when all of a sudden I sense a and flew sorties over Europe during the height of the action. figure behind me. “You have to put these things into context,” “You must be Alex,” booms an American voice.” Let’s go inside to eat – he says. “When you’re that young you have no I’m hungry.” O’Neill cuts an impressive figure. Tall, and decked out in a smart fear of death, it doesn’t mean anything to you. shirt and jaunty yellow and blue blazer, he guides me to our table They took me all over America, for my training, and then Europe. I was in the Pacific. I ended for lunch. “I love this place,” he says, wafting his hand in the air for attention from a up in Japan after they signed the peace treaty. But it was the time spent in England, as passing waiter. “The buffet is great.” O’Neill is extremely good-humoured and puts me immediately at ease. an American officer, which he remembers Despite the kind things that his fellow Shek O members had said to me, I had most fondly. “Golf was a part of my military career, the slight worry that he might be a little stand-offish. Far from it. “So you like Clarke, eh?” O’Neill says in reference to my small talk about no question,” says O’Neill. I got to play Darren, the 2011 Open champion. “I like him too. I’m surprised he hasn’t got Royal Birkdale, which I really loved. It was a a career in Hollywood – with that smile and his stories. I watched him win the fascinating place and I was really into the history of the Open. They were really good times, and Open – I was just hoping he wouldn’t mess up at the end. Seems like a great guy.” The thing you quickly grasp from talking to O’Neill is his love of golf. of course when Birkdale hosts the championship Despite his success – and over the years, O’Neill has had a great deal of success I always love watching it.”
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O’Neill with trademark cigar, Shek O Country Club
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Super senior: O'Neill, seen here with good friend and fellow Shek O member Mike Rasborn, has won numerous events by beating his age On his return to the States, O’Neill enrolled in a business degree at Northwestern University [which current World No 1 Luke Donald attended], near Chicago, where golf continued to play a large part of his life. “I got down to about a three-handicap but really, I wasn’t one of the better players there,” he remembers. “It was a lot of fun and my room-mate was the golf captain. I somehow got onto the team,” he chuckles. One golfing escapade lives long in the memory, however. On an overland journey with his fellow teammates returning from a trip to Florida in 1948, O’Neill remarked that the group were only 30 miles from Augusta National Golf Club, which at the time was in its second decade of hosting the Masters Tournament. “We were driving back to Chicago and I was the navigator,” he says, his trademark cigar now in hand. “I suggested we should try and get a game at Augusta. We didn’t have any money to speak of but anyway, we pulled into a gas station to clean up. It was worth a shot.” Freshly attired and wearing their biggest smiles, O’Neill and his cohorts approached the fabled Augusta club. “We drove up through that lovely avenue of trees and I got out and asked, in my most polite manner, to speak with the general manager,” he remembers. “I was told he was playing bridge, but he was sent down to meet us. We explained our situation and he said, ‘You’re the luckiest guys in town. I have a member who doesn’t have a game tomorrow – he’d be delighted to have you as his guest.’ We had got what we were looking for.” O’Neill had a round to remember. Partnered with a certain Mr Atkinson, the member at Augusta, he made a brilliant eagle at the famous par-five 13th after hammering a four-wood to the green. His buddy, who he confesses was a “far better player”, made birdie. “He was a really great guy – Mr Atkinson,” O’Neill says. “He turned to us and said, ‘You boys just paid your green fees right there. I’m going to be talking about this story for weeks. Once you’re done, go get yourselves another round.’ So we did. He was a really nice man.” But that wasn’t the end of the tale. “We got to the ninth hole – the one that goes up the hill – and two guys from the clubhouse came up to us asking if they could go ahead. ‘No problem’, we said, but one of them looked really familiar. On the tee I said to him, ‘You look a lot like Henry Cotton’. He replied, ‘I am, son’, and off he went.” After completing college, O’Neill travelled to Paris to work for the Marshall Plan, the United States-led European recovery effort. Enjoying his days in the French capital, he would play up to three times a week at Saint-Cloud, a parkland layout in the suburbs. 36
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“It was like a dream come true,” says O’Neill. “To be in Paris and later Spain – to play at these great courses. I was invited to play the French Open, which I did, but I didn’t progress far.” Promotion – O’Neill was an accounting major and a bright spark to boot – meant he was sent to Germany, which unfortunately meant rather less golf. Although he was to get that in Ireland – his next port of call and his ancestral home, – where he regularly teed it up at Portmarnock, which he describes as “a fantastic golf course”. Later, in 1954, after a spell at law school in the States, O’Neill was sent by the US Government to Vietnam, where he became a member of the now defunct Club de Golf Saigon. “I was married there and renting a nice place across from the eighth hole,” he remembers. “It wasn’t much of a golf course, but if you’re a real golfer, you’re happy playing in a little dirt track.” It was then that the entrepreneurial O’Neill started his own business. “I only had US$3,000 and started my own trading company. Hell – people in Hong Kong today will spend that in a night out but at the time it was a fair amount of money.” Success came quickly after he became the agent for a well-known pharmaceutical brand in the States. “There are moments in your life where you look back and say, ‘that was the one – that was the turning point’ ... that was it,” he says. With the troubles in Vietnam, O’Neill turned his attention to Hong Kong, where he became a resident, started a factory and joined Shek O. “Things were different then,” he says. “Shek O was – and still is – a lovely club, with a lovely membership. But it was far more austere. ‘Tiny’ Munro, a gigantic Scotsman, was the chairman and he believed the club should be run like they were in Scotland. It was decidedly lacking in creature comforts.” Times have changed and O’Neill, who has five children spread all over the world, is still a regular face at the club. Although he’s now up to an 18 handicap and has had to battle hip problems of late, he says he’s still capable of shooting his age – which at Shek O, with its par of 65 – is easier than it might be at other clubs, he admits with a grin. As we make our leave from what has been the most convivial of lunches, O’Neill gently nudges my arm and says: “Never let go of your golf – because nothing gives you as much socially, physically or mentally as this game. There is nothing more pleasurable.” I nod in agreement. His words are spoken like a true aficionado.
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HK’s Tam Solid at Junior Worlds
Roberts Wins at the Home of Golf
Kitty Tam put in a solid display to finish last month’s Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in a share of 27th place. Tam, who was competing in the girls’ 15-17 age division, carded rounds of 73, 77, 75 and 74 for a four-round total of 299 over the demanding North Course at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California. The tournament, which is considered the most prestigious event in junior golf, was won by Thailand’s Benyapa Niphatsophon, who finished on a four-round total of 280. Mimi Ho and Isabella Leung, the other two Hong Kong representatives in the field, both narrowly missed the third-round cut. Other notable performances by Hong Kong players at the event included Vanessa Yan, who finished sixth in the girls’ 11-12 age division; Chloe Chan, who placed 11th in the girls’ 7-8 age category; Max Ting, who shared 16th spot in the boys’ 11-12 age division and Darren Choi, who placed 11th in the boys’ 7-8 age category. For a full list of results visit juniorworldgolf.com
Ian Joy Photographic (Roberts); Daniel Wong (Tam)
Hong Kong’s Oliver Roberts won the 2012 Boyd Quaich Memorial Tournament at St Andrews last month after the closest finish in the history of the event . Founded in 1946 in memory of two St Andrews students who were killed during the Second World War, the tournament is an invitational competition played across the hallowed turf of the town’s Old and New courses. Roberts, who attends Stirling University and is the son of Mission Hills’ Executive Director Iain Roberts, finished on a four-round total of 284 (two-under-par) alongside three other players, but was deemed the victor on count back. The big-hitting Roberts, seen here receiving the trophy from the R&A’s Duncan Weir, carded a final-round 70 over the Old Course to best a high quality field comprising students from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, the United States, South Africa and Australia. The Boyd Quaich, which is a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR)-counting event, is organised and run by the Athletic Union of the University of St Andrews and receives grant aid from the R&A with support from the St Andrews Links Trust. 38
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junior news
HKGA Junior Summer Tour Results Odyssey World Junior Golf Championship PGA West - Stadium/Nicklaus July 16-18
San Diego Junior Masters
Carlton Oaks CC / Sycuan Resort July 2-3 Girls’ 15-18 Division 6= Tiffany Chan 9= Mimi Ho 17= Isabella Leung 17= Michelle Cheung
73-69 149 76-74 150 78-74 152 76-76 152
Girls’ 13-14 Division 10= Vanessa Yan 15= Michelle Yan
75-81 79-81
156 160
Boys’ 15-18 Division 31= Jackie Chan 41= Ambrose Tam 66= Linus Lo
74-78 77-77 77-83
152 154 160
Boys’ 13-14 Division 10= Michael R Wong 50= Justin Lok
74-74 82-84
148 166
SCPGA Jack Kramer Memorial Los Serranos GC July 12-14
40
Girls’ 15-18 Division 1 Tiffany Chan 3 Michelle Cheung
72-70-71 73-73-72
Boys’ 16-18 Division 1 Shinichi Mizuno 3 Terrence Ng
70-65-70 205 68-71-72 211
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213 218
Girls’ 15-18 Division 1 Kitty Tam 3 Mimi Ho 6 Michelle Cheung 7= Isabella Leung 19 Claudia Wong 23 Andrea Chor
77-74-74 70-81-77 80-76-78 78-77-81 80-82-92 92-89-82
225 228 234 236 254 263
Boys’ 15-18 Division 10 Shinichi Mizuno 15 Terrence Ng 29 Marcus Lam 34 Jackie Chan
72-77-73 76-76-75 76-77-82 75-78-84
222 227 235 237
Boys’ 13-14 Division 10 Michael R Wong
74-78-76
228
Boys’ 11-12 Division 8 Max Ting
75-74-76
225
Optimist Golf World Cup
PGA National Resort - Champions July 24 Team Hong Kong, represented by Mimi Ho and Marcus Lam emerged as co- champions of this best-ball format event after tying for first place with Team USA with a score of 65. Dangerous weather conditions in the area meant no play-off was possible.
Optimist International Junior Golf Champions PGA National Resort - Squire / Palmer July 26-29 Girls’ 15-18 Division 16= Kitty Tam 26= Mimi Ho
77-79-71-79 78-79-77-78
306 312
Boys’ 15-18 Division 47= Marcus Lam
76-74-77-77
304
Note: A full report on the Summer Tour will appear in the September issue of HK Golfer
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events
Albert KW Lai Championship Tong Siu Lun and Li Kai Wing were the big winners at the annual Albert KW Lai Junior Championship, which was played over the New Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club on July 9. Tong, who finished sixth in this event last year, notched an impressive 34 gross stableford points on his way to a comprehensive victory in the overall boys’ division, while Li’s 32 point-haul earned her a two-shot victory in the girls’ bracket. Bibendum Leung and Humphrey Wong took home the runner-up prizes in the boys’ division, recording 30 points apiece, with Carrie-Ann Lee (30 points) and Cheria Heng (28) doing likewise in the girls’ category. The long-running championship, which is open to junior golfers aged seven through 17, is named after the late Albert Lai, who in 1995 generously donated HK$1 million to the development of junior golf in Hong Kong. For a full list of results visit hkga.com
Overall Boys’ Division 1
Tong Siu Lun
2=
Bibendum Leung
34 points 30
Humphrey Wong
30
4=
Lo Tsun
29
Shinya Mizuno
29
6=
Jeremy Van
27
Terence Chiu
27
Sebastian Cheng
27
9=
Taiga Iwasa
24
Sherman Ng
24
Chiu B Chai
24
Kenneth Heng
24
Daniel Wong
Overall Girls’ Division
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1
Li Kai Wing
32 points
2
Carrie-Ann Lee
30
3
Cheria Heng
28
4
Charlotte Ng
27
5
Christy Chong
25
6=
DeeDee Wong
23
Peony Tan
23
Lee Yan Yu
23
9
Lai Ying Tung
22
10
Jasmine Chee
21
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events
HKGA
July Stableford A field of 80 players took to the scenic course at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club to battle for the annual HKGA July Stableford competition last month. Played in the searing summer heat, it was five-handicapper Nicky Au (below) who took home the honours in the men’s division thanks to his 34-point haul. Au, a familiar face at HKGA tournaments, finished one point ahead of Derik Leung in second place, while John O’Doherty, with 32 points, placed solo third. In the ladies’ division, Winnie Lim held off a stiff challenge from Cora Tsang (pictured right) to scoop the title. Lim, seen here receiving her trophy from Clearwater Bay Director of Golf Kevin Hind, finished with a total of 27 points, two ahead of Tsang in second, with Rita Chan a further point adrift in third. For a full list of results visit hkga.com
Men’s Gross Results 1 Nicky Au 2 Derik Leung
34 points 33
3 John O’Doherty
32
4 Akiyoshi Kubota
30
5 Roger Sin
27
Men’s Nett Results 1= Willi Flanhardt
42 points
Roger Sin
42
Derik Leung
42
4 Lam Sai Ho
41
5 Wong Sai Man
40
Ladies’ Gross Results 1 Winnie Yim
27 points
2 Cora Tsang
25
3 Rita Chan
24
4 Christine Kwok
21
5 Kathy Li
20
Ladies’ Nett Results 1= June Yao
Daniel Wong
44
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Winnie Yim
44 points 44
3 Kitty Fung
40
4= Au Yuk Chu
39
39
Kathy Li
HKGOLFER.COM
LOCAL SCENE
Ng Shows His Class Amateur talent impresses against the pros
L
Patrick Leung
ocal amateur talent Terrence Ng put in a brilliant performance to finish second at the le coq sportif Golf Championship, a professional event, in late June. Ng, a member of the Hong Kong international team, fired back-to-back rounds of 71 over the Diamond/Ruby layout at Discovery Bay Golf Club to finish on a two-day total of 142, seven strokes behind winner Scott Barr. The Australian, an Asian Tour regular, blitzed the field with his nine-under total and collected a cheque for HK$100,000 as well as le coq sportif apparel to the value of HK$50,000. Being an amateur, Ng, who is a product of the HKGA’s junior development programme, had to forgo the second-place earnings of some HK$30,000. In the ladies’ division, Hong Kong amateurs Tiffany Chan and Isabella Leung tied for second behind Sheung Qiu Yan. Tiana Gwenn Lau, another young amateur, placed solo fourth.
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interview
Inside the
Ropes Last month at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong-based golf photographer Richard Castka exhibited a selection of images from his 20-plus years of covering the major tours and capturing world-class courses. Alex Jenkins spoke with the well-travelled lensman, owner of the largest independent golf archive in Asia All photography courtesy of Richard Castka/Sportpix International
What is your favourite tournament to work at? The Dubai Desert Classic, with the Hong Kong Open being a close second. The course in Dubai [the Majlis at the Emirates Golf Club] is manicured for the event and there is always a good field. The media are also very well looked after. As with Fanling, it’s easy to swap from front nine to back nine by crossing a couple of fairways, which is important when someone makes a few birdies on the nine you’re not working on. And like Fanling, the course is easy to walk because it’s generally quite flat. I missed this year’s event as it clashed with something else, but I think I’ve covered the previous 11 events there. The US Open is my favourite major. The courses are always tough – it’s proper golf, where par should be the winning score. The field is of course excellent and media are treated very well. And your favourite course to shoot? Difficult to say as there are so many. I really enjoyed Chiangmai Highlands, as it was in great condition and the weather was ideal when I was there. Same goes for Ria Bintan. Pebble Beach was in immaculate condition when I first shot it the week before the US Amateur in 1999. Course shoots succeed or fail because of two things – the condition the course is in and the weather you have to work with at the time. Asia is usually the hardest part of the world to capture course images because of air pollution, which kills the light at the start and the end of the day when you need it most. 48
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Who are the best players to work with? Ernie Els would be one of them, as would Nick Dougherty. I went onto the Great Wall of China with Nick when he played in the 2006 Volvo China Open. He insisted on carrying his tour bag, which was difficult to do because of the tall steps and the weight of the bag. Monty [Colin Montgomerie] is good fun at corporate events, as is Tiger Woods. Swing coach Butch Harmon is also good fun to work with. And the worst? Darren Clarke is difficult to work with. If he’s in a good mood then OK, but if he’s not ... Paul Casey is another for the same reasons. It’s amazing how victory changes people. Ian Poulter was quite moody when he first joined the tour but he has mellowed considerably now. Michael Campbell would talk to everyone before he won the US Open, but after his victory he seemed to distance himself from everyone but his fellow pros. What has been your best moment on a course? Seeing China’s Zhang Lian Wei take his first tee shot at the Masters [in 2004]. It was a HKGOLFER.COM
'Wild Thing' John Daly plays his approach to the par-four 16th during the 2008 Hong Kong Open at Fanling; Castka (inset) introduces his exhibition at the FCC last month
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momentous occasion for Asian golf and one that I believe has helped raise the standards to where they are now. Have you ever had any nightmare situations? Run out of film or had a memory card corrupt on you, for example? Too numerous to mention. Not checking the frame counter when using film was something that would get you into trouble – one frame left and then Tiger or someone similar holes an eagle putt and starts charging around the green. I had a problem once on a course shoot in China when the aperture ring broke inside one of my lenses. Everything looked normal through the lens but when the film was developed there were lots of black frames as the aperture had closed right up. I had to go back to the club some weeks later and re-shoot at my own expense. I also drove a cart into a very deep bunker while on a course shoot in New Zealand. The evening sun was very low and straight into my eyes, and I didn’t see the bunker! I bit my tongue and hurt my back and I also smashed one of my cameras. The golf cart was unhurt! During events, how do you decide which players to follow? Depends on the client. If I’m working for Hugo Boss, for example, then I obviously need pictures of their sponsored players. If I’m the official photographer I need the star players in front of as many advertising boards as possible. I need the top five players every day, and with a two-tee start on days one and two plus morning and afternoon tee times this is hard work to achieve. Planning is the main thing and keeping up with leader boards, which might be a hole or two behind. There are locations around every course that provide good opportunities for clean shots, but only at the right time of day. Planning is key. What are you looking for with your action and course images? For action I need a wide spread of shots – driving, putting, chipping, bunker shots and so on. On some holes I will crank up the shutter speed to 1/2000th to try to get player, club and ball into the picture. There are standard swing shots that I have to take but once I’ve got those I’m looking for reactions from the players, which could be punching the air when a putt drops or throwing a club when they make a bad shot. Patience as well as planning is key to all of this and knowing which players are likely to do what. With course shots I’m looking for contrast and lots of shadows to show movement in the subject. I prefer a hilly or mountainous backdrop, as this is more dramatic than a flat horizon. If the flat horizon is the ocean then it’s 50
HK Golfer・AUG 2012
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OK, but if it’s not, the image is generally less dramatic. The first thing I look for is what might spoil the image – buildings, fences, aerials or other such things. Clean is the key word – nothing but golf course and a deep blue sky with white, fluffy clouds. Film v Digital – is there any debate? Digital is so much sharper, and being instant you know what you’ve got as soon as you’ve shot it. If there are any problems with the equipment you know right away. What advice would you give to young enthusiasts wanting to make a career out of golf photography? Chose something commercial – the equipment needed for golf photography takes many years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to achieve. Digital photography has driven rates down because low-priced equipment does a reasonable job and clients are less and less interested in quality – low price has become everything. Looking at other peoples’ work is always a good idea, but you need to develop your own style. This might be doing manipulations with software or it could be doing aerial work from platforms or model aircraft. Something new is never a bad thing. The other important thing to do is to look after key clients. Of all the photos you have taken, do you have favourite? When Payne Stewart was the star player at the Hong Kong Open [in 1995] I got a picture of the “no cameras” marshal taking a photo of Stewart while her no camera board was resting on her leg. She was breaking her own rule, which I found quite amusing. No one else got it, so it was special. The picture in the exhibition of [master clubmaker] Miura-San was also special, as it took a lot of set up and we dodged rain showers to get it done. Inside the Ropes, an exhibition by Richard Castka, ran from July 3 - 21 at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. To see more of Richard’s work and to purchase his images, visit sportpixgolf.com
What’s in Richard’s Camera Bag? I am and always have been a Nikon man. Currently I’m using the new D4 body, which retails for just over HK$52,000. As I always have to use two bodies I also use the D3s, while awaiting delivery of the second D4. Two bodies is the norm for event photography as you need to be ready for anything to happen – changing lenses is not an option, as it takes too long. Changing lenses is also the most common way that dirt gets into the camera and onto the sensor, so by not changing lenses the problem is reduced. I sometimes carry a third camera for wide-angle gallery shots, which I usually need for the final day of a major, for example.
Clockwise from top: Tiger Woods, with mobile phone close at hand, smiles during a press conference at the 2010 HSBC Champions in Shanghai. The event took place just weeks before Woods was alleged to have had trysts with a number of women, with whom he communicated via text messages; a 'no cameras' marshal in action at Fanling in 1995; master clubmaker Kasuhiro Miura; the par-three 17th of the Montague Course at Fancourt; Woods holes a putt on the par-five 18th to get into a play-off against Rocco Mediate at the 2008 US Open; taking a closer look at Castka's photo of Ria Bintan during the FCC exhibition HKGOLFER.COM
For events I normally use a 500mm F4 telephoto lens plus a 70-200mm F2.8 zoom lens. I also have a 300mm F2.8 that I use rarely and also a 200-400mm F4 lens, which is great for events such as the Hong Kong Open where the action is very close to you. The 500mm is often too long for work around the greens at Fanling, while the 70-200mm can be too loose. The 200-400mm is great because it’s so versatile. For course photography I often use three bodies with three different lenses, which start at 14mm and go up to 200mm. The 24-70mm lens is quite a workhorse for golf course photography. I also carry at least two flash units and a remote unit to shoot off camera, and I always need a mono pod for the long lens. In addition to this I carry filters and teleconverters and usually have a fish eye lens tucked deep in a pocket of my camera jacket.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jbe Kruger The diminutive South African has overcome a series of runner-up finishes to notch his first big win and now leads the race for the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit
Text: Asian Tour; Photo: Khalid Redza / Asian Tour / AFP
T
Despite his small stature, the slightly-built Kruger has strength by the bucket-load and is one of the longest hitters on the Asian Tour; the South African, who has three runner-up finishes on tour, shed his bridesmaid tag with a fine victory at the co-sanctioned Avantha Masters in February 52
HK Golfer・AUG 2012
he Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown has never been won by a South African but James Barry “Jbe” Kruger is in the driver’s seat. The slightly built Kruger may seem like a kid competing in a junior golf competition due to his small frame and physique but don’t be mistaken: this guy has a big heart to match his big-hitting game. Standing at a mere 5ft 5 in his softspikes, pintsized Kruger is certainly enjoying the view from the top of the rankings. The South African lightweight currently leads the race to become the region’s new number one, thanks to a career-breakthrough triumph at the Avantha Masters in India – a European Tour cosanctioned event – in February. It was a welcome relief for the 26-year-old, Bloemfontein-based Kruger as he was starting to let the unwanted moniker of being Asia’s perennial bridesmaid stick to his name following 12 top-10s, including three runner-up finishes in the previous three seasons on the Asian Tour. “The Avantha win gave me confidence. All of you guys know I had finished second all the time. It’s made me more confident and made me a better golfer mentally. To try to win and reach something and not getting there drains you. But to finally get it, it makes everything worthwhile and makes you believe that everything works out for the best,” said Kruger. Kruger is a standout amongst the international players on the growing Asian Tour. He is often beaming from ear to ear, greeting fellow competitors and fans in between golf shots and holes. But when he is inside the ropes, Kruger is 100 per cent committed and focused at the task at hand. While he is small in nature, the South African, who weighs only 60kg, can certainly pack a big wallop with the big stick where he averages over 300 yards from off the tee. Kruger said his father, who is a keen marathon runner, is his biggest inspiration. Similarly built, Kruger learned that he needed to push his body to the limit to make up for his lack of physique. “My father is a keen sportsman. He plays every sport and he’s good in everything. Being a kid, HKGOLFER.COM
The Kruger File Date of Birth:
June 23, 1986
Place of Birth:
Kimberley, South Africa
Turned Pro:
2007
Tour Victories:
1 – 2012 Avantha Masters (Asian and European Tour co-sanctioned event)
Pro wins:
2010 Zimbabwe Open 2009 Zambia Open
Others:
Won six times as an amateur in South Africa
seeing him so competitive definitely gave me the edge and I wanted to be competitive in the things that I do. From an early age, I saw the only thing that made him competitive was through hard work. He was the hardest worker I’ve seen in my whole life. That was why I work the way I do,” said Kruger. He said the power in his golf comes from strong legs and arms plus quick hips. As a youngster, Kruger would run up small hills with a tractor wheel in tow to build up his strength and stamina. “I’m small but I think I’m strong,” said Kruger with a smile. “It definitely comes from my hips. It’s a part that’s strong and I’ve got strong hands. It helps. I work out a lot. Growing up with a father who runs every day of his life, I also ran competitively until I was 16 or 17. “If you do that, you also have to do uphill runs. I saw him doing that. It’s not just running long distances. Running uphill and dragging something at the back definitely makes you stronger. That’s what I did. “I used to drag along a tractor wheel up a gravel road. It was like some 500 yards uphill but we would go up and down, up and down, up and down. It’s never easy. I don’t do it at the moment but I should start doing it again! That made me a lot stronger than what I would have been,” said Kruger. While there is half the season to go yet in the 2012 campaign, Kruger, who leads the Order of Merit by over US$160,000 from Marcus Fraser in second, knows the fight is just beginning. “I can’t really say I’m on top of the world right now. Leading the Order of Merit is an honour. To be able to sit on the same table with great names like Jeev [Milka Singh] it’s an honour,” said the softly-spoken South African. He joined the Asian Tour in 2009 and quickly made an impact. But fate dealt him several low blows. He finished second on three occasions in 2010 and was in the top-10 six times in 2011 to finish fourth on the Order of Merit. The win in India came as a relief and vindication for the man who is a devout Christian. “God has got a bigger plan. But all the seconds definitely prepared me to win and to appreciate the win better. I think it definitely made me a better golfer. You desperately want it but I can’t really say it. If it came early in my career, it may HKGOLFER.COM
“[The Asian Tour has] shaped me into a stronger person ... different weather, different grasses, different greens – [it] makes you a more complete player. That’s what makes it so special.” not have been as satisfying as after finishing second so many times.” His triumph in India gave him an exemption into the WGC-Cadillac Championship in the United States, a gathering of the best players in the world in March. With countrymen Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, who are a few years older than him, having won majors in recent years, Kruger believes he can also attain the holy grail in golf. “Doral was an eye opener. It was a phenomenal experience, to play with the best in the world. To compete with them, standing on the same putting greens definitely makes you feel worthy, which is a main thing as a golfer,” he said. “I’m a few years younger than Charl and Louis ... [but] it makes you believe that you can also do it. They came from the same country, same juniors, same amateur circuit. Seeing what they did definitely makes you believe you can do it. Being friends with them, you know their swings and capabilities and definitely makes me believe that I can also do it. “I want to play in America in the next four or five years. Next couple of years, I see myself playing in Europe and will try to finish as high as I can on the Order of Merit. I also want to win the Order of Merit on the Asian Tour,” said Kruger. He was a keen observer during the Cadillac Championship, watching players go through the motions. And he reckons he now knows the secret to their success. “Short game is the big difference. Those guys are extremely good. They swing the club well. I don’t think many people in the world can hit the ball better than me. But their short game is tremendous. If they miss a green, they’ll make par nine out of 10 times. That’s the difference. They don’t make simple or stupid mistakes which cost me a lot of money every year. I think that’s the big thing,” he said. Kruger believes his journey on the Asian Tour has helped shape his career. “It gave me experience, especially the first couple of years. I was alone and it shaped me into a stronger person,” said Kruger. “Everybody desperately needs experience and that’s why I’m a better golfer now. Different weather, different grasses, different greens make you a more complete player. You can’t have the skill set like this if you go straight to Europe or America. You need to learn everything there needs to learn in Asia and that’s what makes it so special.” HK Golfer・AUG 2012
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GOLF ATRAVEL Player’s Guide
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Caribbean Greens
From Barbados to the Bahamas, Andrew Marshall picks the top five resorts of this most alluring of golfing destinations Photography by Paul Marshall
D
uring the last decade, the number of golf courses in the Caribbean has grown faster than the islands’ lush tropical vegetation. From Barbados to the Bahamas, the region boasts top-drawer layouts bearing the stamps of noted architects such as Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Jones II. All the key ingredients are here: sugary sand beaches, turquoise waters, cheekcaressing trade winds and golf sunny-side up. No two islands are alike and the mix of cultures and races give the Caribbean a unique style in cuisine, music, architecture and language. You can choose a golfing destination based upon your cultural preferences, and with around 50 top-quality layouts, the Caribbean presents a delightful dilemma. Many courses are linked to luxury resorts where you’re guaranteed the ultimate beach vacation lifestyle with romantic sunsets, pampered service and gourmet dining. Here’s five of the best:
The White Witch Course at Jamaica's Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort
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Dominican Republic Casa de Campo
Clockwise from top: The Pete Dye-designed Teeth of the Dog course at Casa de Campo; lush greenery awaits at the White Witch course in Jamaica; an aerial view of the stunning links-like course at Abaco Club in the Bahamas 56
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A tempting trio of Peter Dye-designed courses await golfers staying at Casa de Campo – one of the Caribbean’s most revered resorts. Dye said that he actually only created 11 holes on the Teeth of the Dog; God created the seven skirting the Caribbean Sea. A mainstay of the world’s top 100 courses, Dye’s (or God’s, depending on how you look at it) masterpiece skirts a jagged, rocky coastline, so close you can feel the salt spray. The first of the coastal holes, the 143-metre 5th, is a par-three to remember. The only option is to hit the green because short, left or long is definite shark food. The signature holes on the back nine are 15 and 16, a medium length parfour and long par-three. In direct contrast to the front nine, these holes are lined along the entire right side by the Caribbean and are elevated above a coral cliff. Inland lies the designer’s clever, lakestudded Links Course, and his third track, Dye Fore is a 6,943-metre monster that marches along a plateau perched 150-metres above the mesmerising Chavron River. With a collection of forced carries over vegetation-filled chasms, plus the speed and severity of many of the putting surfaces, Dye Fore is a real test even from the forward tees. The grounds at Casa de Campo are so extensive that guests are provided with a map
and golf cart to help them get around. Besides the golf, there’s tennis, clay pigeon shooting, a marina, horseback riding, charter fishing, nine restaurants and the remarkable Altos de Chavron. Built entirely by hand in the 1970s, it’s an exact recreation of a 15th-century Mediterranean village, complete with cobbled streets. A collection of fine restaurants with enviable settings, add to the plethora of options. Contact: casadecampo.com.do HKGOLFER.COM
Jamaica Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Picture this: You are at one of the Caribbean’s most stunning golf courses, carved out of 600 acres of lush greenery and rolling countryside, with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea from 16 of the 18 holes. Golf clubs, balls, scorecard, tees, beverages and snacks are neatly arranged in your cart as your survey the surrounding landscape. This is the eye-opening 500-metre, par-five 1st hole at The White Witch course at Jamaica’s Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort. The par-71, 6,113-metre course was so named by its creators, golf course architects Robert von Hagge and Rick Baril, in reference to Annie Palmer, the notorious ‘White Witch,’ who was mistress of Rose Hall Plantation in the early 19th Century on which the course is built. She was purported to be beautiful and beguiling and to have done away with three unsuspecting husbands. Says co-designer Baril: “We have tried to create a course that will give you a different experience each time you play. We have done that at The White Witch by creating multiple tees throughout. Whereas the low handicapper might have to carry a yawning ravine to reach the green, there are also tees allowing the
shorter hitter to get there as well. The topography is unique, making each hole memorable and distinctive in its own right.” From pewter golf bag tags inscribed with each player’s name, to the elegant dining veranda of the clubhouse, to the luxurious changing rooms and welltrained, white-suited caddies called golf “concierges”, everything about the White Witch is decidedly first-rate. The golf concierges at White Witch are unique in that their realm of responsibilities extend off the golf course. They can make restaurant reservations, order flowers for loved ones and make spa appointments. “Their knowledge of the golf course includes everything needed to negotiate the gusty winds, drastic elevation changes, and deceptive greens,” says Head Golf Professional Mike Cole. “All of our guests’ needs are attended to, leaving them to just swing the club.” Contact: whitewitchgolf.com
Bahamas The Abaco Club When you first glimpse the The Abaco Club’s golf course, nestled in a Garden of Eden setting called Winding Bay on Great Abaco Island (the biggest of a chain of Bahamian islands known as the Abacos), it provides an unforgettable sight with lush emerald green fairways skirting pristine beaches and the deep-blue backdrop of ocean. Billed as the world’s first “tropical links”, the course draws on characteristics of the great links of Scotland and Ireland, although the sunny skies and swaying palms leave you in no doubt as to where you are. HKGOLFER.COM
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This spectacular layout is the centrepiece of a US$250 million resort built by British tycoon Peter de Savary (and now managed by the Ritz-Carlton), who hired noted designers Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie to bring a slice of Scotland to the tropics. Swales, humps and hollows, small pot bunkers and undulating greens are ever present. Add these with the unpredictable nature of coastal winds and Abaco is certainly a demanding test. The pristine waters of Winding Bay are in view on the first 14 holes, while the final four traverse a coral cliff above the Atlantic. On the 18th tee, you are greeted by the sound of waves crashing against the rocky cliffs and a rolling carpet of lush landscape that stretches from tee to green. Quite frankly, for the golf connoisseur it does not get much better than this. After your round, recount every moment over a frosty beverage or two on the veranda of the club’s main restaurant, which overlooks the bay and golf course, relax in the world-class spa nearby or retreat to one of the 75 tastefully furnished Bahamian cottages. Contact: ritzcarlton.com/abaco
Barbados Sandy Lane The exclusive Sandy Lane resort is home to two championship golf courses (and a nine-holer), and was famously the venue where Tiger Woods and his former wife Elin Nordegren tied the knot in a lavish ceremony back in 2004. Woods, who booked out the entire 112-room resort, spent a reported US$3 million on the occasion. Like everything at Sandy Lane, the golf courses have been landscaped to a high standard. The Country Club is a parkland layout, featuring several man-made lakes and some challenging approach shots to greens well protected by water
Clockwise from top: The pristine waters of Winding Bay can be seen from many of the holes at Abaco Club; the famous par-three 16th hole at the Green Monkey Course at the luxury Sandy Lane resort in Barbados; the Robert Trent Jones II-designed layout at the Four Seasons Nevis; the pool and clubhouse at the Abaco Club in the Bahamas 58
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and sand. Holes six and seven are particularly sweet, and it has nothing to do with the fact that plumes of smoke can be seen rising from a nearby distillery busily converting cane juice into rum, the islanders’ tipple of choice. Sandy Lane’s other course, the Green Monkey, has so far remained hidden from the golfing public. It’s like the Mona Lisa of golf – enigmatic, untouchable and only available to the well-heeled guests of the resort. “The vision of the owners,” says course architect Tom Fazio, “was to create a place as dramatic as any there is in the world.” Created and sculpted from what was once a working limestone quarry, Fazio slowly builds drama through the first eight parkland-style holes, and then startles golfers with a rapid descent into the aforementioned quarry, where 27-metre high coral walls dwarf the fairways. From the remarkable 578-metre 9th where you drive from a high tee to a fairway 150 feet below, to the flags that feature a green monkey with an extended curled tail that flutters in the breeze – everything at the Green Monkey is about grandeur and detail. The signature hole, the 206-metre parthree 16th, has become one of the world’s most photographed golf holes. From another elevated tee, players hit down to a green edged by a massive bunker featuring a grass island carved in the shape of a Bajan green monkey, a species introduced to the island from West Africa more than 350 years ago and the inspiration for the course name. Contact: sandylane.com HKGOLFER.COM
Nevis Four Seasons This speck of an island southeast of Puerto Rico, was thrust to the forefront of world travel in 1991 when Four Seasons Nevis opened as the Caribbean’s first AAA Five Diamond Resort. Over the years it has garnered a list of awards and accolades as lengthy as the dining room’s extensive wine list. Adding to the appeal of the property is the 18-hole championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones II. The 6,080-metre layout is a roller-coaster ride along the flanks of a cloud-capped volcano, with dramatic views at every turn. The course winds gently up the slope of Nevis Peak to the signature hole, the par-five 15th that is set some 150-metres above sea level offering magnificent vistas of St Kitts and its neighbouring islands. The hole measures a whopping 603-metres from the back tees and requires a 218-plus carry over a dramatic gorge to reach the shallow fairway. The home hole, a straightforward par-four played towards the ocean, may well be the best hole on the course. If you time it just right (teeing off just after lunch), you finish holing out on the green with a beautiful sunset cresting the crystal blue water of the Caribbean Sea. This is tropical island golf at its most memorable. Contact: fourseasons.com/nevis
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check in
Hotel de la Paix Hua Hin
OVERVIEW Located in the sleepy village of Cha-Am, a 15-minute drive from the resort town of Hua Hin, the beachfront Hotel de la Paix is the complete antithesis to the majority of large resorts that have sprung up along this stretch of coastline in recent times. This is boutique chic at its most alluring, which explains why the 79-room resort, which was formerly known as the Alila when under previous management, has proved a hit with well-heeled Europeans, entrepreneurial Thais and an increasing number of Hong Kongers, many of whom are venturing down with their golf clubs in tow.
ACCOMMODATIONS The almost industrial architecture by noted Thai designer Duangrit Bunnag that prevails throughout the resort is certainly radical, but it’s no less comfortable for that. Indeed, the Hotel de la Paix is among the most splendidly relaxed retreats we’ve ever stayed at, thanks in part to Khun Duangrit’s use of reflection pools and creative lighting. The entry-level rooms here, named Horizon Studios, are anything but simple and while their concrete walls and bare floors cry out high-end minimalist design, they’re tempered by an oh-so comfortable timber-framed bed and other soft furnishings. A flat screen TV, Apple TV loaded with an array of films and music, an iPod and DVD player round out the in-room technological gadgetry, while there is complimentary WiFi available throughout the resort. The bathrooms, like the rooms themselves, are large and feature Dornbracht rain showers, which make for a most natural bathing experience. With 260sqm of living space and a private pool, the resort’s Pool Villas are the rooms to choose for those wanting to really indulge.
DINING The hotel’s main restaurant, Motion, is a relaxed, poolside retreat, with the option of both alfresco and indoor dining. The menu features a blend of local and international dishes, although to suggest this was yet another mismatched fusion 60
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AT A GLANCE ROOMS A combination of entry-level Horizon Studios (large at 60sqm), Garden Terrace Studios (including outdoor private patio area) and vast Pool Villas (each with their own private pool and separate lounge and dining area). Rain showers available in all rooms. HIGHLIGHTS Strikingly minimalistic interiors and high-tech gadgetry is the name of the game. Home to a first-class spa, ornate public areas and innovative dining options. PRICE Online deals via the hotel’s website for September include stays for two (including breakfast) for as little as THB4,500 (HK$1,150) per room per night. Attractive three-night golfing and spa packages are also available online. GETTING THERE The hotel is a twohour drive (depending on traffic) from Bangkok’s main international gateway – the Suvarnabhumi Airport. CONTACT Hotel de la Paix, ChaAm, 115 Moo 7, Tambol Bangkao, Amphur Cha-Am, Phetchaburi; +66 32 709 55; hoteldelapaixhh.com; book@hoteldelapaixhh.com
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offering (something we’ve seen a lot of in Thailand) would most certainly be wrong. The food here is very good indeed and the blend of cuisines is highly appropriate. Prices can be considered reasonable for a hotel of this class, although like anywhere in the country, it’s hard to find great value when scouring the wine list. The other dining option here can be found at the rooftop Clouds Loft, which is an ideal spot to gaze out on to the ocean while enjoying a range of Mediterranean favourites. While many will happily linger for a drink or two at the table post-dinner, the hotel’s Red Bar, a trendy hangout a short walk downstairs, offers an upbeat alternative on weekends when the resort is popular with Bangkokians. Clockwise from top: Dining at Clouds Loft; the Chill Pool at Red Bar; a Pool Villa bedroom; one of the hotel's reflection pools as seen from reception
LEISURE FACILITIES The Hotel de la Paix’s Indochine Spa is rightly considered one of the region’s finest and provides a full range of facial and body treatments, including therapeutic massages, detoxifying scrubs and hot herbal compresses. The wife of this writer, who is certainly no stranger to Southeast Asian resort spas, declared her therapist the most thoughtful she’d ever encountered and compared the experience favourably to the spas found at Bangkok’s internationally-branded upscale hotels. Massages can also be arranged in the hotel’s beachside cabanas. While the stretch of beach that the hotel abuts is pleasant, most guests head to one of the hotel’s two pools to lounge under the sun. Sensibly, especially given the nature of the clientele that the hotel attracts, there is a kidsfree “Chill” pool as well as an “Active” pool that caters towards families. HKGOLFER.COM
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Richard Castka/Sportpix International (Black Mountain)
WHERE’S THE GOLF?
From top: A golfer tees off at the nearby Black Mountain Golf Club, one of the best-conditioned courses in Southeast Asia; sun loungers on the beach fronting the hotel; a view over the Active Pool at dusk 62
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Over the past five or so years, Hua Hin has emerged as one of, if not the best golfing destination in the Land of Smiles, with a number of new courses coming online. The pick of the bunch is the wonderfully natural layout at Banyan Golf Club, a 45-minute drive away. Built over a former pineapple plantation and designed by young local architect Piraporn Namatra, the front nine here thunders across relatively open country, while the closing stretch plays through a series of particularly lovely and heavily vegetated valleys. Another fine choice – and one of the best conditioned courses anywhere – is Black Mountain Golf Club (30 minutes), which has hosted numerous professional events in recent times. While the routing is perhaps a little contrived – the mountainous terrain the architects had to work with isn’t perfectly suited to golf – there are a great many fun holes out here, especially on the scenic back nine, while playability is enhanced by generous fairways and not overly contoured putting surfaces. The hotel’s golfing packages include rounds at both Banyan and Black Mountain, while the Jack Nicklaus-designed Springfield Royal and nearby Palm Hills can also be booked either before or during your stay. The hotel is also looking at creating a large putting green, inspired by the famous “Himalayas” at St Andrews, for hotel guests of all playing standards to enjoy. No completion date has been announced but one hopes their plans are realised, as the idea, like the resort as a whole, is certainly innovative. HKGOLFER.COM
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HK Golfer
The Tank Louis Cartier perfectly embodies the sheer elegance of the Roaring Twenties with its Art Deco lines and relaxed corners.
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latest version a “pure, distilled Tank,” which is a good indication of where this Tank watch treads. Available in three sizes and three types of gold, there is a style to suit everyone. The large model (36.2 x 47 mm) shows off its in-house 1904MC automatic movement through the transparent caseback. The midsize model (29.8 x 39.2 mm) is equipped with the 076 automatic calibre, and the smallest model comes in 22.7 x 30.2 mm and a quartz movement. Diamondencrusted versions are also available.
A Slim Classic
Clockwise from top: The Louis Cartier Tank XL; the diamond-encrusted version of the Tank Anglaise; Clark Gable was one of the first in a long line of A-list actors who wore the Cartier Tank; a ladies' small Tank Anglaise with pink gold bracelet; the deconstructed lines of the Tank Folle 64
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The Tank Louis Cartier or “Tank L.C.” was originally launched in 1922 and is one of Cartier’s most classic timepieces, perfectly embodying the sheer elegance of the Roaring Twenties with its Art Deco lines and relaxed corners. The watch was referred to as the “ultimate watchmaker’s manifesto of elegance and timelessness.” This year’s Louis Cartier Tank XL comes in a sleeker package at only 5.1mm, hence the tag “slimline”, and is truly the thinnest watch in the collection. The pink gold case, encasing an ultra-thin 430MC handwound movement against the brown alligator strap will appeal to gents on the lookout for handsome, traditional timepieces. HKGOLFER.COM
Playful Folle In the 1960s, Cartier released the extravagant and eccentric Crash watch, a tribute to a senior manager at the Cartier London office who perished in a car crash, during which his watch had been distorted from the fire and kept by a member of staff as a source of inspiration. Coupled with images of Salvador Dali’s “liquid” clocks, the 2012 reincarnation that is the Tank Folle is set to shake up the world of watches once again. The rigid lines of this particular Tank are deconstructed yet balanced at the same time: a truly energetic and dichotomous addition to the collection. Aside from its explosive case shape, it still remains essentially a Tank, with its sun-style dial, Roman numerals and classic blued steel sword-shape hands. Powered by the 8970MC handwound mechanical movement, the watch is set with brilliant-cut diamonds on the brancards and winding crown and worn with a signature anthracite grey polished canvas strap. Almost a hundred years later, Cartier’s Tank is still pushing the aesthetics of watch design forward. The maison puts it this way: “The story of the Tank watch continues to be written, never to stop. Never stop Tank.”
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on tour
Singh Hits Winning Note Scottish Open victory is Indian’s first in four years Photography by Charles McLaughlin
I
ndia’s Jeev Milkha Singh rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt at the first play-off hole to beat Francesco Molinari and win the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open – the curtain-raiser to the Open Championship – in mid-July at the fabulous Castle Stuart Golf Links. Singh, who had been without a win in four years, had set an early target of 17-under-par with a final-round 67, but it looked for all the world that home favourite Marc Warren would take home the title. Warren came unstuck over the closing stretch however, and it was Molinari, whose brother Edoardo won the Scottish Open in 2010, who forced extra holes after holing a gutsy nine-footer for par at the last. “I was just enjoying a cup of tea and some chocolate cake and watching it on television, and suddenly got excited,” said Singh, who was three shots behind Warren when he signed his card. “I think God has been kind, and I think the field came back and I’m very fortunate.” Singh’s victory enabled him to qualify for the Open Championship, where he made the cut and finished in a tie for 69th. The Indian, who has four European Tour victories to his name, has now risen into the top 100 in the world rankings.
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“I just love links golf,” continued Singh, although he had a different opinion when he first experienced it as a 16-year-old in 1988. That was for the qualifying rounds of the British Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl and also Pyle and Kenfig. He shot 87 and 84. “I thought ‘My God, this is tough’. I wasn’t used to wearing raingear.” Singh’s father Milkha was known as “The Flying Sikh”, most famous for losing out on an Olympic 400 metres medal in a photo-finish in Rome in 1960. A Bollywood film is currently being made about his life called Go Milkha Go. But on the final day in the Highlands it was a case of “Go Jeev Go”.
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Clockwise from top: Phil Mickelson rues a missed putt on the final day; World No 1 Luke Donald, the defending champion, played solidly to finish in a tie for 16th; Singh celebrates his birdie on the first play-off hole; Francesco Molinari dwarfed by Castle Stuart; the club's Art Deco-style clubhouse; Mickelson's caddie 'Bones'; to the champion goes the spoils; Marc Warren, who let slip a healthy lead over the closing stretch HKGOLFER.COM
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footage, they obviously became strong examples of players behaving in the correct manner, whether winning or losing. Would you agree the greats of the game have left their mark as much by the sort of the characters they were as the titles they won? Absolutely, no question. That’s the legacy they left more than anything else – the kind of personality they were. I can tell you a lot about the personalities, but I wouldn’t be so accurate in terms of citing how many majors each of them won. Can you name any specific moment when a great golfer showed his true character? I think Seve Ballesteros’s putt on the 18th hole at St Andrews in 1984, when he beat Tom Watson (for The Open Championship), was special. That was a special Spanish ‘matador’ moment. I was a young boy and that made a big impression on me. It certainly summed up Seve’s personality more than any other shot that I can remember Seve hitting. It meant so much to him, and the fact that the ball hung on the lip and fell in was just an example of Seve’s sheer will to succeed.
“I think Seve Ballesteros’s putt on the 18th hole at St Andrews in 1984, when he beat Tom Watson [for The Open Championship], was special ... I was a young boy and that made a big impression on me. It certainly summed up Seve’s personality more than any other shot that I can remember him hitting.”
Courtesy of the Ballantine's Championship (portrait); AFP (McGinley/Ballesteros)
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Do you think the manner in which you win is as important is as winning in itself? No, it’s not. I don’t think it matters. The important thing is your behaviour, winning or losing, is done in a correct way. More so than how you win or how you don’t win. It’s the ability to accept defeat and to accept victory in the same way. That’s what made Jack Nicklaus so special.
Now aged 45, the Irishman still believes he has what it takes to win more tournaments before the end of his career; McGinley with his hero Seve Ballesteros (right) during the Royal Trophy event in Thailand 68
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Nicklaus’s concession to Tony Jacklin in the 1969 Ryder Cup has been cited as a great example of ‘true character’ in golf. Which of the golfing greats do you think set the bar in terms of their character? I don’t know because I never saw a lot of them playing at their very peak, but obviously Nicklaus did, [Arnold] Palmer did, Ben Hogan did, Tom Watson, Gary Player. Those kind of players that I would have seen from video
Was he a player you looked up to? Miguel Ángel Jiménez said it wasn’t anything that Seve taught him, but more Seve’s personality that inspired him. Yeah, absolutely. His unquenchable desire to play well and to succeed. To a large extent, he was different from the other guys. He was a trailblazer when he went to America, when he played in the championships over there and when the Europeans were taking on the Americans in the Ryder Cup, the way he did. He was the focal point of the charge that’s now on again with the younger players today, but it was Seve who led it and 1984 sticks out a lot for me. Can you talk about some of the time you spent with him? He was captain for me twice when I played in the Royal Trophy. I really enjoyed his captaincy. He didn’t captain with the same intensity as when he was a Ryder Cup captain, but that’s understandable as the Ryder Cup [in 1997] was in his home country and it was against the Americans. However, he saw the importance of the emergence of Asian players and hence his company set up the Royal Trophy which I hope will go on to be a very successful tournament. It will also act as a great legacy to Seve as well. Like Miguel, I just enjoyed being around him, enjoyed his company, listening to him talking about his victories and the different HKGOLFER.COM
events he played in, the shots he played and how he perceived them, how he thought in different situations and what he thought of his competitors as well, so it was interesting to get an insight into that. When you started playing golf, was there a moment where someone did something that left a lasting impression? I remember my Dad, the first time I ever played my first competition. The night before, he said to me, ‘I don’t care how you do or how you play, the important thing is you do it in the right way and more than anything else, you don’t cheat.’ That had a big impression on me, that you must play the game with honour, and I feel that’s what I’ve done throughout my career. I think the worst reputation that a player can ever have on a golf course is having questionable ethics when it comes to the rules. So I’ve been clear and adamant about this, and unfortunately I’ve had to call a lot of shots on myself over the years where I have slightly broken the rules and immediately called a penalty on myself. I have never forgotten that lesson. Do you think there are as wide a range of personalities today on the European Tour as there were before? Not as much, but history makes personalities. I think the more success Europeans have internationally, the more and more characters will start to emerge. We’re still early yet. I think we’re still very young. Europe is still very young
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“I would have loved to have won more tournaments than I have done, but there’s still time yet and I’m still hopeful that I’ll have a flurry of wins before the end of my career. I’ve enjoyed playing and I’ve made a lot of money and had a lot of success over the years ... I still enjoy it and that’s the most important thing.” in terms of dominating the world and winning several major championships. I think that’s going to come in the future. Everyone talks about Rory McIlroy’s talent, but what’s your opinion of his inner character? For a guy so young, he’s showed incredible maturity. It was very important for him and for his career that he bounced back as quickly as he did after the Masters last year, winning his very next major championship [ the US Open] was great. It was great to get that out of the way and not have the legacy of what happened in Augusta hang over him for the next few months or few years. I think he’s done really well to recover from that so quickly and put that issue to bed. How would your fellow players describe Paul McGinley? I don’t know. I would like to think honourable … and professional. I try to get the most out of my talent and achieve the most I can on a consistent basis. That’s what I’d like to think, anyway. Overall, are you happy with your career? Yeah. I would have loved to have won more tournaments than I have done, but there’s still time yet and I’m still hopeful that I’ll have a flurry of wins before the end of my career. I’ve enjoyed playing and I’ve made a lot of money and had a lot of success over the years – well, not so much money but a lot of success and consistency over the years. I’ve performed well at all the major championships without wining any. I still enjoy it and that’s the most important thing.
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final shot
Paul McGinley As part of Ballantine’s campaign about the importance of character in golf, some of the biggest names in the game were interviewed about the moments when ‘True Character’ has been revealed on the golf course. This month, the resurgent Paul McGinley, who rose to acclaim when he holed the winning putt for Europe at the 2002 Ryder Cup McGinley celebrates his crucial singles victory over Jim Furyk at The Belfry ten years ago
Do you see a golfer’s true character off the course as well? A little bit, but you can read more on the golf course than you can off it. It’s a lot easier to read it on the course, particularly when things are going badly. You can really see the true character when things are not going so well.
How much does a player’s character influence the way they play golf? I think it’s quite evident. You can read a lot from a player by watching the way he plays golf, read a lot about his state of mind, about his aggressiveness, his attitude. A lot is portrayed in the way he plays, of course it is. I know a lot of businessmen say they do a lot of business on the golf course because they can read a personality by watching the way he plays golf. Do you think a top golfer needs to be true to his own character to achieve success? I think he’s got to be true to himself. I suppose it is important to be true to yourself more than anything else. Having said that, a lot of players put on an image to take the attention away from who they truly are and that works very well for them as well. I think that’s a form of diversion.
AFP
Do you think you see someone’s character more in times of pressure? Yeah, you do, because everybody reverts to type under pressure situations. Absolutely. I don’t like to name names particularly, but you can see it coming through particularly in the Ryder Cup situation. You can really see certain players rising to the occasion and some players don’t rise to the occasion. I think it’s very evident in the Ryder Cup and that’s one of the reasons why the Ryder Cup is such a special event. 70
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Do you think golf is a unique sport in that sense? Golf is a mental game. It’s such a strong mental game. Of course, the physical aspect is important and there’s a lot out there, but you’ve got to have a really strong mind to play golf. You reveal a lot playing this game, more so than other sports. You can hide when it’s a team event, but you can’t really hide in an individual sport like golf. Do you think golf’s strong etiquette helps develop character? Yeah and you’re your own referee as well. A lot of times you infringe – make a penalty – and nobody else in the world would know about it except you calling it on yourself. I think it’s quite evident that many golfers do that. So that’s a great plus that we have, that it’s very much self regulating. Another great thing golf has is that because of the handicap system, all people can play against each other, no matter what gender, no matter what age, different standard. There’s not many sports you can do that. CONTINUED ON PAGE 68 HKGOLFER.COM
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