HK Golfer 2011 February

HKGolfer

HK Golfer Clubhouse: SIHH Review, Bentley Mulsanne, Dalwhinnie & more...

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION ISSUE 50

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011

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2011 The Year of the Euro?

contents

HK Golfer

68 On the Cover:

World number one Lee Westwood of England Photo by AFP

Issue 50

Features

Plus…

12 | SIHH: Around the Palexpo

08 | Mailbag

HK Golfer proffers a selection of the most interesting pieces to look out for this year, straight from the halls of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie

By Evan Rast

36 | The Dark Shark

Ian Baker-Finch has hit the half ton having celebrated his fiftieth birthday towards the end of last year. HK Golfer met up with the 1991 Open Champion to discuss his plans for 2011 – both on and off the course

By Paul Prendergast

42 | Euro Optimism

24 | Money Matters

The tax man traditionally wins on your death, but there are ways of minimizing his cut and maximizing that of your heirs

By Howard Bilton

26 | Single Malts

52 | Albinski Reigns Supreme

With David von Gunten, the CEO of Audemars Piguet Hong Kong and China

By Mathew Scott

Taken from chapter seven of the his magnificent travelogue Golf Addict Goes East, the author turns his attention to Shek O Country Club, a venue he describes as the most fragrant spot in Hong Kong

By George Houghton

64 | Leader of the Links

Alan McGregor, who retired as chief executive of the St Andrews Links Trust at the turn of the year, talks to HK Golfer about his time in charge of the Home of Golf

By Lewine Mair

68 | Stevenson’s Links & Samoa Travel Planner

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

A review of the Bentley Mulsanne

By Ben Oliver

The pleasures of Dalwhinnie

By John Bruce

60 | Hong Kong Golf in the 1960s

20 | Driving Range

Our resident tipster believes that European players will continue to make waves in 2011

By Archie Albatross Brilliant Aussie lights up Old Course en route to defending Ulferts Seniors Open title at the Hong Kong Golf Club

By Alex Jenkins

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February / March 2011

An account of Robert Louis Stevenson’s connections to golf and a review of golf in Samoa, the Pacific island where Stevenson died in 1894

By Dr Milton Wayne & The Editors

28 | Tee Time

32 | Style

Valentines Day gift ideas

By Emma Reinhold

46 | From the President 48 | Local News 50 | Mizuno Winter Championship 54 | Ageas Pairs Championship 56 | EFG Bank Junior Tour Grand Final 58 | Club Results 74 | Final Shot

Q&A with Bill Rogers

By Paul Prendergast HKGOLFER.COM

HK Golfer Mailbag Harrington’s a Class Act

LongLivetheJourneymanMajorWinner

I’m writing in response to Mak Loklin’s story Top-10 One Major Winners, which appeared in the October/November 2010 issue. Unlike Mak, I’m a huge fan of the relatively unknown journeyman pro who manages to bag a major championship.

I think having relatively obscure names winning golf’s biggest events is one of the joys of the game. While Mak seems to believe that the likes of Shaun Micheel and Ben Curtis are undeserving of major champion status, I think the opposite: anyone who can hold their nerve down the closing stretch in the biggest events, especially those who have never been in the position before, is a worthy champion in my book. It keeps the game fresh and interesting.

Kevin Mok Central Editor’s reply: Championing the underdog, eh Kevin? I like it. Congratulations. You’ve just won a bottle of Champagne Louis Roederer courtesy of our friends at Links Concept.

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 will receive a bottle of Champagne Louis Roederer courtesy of Links Concept.

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

I was most impressed by the way Padraig Harrington handled his disqualification from the European Tour event in Abu Dhabi recently, which came after an eagle-eyed viewer spotted the Irishman accidentally move his ball in the process of removing his marker during the first round.

Some have said that the role of television in this matter was unfair on Harrington – as he was in a ‘feature group’, the cameras were on him more than the majority of other players in the field. But I loved his response: “I want to be on television. I want to have those ten million people watching me because that means I’m doing well. If I’m not on TV and nobody is watching, I’m missing the cut.” He’s not a man to whinge or make unnecessary fuss.

He makes a very good role model for young golfers everywhere.

Jeremy Spence Macau Editor’s reply: Harrington does make a fine role model, you’re not wrong there Jeremy – although as one of the slowest players on the European Tour, I personally would like to see him speed up a little. Anyhow, this is what Dr Brian Choa, chairman of rules for the Hong Kong Golf Association, says Padraig should have done.

Dr Choa writes: When a player realises that he has touched his ball in play and may have moved it, he should immediately inform his marker or a referee. If the decision reached is that the ball has moved, no matter how little, the player must replace it.On good putting greens (such as those on tour), a ball is unlikely to rock back. Note that as long as the player has used his best judgement as to the original position of the ball, he will not be penalised if he is a little bit out when replacing it.

Put another way: if you assume the ball has not moved, but it did roll one dimple from its original position, you are penalised two strokes (loss of hole in match play). If you feel you have moved it and replace it, but err by two dimples, there is no penalty! A similar type of situation occurs when a player hits his tee shot into a water hazard 200 yards away; he can never know precisely where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard, but if he uses his best judgment to estimate that point, he will not be penalised for getting it slightly wrong.

HK Golfer

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG GOLF ASSOCIATION Feb/Mar 2011 • Issue 50

Editor: Alex Jenkins email: alex.jenkins@hkgolfer.com Editorial Assistant: Joey Mok Playing Editor: Jean Van de Velde Contributing Editors: Lewine Mair, Ariel Adams, Robin Lynam, Evan Rast Published by:

TIMES INTERNATIONAL CREATION Times International Creation Limited 20/F, Central Tower 28 Queen’s Road Central Hong Kong Phone: +852 2159-9427 Fax: +852 3007-0793 Publisher: Charles McLaughlin Art Director: Mimi Cheng Office Manager: Moira Moran Accounting Manager: Christy Wong 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 HK GOLFER is printed in Hong Kong.

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Local Focus Happy Birthday KSC The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course turned 15 in December last year and this beautiful aerial photograph highlights just how much the island facility has blossomed since opening its doors in 1995.

The image shows the 2nd green of the three-year-old East Course in the immediate foreground and a number of holes from the original 36 – the Gary Player-designed North and South courses – stretching off into the distance. A former British Army firing range in the days of colonial rule, Kau Sai Chau is now by far and away the busiest golf facility in Hong Kong – and undoubtedly one of the finest – and most picturesque – places to play in Asia. A pioneer of 'green' golf, the course has received numerous accolades on the back of its environmentally sensitive approach to the game.

To mark its 15th anniversary, the club held the Anniversary Cup on 13 December, the results of which can be found on page 58. – Alex Jenkins Photo by Graham Uden More stunning photos of both Kau Sai Chau and Sai Kung can be purchased at www.hkaerial.com

divots

US Golfer Completes Landmark Round

Lok-tin Completes Standout 2010 Liu Lok-tin bagged his fourth title of the year by winning the Macau Open Amateur Championship in early December. After claiming t he HSBC China Junior Open at the beginning of the year, t he Elega nt ia Col lege student went on to capture both the Montrose Fine Wines Hong Kong Close Amateur Championship a nd t he Masters G ol f Fashion Hong Kong Open Amateur Championship, two of the city's most prestigious events. In doing so, Liu, one of the longest hitters in local golf, became the first player in history to win both tournaments in the same calendar year. Although he didn't enjoy the best of form during November's World Amateur Team Golf Championship in Argentina, the strapping 17-yearold is heavily fancied to repeat his Close Amateur title over the Lunar New Year at Fanling.

To the majority of us golf-starved golfers in Hong Kong the story of Richard Lewis, an amateur golfer based in Texas, might make for rather sickening reading.

In late December, the 64-year-old played his six hundredth round of golf of 2010 to smash the Guinness World Record for number of rounds in a single season for an amateur. Lewis signed for an 86 at the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas in Dallas, home of the HP Byron Nelson Championship, after playing the final 18 holes in front of dozens of friends and relatives. "I thought 400 was tough and 500 was a stretch, but 600 was what I had in mind all the time," he said. "It's a huge relief and a sense of accomplishment." To his utmost credit, Lewis eschewed the use of a cart and walked every single round. He also raised US$8,800 for his milestone round, with all the money raised going to the First Tee of Dallas program. Kudos.

NUMBERS GAME

11

The number of golf balls Rafael Cabrera-Bello lost on his way to getting disqualified during the second round of the South African Open in December. The Spaniard, who carded a first round of 72, ran out of balls after just 11 holes (he covered the first nine holes in a ghastly 46 strokes) and had no choice but to stop play. Although the Rules of Golf permitted him to borrow more from his playing partners, the European Tour's overriding one ball policy meant he needed to carry on with the same model. Neither player used the same brand and he was subsequently DQ'd.

456

The number of pages contained in the PGA Tour's personnel file on John Daly. The file was unearthed by Gary Smits of the Florida Times-Union and covers the 18 years that the 'Wild Thing' has been on tour. It details five suspensions and over US$100,000 in fines. Daly didn't take kindly to Smits' undercover work and responded by publishing the journalist's home phone number on Twitter and encouraging his followers to call Smits and complain.

2,500 Charles McLaughlin (Liu and Westwood)

The amount in US$ that PGA Tour player James Nitties was fined for collecting his courtesy car at the airport wearing board shorts. As you might have guessed, the PGA Tour has some of the toughest disciplinary measures around and requires its members to be appropriately attired at all times. The Australian successfully appealed against the fine after it emerged that his luggage had been delayed by the airline on which he travelled to the tournament.

“ Will someone please pinch me! I must wake up soon!

I knew I shouldn't have eaten all that cheese! 98 all out???”

- World number one and ardent English cricket supporter Lee Westwood reports on Twitter after Australia were skittled out for less than a ton on the first day of the fourth Ashes test in Melbourne.

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HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

HKGOLFER.COM

CLUBHOUSE Away from the Fairways  TEE TIME

The Cartier ID One Concept Watch

SIHH: Around the Palexpo

Evan Rast proffers a selection of the most interesting pieces to look out for this year, straight from the halls of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie

Rotonde de Cartier Astroregulateur HKGOLFER.COM

I

can easily classify this year’s novelties into three categories: the ones I like, the ones I love, and the pieces I would definitely want to acquire! But kidding aside, it was obvious that the creative spirit was very much centred on three things this year: technical and material innovation, dial artistry and China.

CONTINUED OVERLEAF HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

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Gorgeous in Geneva: Vacheron Constantin's latest addition to its Quai de I'lle series, the Retrograde Annual Calendar (bottom); the Tonda 1950 from Parmigiani Fleurier (top)

Ode to the Dragon

Yes. It seems a lot of our friends from Le Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle are looking East for design inspiration. And by that I don’t mean stereotypical Oriental themes. This year, many of the brands exercised restraint in their dials and cases, keeping them simple, streamlined, and made from precious metals, the most popular of which was rose gold. Thin is still very in, as manufactures, including Cartier, Parmigiani and Richard Mille, released models that were fitted with the leanest of movements, all the better to match those sexy, slender wrists.

A nd while a lot of watch writers are expressing disappointment about watchmakers being too ‘safe’ this year, I think the mere fact that the Swiss watch industry places so much importance in what Asians – and particularly China – have to say, is good news. It’s time those voices are heard! What’s wrong about

having a classic and refined taste in watches, anyway? You’ll see I’m right with this rundown of the pieces that I think will be bestsellers in the region this year.

While many of us know Parmigiani Fleurier for its one-of-a-kind Bugatti watches, tourbillons and collaborations with yacht maker Pershing, the brand presents a very pure model this year, in the case of the Tonda 1950. Fitted with the automatic calibre PF700, incidentally the brand’s twelfth in-house movement, the watch features a simple small second display at six o’clock, and that’s it. But under that very readable dial is an ultra-thin, automatic movement that is just 2.6mm thick, with an off-centre micro-rotor in 950 platinum, and offering a power reserve of 42 hours. The 39mm case is available in rose gold with a grained white dial, and white gold in a graphite dial.

I a m a lso i mpressed w it h Vacheron Constantin’s latest addition to its Quai de l’Ile series, the Retrograde Annual Calendar. I’m sure most of you know this innovative collection, where apart from the shape and size of the case and a few design elements, one can customize their watch by changing the materials, colours and so on. This time, the movement features the in-house 2460 QRA calibre, an automatic with small seconds, annual calendar with moon phase, and retrograde display. Up to 700 variations are possible within the 43mm case.

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Cartier for instance, was once again the source of fine watchmaking feats this year.

The Rotonde de Cartier Astroregulateur is one such example. Carole Forestier-Kasapi’s team wanted to devise a more accurate alternative to the tourbillon, for combating the negative effects of gravity. Instead of rotating the balance wheel continuously, the Astroregulateur sort of does the opposite, with an escapement assembly attached to the rotor on the dial to keep the balance wheel continually in one position. With a case in niobium-titanium to absorb shocks, and a remarkable complex winding and gear train mechanism with four patents pending, this is definitely one for the books, and your wrist!

And if you liked last year’s Calibre de Cartier, you’ll love the latest version, which is a multiple time-zone watch. The in-house Calibre 9909MC indicates several hours simultaneously or individually on demand. It also provides the home time with day/night indication, the traveller time, the adjustment for summer, – and get this – the time diffe2rence between two selected time zones. Very cool.

An extra-flat tourbillon in a carbon nanofiber baseplate is Richard Mille’s answer to the fans who have been waiting patiently for the RM017. The watch will be available in Hong Kong soon, and it has all the magnificent features of its predecessor, and then some. The watch is still at 49.8x38mm, with a curved tonneau caseback; but this time, a mere 8.7mm

Show stoppers (clockwise from top): The RM017 from Richard Mille; Panerai's bronze Luminor Submersible 1950; AP goes back to its roots with the Millenary Handwound Minute Repeater; Piaget's beautiful Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Automatic.

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HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

One of t he leaders of t he ‘t hin is in’ movement, Piaget, has outdone itself with the Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Automatic, which sets a new record as the world’s thinnest tourbillon. Housed in its iconic cushion-shaped case is the 1270P automatic calibre, vibrating at 21,600vph, with an off-centred tourbillon carriage, and measuring a mere 5.35mm thick (that’s 1/10th of the length of the shortest tee!)

Taking the team three years to develop, the watch is extremely complicated, first because of the tourbillon, and second, because of the oscillating weight for the automatic function, which in this case has been moved from the back to the dial. It really is something to behold.

Technical Mix

Be it from materials, complications or remarkable innovations in design, my favourites under this category prove that great tradition doesn’t always have to translate into the classic and understated.

HKGOLFER.COM

thick, and featuring an ultra-thin tourbillon, carbon nanofiber baseplate, and a gear-box type function indicator for winding the crown. The watch comes in 18k rose gold with titanium and limited to 50 pieces.

Audemars Piguet goes back to its roots but spices it up with the Millenary Handwound Minute Repeater. The watch’s traditional oval case and dial is given a three-dimensional edge by the semi-openworked design that highlights the new AP escapement and double balancespring, as well as the watch’s hammers and striking gongs; all in a rich combination of titanium and gold.

And speaking of material choices, there is one brand that has always been strong in this domain: Panerai. I have several friends on the waiting list for this watch, and I know its going to be a big hit when it becomes available in Hong Kong. The new Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic comes in a very striking bronze. Seriously. The 47mm case is made of CuSn8 bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin, and in pure state is resistant to water and atmospheric corrosion. Housing the in-house P.9000 automatic 30day movement, the watch features a rotating bezel and Panerai’s signature crown protector, together with a very attractive shade of green for the dial.

Daring Dials

Sometimes, you just want to do away with the technicalities and just bask in the magnificence of great works of art. There are three that were particularly riveting for me this year.

HKGOLFER.COM

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

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Fancy faces (clockwise from top): VCA's Five Weeks in a Balloon; the striking dial design of Roger Dubuis' Chronograph La Monegasque; the unmistakale Rotonde de Cartier with bear motif

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HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

First, the Rotonde de Cartier 42mm jumping hour with bear motif. A very ambitious project, last year’s jumping hour movement has been incorporated into a dial that features a bear. But not just any bear. This one was created out of wood. 10 species of European wood were used for the bear’s fur for precise grain and texture.

The pieces are then cut and subtly darkened to create the illusion of depth. Each dial is unique and requires about 160 hours of marquetry work. The watch comes in white gold.

For lovers of fantasy and adventure, Van Cleef & Arpels presents a colourful journey which Samuel Ferguson, Dick Kennedy and their servant, Joe, took part in as heroes of the novel Five Weeks in a Balloon, written by Jules Verne in 1863. Skies of turquoise enamel and waves and clouds in mother-of-pearl provide a colourful backdrop to the retrograde movement, with hours and minutes indicated by the balloon’s anchor and a bird in flight.

Then it’s back to the 1940s for Roger Dubuis with the Chronograph La Monegasque, with its very striking, contrasting colours, and a dial design reminiscent of the casino roulette. A satin sunburst centre with a circular satin exterior incorporates a 30-minute counter at three o’clock and small seconds at nine o’clock. The 44mm case comes in steel or rose gold, and houses the manufacture RD680 automatic movement.

HKGOLFER.COM

 DRIVING RANGE

Statement of Intent The new Mulsanne from Bentley is sufficiently different in concept and execution to merit serious consideration, writes Ben Oliver

B

ack in 2006, Bentley’s sales were about to break five figures for the first time, having exploded more than tenfold since the Continental GT was launched in 2003.

“People could still buy a car even if there was a downturn,” Bentley’s chairman Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen told me back then, in response my question about the dangers of growing so fast.

“The only problem would be something like another 9/11, where the overall atmosphere is just not right to spend so much money on a car.”

Economically, that’s exactly what he got. Since the banking crisis struck, Bentley’s sales have more than halved. While there are signs of growth in some markets – China now accounts for a fifth of Bentley’s output – the vital American market remains flat.

“There is a very limited number of people with more or less unlimited wealth who are crazy enough to buy one of these very luxurious cars,” Paefgen said in 2006 of the replacement he was planning for the range-topping Arnage limo.

“You need a strong personality to turn up at a restaurant in one. It’s a statement, and there aren’t so many people who want to show up in this big a statement.”

That was in 2006. So what hope does he have of selling a car like that now?

But as Paefgen says, even luxury brands like Bentley making only aspirational, near-unaffordable cars need a hero at the very top of the range.

That’s exactly what the new Bentley Mulsanne is intended to be, and its new steel platform and effectively new 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 will also underpin and power replacements for the equally astronomically-priced Azure convertible and Brooklands coupe. It will cost from £220,000 in the UK, much closer to a Rolls-Royce Ghost than the Phantom. At 5.5m, it’s also closer in size to the 5.4m Ghost than the 5.8m Phantom, but at 2585kgs it’s around the same weight as the aluminium Phantom and 150kgs heavier than the steel Ghost.

Those numbers are useful because it’s difficult to gauge the Mulsanne’s scale from photographs. Plainly, it’s a colossal car. But its styling doesn’t give it the presence of either Rolls-Royce; its proportions are more conventional and it lacks their modernity, originality and mild shock on first acquaintance. The Mulsanne 20

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

is best from the rear three-quarters, where it echoes the full, confident, blocky yet elegant lines first seen on the Brooklands coupe. But the front end, with its low-set lamps, looks slightly doleful and apologetic; even in these straightened times, the two and a half tonnes of hand-tooled magnificence that follows behind deserves to be announced with more pomp and pride.

Straight into the rear seats; the Mulsanne is a car to be driven in as much as to drive.

Immediately you see the reason to choose one over a Flying Spur. The lesser Bentley four-door offers comparable lounging room, but it just feels like a car, albeit a very luxurious one. The Mulsanne feels like a country-house library on wheels, with inlaid wood and overstuffed upholstery of a heft and quality that seems mildly out of place but very welcome in an object designed to move.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

SCORECARD How much?

Engine:

Transmission: Performance: Construction: How heavy?

£220,000 6750cc twin-turbocharged V8, 512 horsepower @4200rpm, 1020Nm/752lb ft@1750rpm 8-speed automatic 5.1sec 0-100kph, 297kph Steel, air spring suspension 2585kgs

HKGOLFER.COM

The front cabin is less successful. It has the same great expanses of veneer and leather, great seat comfort and a sensational view down the long central crease of the bonnet to the winged B. But the layout looks a little staid after the Ghost’s, there’s a messy profusion of black plastic switchgear in the central console and the instrument binnacle is busy and tightly packed.

None of this bothers you much when you first get the keys, of course; you’re more interested in finding out what one of the few cars with a four-figure output feels like to drive. In this case it’s torque: 1020Nm, or 725lb ft, delivered at just 1750rpm, with the peak 512 horsepower coming at 4200rpm. This new engine shares all its fundamental dimensions with Bentley’s ancient ‘six and three-quarter’; they wanted the same overwhelming torque that configuration has provided for 50 years, but adding new, lighter internals, variable cam-phasing and cylinder

deactivation for better economy and emissions meant redesigning the block. So the numbers are the same but the engine is new, and it drives the rear wheels through an equally modern ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox.

On start-up and trickling around town the Mulsanne’s drivetrain doesn’t quite match the Ghost’s peerless refinement, but it’s a Bentley, so a little more connection with the mechanicals is appropriate to the marque. On small throttle openings all that torque is easy to manage and the ‘box slips seamlessly between ratios. When – if – you find the space to hold it all the way in, the Mulsanne takes off like a 747; a rousing but distant noise, the sensation of immense power overcoming colossal weight, and acceleration which always achieves its purpose but never really thrills you.

Driven quickly, as it seldom will be, the Mulsanne handles amazingly well for a car of such girth; a car this big will never feel agile, but the Mulsanne always feels composed, and occasionally even fun. But at the end of the dynamic spectrum most important to buyers – low speed ride and refinement – the Mulsanne can’t quite match the peerless, silken Ghost.

It rides very softly, but you feel and hear too much of pot holes, and they set off a gentle, uncontained wobble in the body.

The Mulsanne is a bold, admirable and necessary statement of intent in difficult times. It didn’t charm us the way the flawed but charismatic old Arnage could. Nor, objectively, is it as impressive a car as the Rolls-Royce Ghost. But it’s sufficiently different in concept and execution – and sufficiently true to Bentley’s core values – to give you reason to choose it. Or to buy one of each, if there’s anyone left who can still afford to.

British beauty: the Mulsanne echoes the the full, confident, blocky yet elegant lines first see on the Brooklands coupe (top); great expanses of veneer and leather dominate the front cabin (bottom) 22

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

HKGOLFER.COM

Have your cake... and eat it!

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Make sure your affairs are in order so your family benefit from your life’s hard work. Leave your wealth to your family and not to the tax man.

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 MONEY MATTERS

An Expensive Business

The tax man traditionally wins on your death, but as Howard Bilton explains, there are ways of minimising his cut and maximising that of your heirs "After the abolition of estate duty in Hong Kong many people mistakenly believed that they no longer needed to consider estate duties, or inheritance taxes as they are called in some places. For most wealthy Hong Kong residents that isn’t true."

M

ost people prefer not to think about their own death, naturally enough, but failing to do so and to plan appropriately can be a very expensive business. Not for you, because you are dead. It’s your family who end up losing out. If you are poor, young, healthy, child-free and single you can stop reading now. If you have a spouse (whom you like) and/or some children then the following is important.

After the abolition of estate duty in Hong Kong many people mistakenly believed that they no longer needed to consider estate duties, or inheritance taxes as they are called in some places. For most wealthy Hong Kong residents that isn’t true. Most will have investments outside the city and frequently those assets will be subject to “death taxes” in the country in which they are located.

The older you get the more important it is to have your affairs in order, but unhappily people do die at unexpectedly young ages so it is never too early to start. If you know when you are going to die or your family own an electric rocking chair and know a good taxidermist you can leave planning until nearer your demise or altogether. Otherwise start now or as soon as you have assets of a value which will attract tax. Structuring your investments properly not only saves tax during your lifetime but will also save tax on death. What’s not to like?

There is, supposedly, one way of finding out when you are going to leave this mortal coil. Check out www.deathclock.com and input some simple information about yourself. It will immediately tell you how long you have left. Amusing, maybe, but it would not be wise to rely on this.

To illustrate what I am talking about let us consider the example of Joe Sixpack, a UK national who is a long-term resident of Hong Kong who has: 1. A nice London pad worth ₤2 million.

2. A collection of fine wines stored in London worth ₤150,000 3. A holiday home in Spain worth €3 million 4. A large portfolio of shares in US public companies valued at US$2.5 million 5. A property in Hong Kong in which he lives with his US national wife valued at HK$40 million.

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The first thing to note is that as Sixpack is a UK national he might well be considered domiciled in Britain, despite his long-term residence in Hong Kong. If he is then his worldwide estate would be subject to UK inheritance tax at a rate of 40 per cent.

Ordinarily transfers between husband and wife are exempt from UK inheritance tax but only if both transferee and transferor are UK domiciled. As Mrs Sixpack is American she will almost certainly not be domiciled in the UK, so the tax will bite.

It is possible to establish an alternative “domicile of choice” outside the British Isles and thereby rid yourself of the liability to UK inheritance tax on your worldwide estate. But it’s extremely unwise to just assume that liability isn’t there.

Even if Sixpack was not UK domiciled his UK assets would still be subject to UK inheritance tax due to their situs, so 40 per cent of the value of the property and the fine wine (after exemptions) will go to the UK tax man irrespective of his domicile. We believe the taxman is wealthy enough as it is but he does seem to be increasingly desperate for money these days.

The portfolio of shares in the US would be subject to US inheritance tax.

The property in Spain would be subject to Spanish inheritance tax and also “forced heirship” laws which mean Sixpack must leave a third of the property to his wife, a third divided equally amongst the children and the other third is considered free estate which he can do with as he pleases. That may not be as Sixpack wishes and is an additional consideration over and above the tax that would be payable in Spain.

The Hong Kong property would not be subject to estate duty in Hong Kong because there isn’t any.

His estate may be double taxed. Just because HKGOLFER.COM

death duties have been paid in the country of situs doesn’t necessarily mean that the tax isn't payable on the same asset elsewhere.

Mrs Sixpack is likely to think rather less fondly of Mr Sixpack if he leaves all these problems to be sorted out by his executors, as not only will the tax have to be paid but it will probably take a minimum of two years to go through the probate process in all of the countries in question before the assets can be released to the executors. Only after that can the executors transfer the assets (or dispose of the assets and release the proceeds of sale) to Mrs Sixpack and the rest of the heirs named in the will.

The good news is that to a certain extent it is true to say that estate taxes are voluntary.

They are relatively easy to plan against. In simple terms the correct strategy is to transfer the various different assets to a company or companies appropriately selected for the jurisdiction in question and then place the shares of all those different companies into a foundation, guarantee holding company structure, trust or the like. By doing this you convert the different assets into the interest in the holding structure which can be carefully ordered to avoid any need for probate and, in many cases, any need to pay inheritance tax.

"The good news is that to a certain extent it is true to say that estate taxes are voluntary.

They are relatively easy to plan against."

Transferring the assets to the structures would normally represent a sale of each asset, so capital gains tax may be payable in its country of situs (not in Hong Kong because, again, we don’t have capital gains tax). The only good news to come out of the credit crunch is that values are likely to be historically low – so now is as good as time to do it as any.

What is clear is that you either pay the CGT or your estate pays the death tax. One way or another they get you, but while you are alive you can take steps to minimise or eliminate both taxes. Why leave it to chance or to your nearest and dearest to sort out when they are most vulnerable and least equipped to deal with these matters?

Howard Bilton is an UK Barrister, Professor of Thomas Jefferson school of Law in San Diego and Chairman of Sovereign Trust (Hong Kong) Ltd which specialises in international and offshore tax planning.

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HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

25

 SINGLE MALTS

The One on the Hill

Whisky editor John Bruce raises his glass to Dalwhinnie, a true Highland gem

M

y brother, embarking on his first and so far only wedding was reportedly asked by his mother-in-law to be if it was alright to have the wedding in the “High Church”.

Blighted as we Scots are by sensitivities over denominations in religious devotions, he asked with some trepidation, “Do you mean Episcopalian?” “No, no, the one on the hill,” was the guileless reply. This apocryphal tale and long experience has led me to be wary of asserted characteristics of both people and products; the fact that each generation of competitive sportsmen throws up a “greatest ever” is a ready-made example of people’s tendency to hyperbole.

As such, when my fellow columnist Milton Wayne waxed lyrical about Dalwhinnie and his description as a “classic malt”, I might have been less than receptive to the idea if not for the happy coincidence that had placed a lifelong friend, myself and a bottle of the 15-year-old Dalwhinnie in The Globe Inn in Dumfries one winter’s night in the early 90s. This renowned old hostelry was frequented by Robert Burns in the late 18th century and in a suitably alcoholic homage to the man and his works, my friend and I polished off the entire bottle by closing time.

Until colleague Milton made his declaration of paradise found, this memory had been allowed to fade, stored in the bulging recollection file of “past partaking”. But a recent tasting in the company of fellow malt devotees reminded me of what a delightful malt this really is. Indeed this evening, nearly 20 years after my first sampling, suffered by comparison only in that there were more friends and therefore smaller shares for each of us.

Enjoying a good malt whisky is something that is best done in the company of such friends and appropriately enough the name Dalwhinnie comes from Gaelic and means “meeting place”. The distillery is situated close to the geographical centre of Scotland and its product was chosen by United Distillers to be the Highland representative in their Classic Malts marketing campaign of 1988. The campaign is an example of the innovative thinking which rescued a dying whisky industry and helped create the global success of single malts today.

I remembered the whisky as both pleasant and potent but the informed readers of HK Golfer require something a little more informed and this led to our recent tasting.

Dalwhinnie is distilled from the snow-sourced Allt An Sluic waters which are recognised as amongst the purest in Scotland. The 15-year-old is a light coloured, soft tasting malt that I prefer to sample neat, although a number of my companions favoured the addition of a very small quantity of water. There is, in common with many Speyside malts, only a hint of peat and the malt flavour, though pronounced, is light with a gentle smoky middle and a lingering alcohol finish, all of which combine to produce a delectable, if not quite classic, malt whisky.

Indeed I would compare Dalwhinnie closely with the 18-year-old Glenfiddich, with the latter perhaps providing a more satisfying finish.

However, like the Glenfiddich, this is a whisky that I would readily serve to those that have recently embarked on the malt whisky adventure. It has a flowery nose and smooth taste devoid of the more directly assaulting emphatic tastes of the Islay and West Coast malts, but it has enough character to demand a number of samplings before one fully appreciates its true quality.

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HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

The distillery is now owned by global giant Diageo but Dalwhinnie itself is not widely available in Hong Kong, although the growing interest in malt whisky both as a magnificent diversion from life’s slings and arrows and also as an investment vehicle has led to an ever growing variety in the better hostelries of Hong Kong.

Those visiting the distillery, just off the A9 in Perthshire, can be assured of a warm welcome and a free sample of the malt in question. The town of Dalwhinnie, located on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, has the lowest average temperature in Britain at just over six degrees Celsius and perhaps the prevailing conditions explain why local ingenuity was successfully dedicated to the warming solution that is its most famous product.

My brother’s marriage is a thing of the past but Dalwhinnie is still with us – and like the church of the apocryphal tale, as Scotland’s highest distillery, at over 1,000 feet above sea level, it is both figuratively and truly, “the one on the hill”.

HKGOLFER.COM

 PROFILE

Natural

Progression David von Gunten, CEO of Audemars Piguet Hong Kong and China, talks to Mathew Scott about the twin challenges of growing his brand's business in the mainland and becoming more consistent on the golf course

A

s David von Gunten tells the story, it was only when he addressed the ball on the first tee at Shek O Country Club that cold reality started to set it.

A self-confessed part-time golfer, Von Gunten was not really used to the attention he was receiving, especially when he looked to his left and there among the interested spectators was none other than Rory McIlroy, his playing partner, staring and sizing up his swing.

“It was a big challenge for me,” says Von Gunten. “I had not played since February and then had to step up and take the first tee-off with Rory McIlroy standing there. You start sweating with everybody watching you. It was a nervous experience but it turned out okay.

“I parred the second hole – the same as Rory – so that was something that was very rewarding. And I had one birdie – so that’s good enough. It made my day, I can tell you.”

That “day” was a pre-Hong Kong Open corporate gathering sponsored by Audemars Piguet, the luxury watch-maker for whom Von Gunten works as CEO for the Hong Kong and China markets. Select guests were able to share a round with McIlroy – the supremely gifted 21-year-old world number 12 –who also spends part of his time acting as brand ambassador for Audemars Piguet.

For Von Gunten it was a learning experience, as it is – he says – each time he walks out on to a course.

“Golf is all about the obsession to do better, for sure,’’ he says. “The good thing about golf is that of course you play against others but you also play against yourself. And this is what makes it a little bit less physical and more like a brain sport – it is mostly in your brain that things start to happen.

“If you think negatively before you tee off, thing happen negatively. And if you think positively you are more successful. That is one of the hard things about it.”

Von Gunten has had an on-again, off-again love affair with golf over his 38 years.

It began as he was growing up in the small Swiss city of Neuchâtel situated – as fate would have it – right in the middle of the country’s watch-making region.

“There’s only one golf course,” says Von Gunten, a left-hander. “It’s a very 28

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

small town – 30,000 people living there. And we used to drive past the golf course on our way to the city. I would always see this golf course and think ‘This looks like an interesting sport’.

“My parents were friends of some golf club members and so I had my first round when I was about 12. But then the sport completely vanished out of my life.”

As Von Gunten worked his way through school, his sporting attentions turned to tennis, biking, badminton and running. But, like so many other businessmen today, once he joined the corporate world, the desire – and the opportunity – to play golf resurfaced.

Von Gunten’s first experience of Asia was a posting in Singapore – and he suddenly found himself surrounded by courses.

“It was a pretty good place to pick up the game again,” he says. “My game never really started officially as I never took any lessons – I just learned it by myself. But I think when you have played tennis, the game of golf comes a little easier – you have the hand-eye coordination that works in both sports.”

From Singapore, Von Gunten’s career has taken him to Tokyo, back to Switzerland and now to Hong Kong with Audemars Piguet, where he has been overseeing the company’s impressive sales growth in mainland China, work that unfortunately has not allowed him quite as much time to pick up the clubs as he might like.

HKGOLFER.COM

David von Gunten, Shek O Country Club.

November 2010 Photo by Daniel Wong

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Black or Brown croco strap HK$197,800 (Steel); HK$321,900 (Gold)

HKGOLFER.COM

HK GolferăƒťFeb/Mar 2011

29

Charles McLaughlin (Tree Iron); Daniel Wong (with McIlroy)

“Golf is all about the obsession to do better...

The good thing is that you play against others but you also play against yourself. It is mostly in your brain that things start to happen."

Tree iron: von Gunten, a left-hander, finds a spot of bother at Shek O Country Club (top); striding the fairways with AP brand ambassador - and potential world number one - Rory McIlroy 30

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

with Rory McIlroy and it made me a bit frustrated. I don’t play very often and when that is the case the golf course certainly can get frustrating. So it made me make the decision to sign up for lessons.”

And like most who make that leap, Von Gunten has found the results have been instantaneous.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel,’’ he says. “According to my pro at City Links [the indoor golf lounge in Central], there is promise there and we will work on it.”

And Audemars Piguet’s relationship with golf – which stretches back over more than 20 years with players such as Nick Faldo – will further enable Von Gunten further chances to improve his game.

“When the opportunity came to move back to Asia I jumped at it,” he admits. “In terms of business – as in Hong Kong and China – it is the best place in the world to be.

“The challenge I faced initially was to take over the distribution of the brand in China. We took over everything from June 2009 and it was some challenge. It took a lot of work but it was also very rewarding because the results are there in China.”

And, of course, there is the growth of the game of golf in both the mainland and around the region.

“In terms of golf, it is a sport that is very relevant to Audemars Piguet and to Asia. It’s a high-end sport that needs precision, a lot of training and a lot of energy. So it has common ties and common values with our brand for sure.

“Tradition, excellence and audacity are our core values and these core values can really be linked to the game as well.”

“Certainly I don’t play often enough,’’ he says. “I wish I could play more but my job takes up a very important part of my time – and also I am not a member here. But like all people who love the game I wish I could play more – and I want to play more.”

The strength in Von Gunten’s game lies, he says, in his long hitting and he’s hoping for some added accuracy now that he is taking on some coaching.

“I’m a hard hitter, I would say, but I am very inconsistent,’’ he laughs. “If I hit well, it goes very far but I don’t do that very often, sadly. “[In 2009] I had the pleasure to play with Lee Westwood [another Audemars Piguet ambassador] and last year we had the function HKGOLFER.COM

style

Love is in the Air

Still stuck for Valentines Day ideas? HK Golfer has searched out the most beautiful gifts to show your loved one how much you care. From pampering à deux to the prettiest perfumes on the market, this is the definitive list for romantics everywhere.

You’ll never buy a simple red rose again.– Emma Reinhold

Tranquility for two

Whisk your partner off for an hour and half of romantic relaxation at the Elemis Day Spa. The luxury spa’s Temple Ritual for Two treatment is the ultimate in together time. As you lie next to each other in the spa’s intimate Temple room, enjoy a soothing massage, mini facial and pampering foot cleansing therapy, whilst sipping a glass of champagne.

Pampering doesn’t get better than this.

HK$2,100, www.elemisdayspa.com.hk

Petal power

Roses are red

Aromatherapy Associates’ award-winning Renew Rose Massage & Body Oil contains a blend of intensely nourishing essential oils including rose, neroli and evening primrose, which leave skin soft, smooth and smelling divine.

HK$520

Jo Malone’s new Red Roses Home Candle will fill your home with the intoxicating scent of seven of the world’s most exquisite rose blooms.

Slather on the sumptuous Body Crème and the scent will linger until the early hours.

Candle, HK$625; Body Crème, HK$745

Sweet tooth

For femme fatales everywhere, Lady Vengeance by uber cool fragrance brand Juliette Has a Gun is an edgy blend of rose, vanilla and patchouli. It’s subtle but very sexy.

50ml, HK$650; 100ml, HK$880.

Available exclusively at Lane Crawford.

Inner glow

Show off a radiant complexion with Jurlique’s new Purely White skin brightening range. Packed with a natural cocktail of ingredients including kakadu plum, licorice root and willow bark, which help fade dark spots, skin will look noticeably brighter and more youthful looking. The Brightening Mist is perfect for on the go refreshment.

HK$295 – HK$650 32

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

Neuhaus’ Valentines Heart Box assortment is the perfect gift for chocolate lovers. A mix of dark and milk chocolate hearts with praline and mousse centres will tempt even the sweetest tooth. www.neuhaus.be

Wild rose

HKGOLFER.COM

Gentleman’s relish

Aramis is the quintessential embodiment of the classic man. As good today as it was back in the 1960s, a blend of bergamot, citrus, patchouli, sage, sandalwood and leather create a sophisticated but timeless scent.

Precious perfume

Bvlgari Rose Essentielle encapsulates femininity in a beautiful bottle. Seductive but not sickly, this pretty floral scent is a unique way to say it with flowers.

From HK$725

Hint of a tint

Clarins’ new range of blushers, Blush Prodige create a pretty flush on every skin tone, adding the perfect finish to a romantic look.

Approx HK$300 HKGOLFER.COM

Statement piece

Make a statement with this show-stopping necklace created in collaboration by designer Jenny Manik Mercian and Atelier Swarovski.

HK$4,620

Love story

Annick Goutal’s romantic fragrance Grand Armour is inspired by the act of falling in love. Lily, honeysuckle and hyacinth create a spellbinding scent.

From HK$665

Forward planning

La Prairie’s coveted Cellular Eye Cream Platinum Rare doesn’t hit shelves until April but get on the waiting list now before it sells out.

HK$2,980

Time out

Time waits for no man but Links’ Sidescape watch will ensure your man turns up on time.

HK$12,000

Strut your stuff

MAC’s new Peacocky make-up range will turn heads. Choose from intense violet, green and teal shades for eyes with new Mega Metal Shadow and 12 vibrant shades of Kissable Lipcolour.

Eyes, HK$185, Lips, HK$170

Perfect harmony

Launched to coincide with Valentines Day, Guerlain’s limited edition fragrance, Idylle Duet blends rose and patchouli.

From HK$529 HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

33

interview

The Dark Shark

Ian Baker-Finch, aka 'IBF' or the ‘Dark Shark’ as he was once referred to in his native Australia, has hit the half ton having celebrated his fiftieth birthday towards the end of last year. HK Golfer met up with the 1991 Open Champion following his Australian Senior Open debut to discuss his plans for 2011 – both on and off the course INTERVIEW BY PAUL PRENDERGAST PHOTOGRAPHY BY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

T

he ‘Finchy’ we now know is the classy commentator for CBS Sports on the PGA Tour for 25 weeks of the year. Back in the Dark Shark days, he was busy making his mark on the international golf scene armed with a willowy swing and a short game and putting touch to die for. His tall, dark features and engaging personality also had female fans of all ages shooting more than furtive glances in his general direction.

Sadly, Baker-Finch’s golf career which saw him garner 17 international victories on four separate tours, a top 10 world ranking and a brilliant victory in the 1991 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, is perhaps unfairly remembered for a prolonged form slump through the mid- to late-90s that saw a run of missed cuts and high scores. These demons ultimately lead to him stepping down from active play after a disastrous first round at the 1997 Open at Royal Troon.

In the time that has elapsed, Baker-Finch has restored his love for the game and enough faith in his form to make an appearance on the PGA Tour as a former champion at the 2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where a first round 68 demonstrated to all that the guy can still play Aside from this, his public appearances had been limited to occasions like The Masters Par 3 Tournament and a few pro-ams at the back end of each year on his return Down Under.

All of that could change in 2011 as Baker-Finch's coming of age as a senior and a two-year exemption to the Champions Tour as a past major winner, provides him with the opportunity to show us all that ‘the guy can play’ more frequently. Who knows. If he can get the flat stick working as it did in his heyday of the late 80s and early 90s, it would be no surprise to see BakerFinch feature at the pointy end of some tournaments over the next few years on course setups that you’d have to think would be well suited to his game.

The big ‘but’ is: will he have the time or the inclination to devote more of himself to his game to make more than just ceremonial appearances on tour between commentating commitments?

The magical 50 mark can often mean the onset of a mid life crisis! A Ponytail, earring and a Harley Davidson: give me a timeframe on each?

[Laughing] No, nothing like that. Nothing has changed, it’s just another birthday.

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Has time flown when you think about it?

It really has. Looking back, I’ve been a TV announcer or analyst for about 14 years now and am about to sign on again with CBS. That’s longer than I was a touring professional. I love the work and it gives me a chance to stay in touch with the game and to travel.

Looking back, you introduced yourself on the world stage at the 1984 Open, where Seve Ballesteros triumphed at St Andrews. You were paired with Tom Watson in the last group in the final round at the Home of Golf. That must have been a surreal experience at the time?

It certainly was. It was that epic battle where Seve birdied the 18th and Watson bogeying 17 after hitting it against the wall over the green. I was leading after two rounds and paired with Watson in the final round. That event gave me the self belief that I could compete at an international level, proof that all the hard work was paying off.

Of course, you had another brush with the Open in 1990 at St Andrews and you’ve been quoted as saying how much you learned about how to win from being paired with Nick Faldo in that event. He hardly spoke a word to you at all, a completely different relationship to the one you have with him now in the booth?

Absolutely. I recall I didn’t putt particularly well in that event but Nick was completely in control that week and won easily in the end with a record score, I think. Nothing bothered him all week and it taught me a valuable lesson in how to focus on the job at hand, which helped me out the next year when I got another chance.

HKGOLFER.COM

Baker-Finch made a rare tournament outing at the 2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where he's a past winner. A first round 68 showed that on his day he can still compete with the young guns.

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compete but it’s so hard when you work 20-odd weeks in the US and three back at home.

What are your thoughts about the Champions Tour this year – excited, nervous or both?

I ’m a bit exc ite d but w it hout g re at expectations. I played in Perth [in the Australian Senior Open in October 2010] and didn’t drive the ball all that well but I think that was just a mental thing, because the course was so tight.

In the final rounds, I ditched the driver and used a 3-wood off the tees and didn’t play too badly after that to finish in a tie for 15th. I’m looking forward to having some fun but I’m only playing a few events here and there.

You’ve said you don’t have a strong desire to use this stage as a platform to prove a point to the public, your peers or even yourself. But surely being ‘low CBS announcer’ (over fellow commentators and Champions Tour players Bobby Clampett and Gary McCord) has to be a driving motivation...

[Laughing] We have a lot of fun in the booth and play together as much as we can.

There are a lot guys who are still good players commentating, Nick Faldo still plays well, Gary McCord has won on the Champions Tour, Roger Maltbie, Gary Koch, Peter Oosterhuis...

It’s 20 years this year since your Open win at Birkdale but I’ll bet it’s all as clear as yesterday?

It is. I had played well for a long period of time so I felt comfortable leading into that week that if I played well, I’d be a chance. However, you have weeks like that all the time where you feel that way so doing it is a different story. I was very focused and jumped out of the box well, particularly in the final round. I set myself a target to stay ahead of the pack and got to the point where I could play safe for a bogey up the final hole.

Any thoughts about making a return to the Open [Baker-Finch is exempt until aged 65 but has not played since 1997 at Royal St George's] this year?

No, I’m not playing enough to kid myself that I can ‘be an athlete’ when I don’t play full-time. If I put my mind to it, I feel I could 38

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

How’s your game?

Not too bad but I made the choice a long time ago not to be an athlete, whereas the likes of a Peter Senior, for example, continued to play on through their 40s, kept fit and kept their games sharp. Guys like Kenny Perry, who was winning on the PGA Tour right up to turning 50, are so hard to beat. Bernhard Langer, Freddie Couples showed this year how good he continues to be. To compete with the young guys and the best of the seniors these days, you have to drive the ball long and straight whereas my game has always been about placement.

That’s not to say that occasionally I can’t play well and compete though. I still love the game and love playing but I’m just not willing to stop doing everything else I’ve been doing for the last decade or more to pretend to be an athlete again. So I have no great expectations or a desire to have to prove myself.

When do you plan to debut?

I’m thinking I’ll play the Toshiba Classic in March and then I might have a look at some events on the European Senior Tour if the timing is OK. After that, I work for CBS virtually from the Masters in April through to September so there will be little chance of me playing again until October. I’ll come back to play the Aussie Senior Open too at the end of the year.

HKGOLFER.COM

It’s a bit lonely for Aussies on the Champions Tour, just Pete Senior and you. Steve Elkington isn’t far away and Greg Norman always seems to be busy with other things. Are you sending a few of the other blokes – the likes of Mike Harwood, Peter Fowler and Wayne Grady – texts to tell them to get practicing?

[Laughing] Yeah, Pete is our main guy now and I fully expect to see him win this year after such as good year in 2010. What he did at the end of the year at the Australian PGA [Senior won in a playoff from Geoff Ogilvy] was outstanding. The likes of Harwood, "Chook" Fowler and Mike Clayton play full-time on the European Tour. I’m not sure of the schedule there but it would be good to play a few events over there. It seems to be a bit more of a relaxed tour, like the old days.

Yes, it will be a strong team but then again, it’s always a strong team. I just hope the prospect of qualifying for the team doesn’t result in some of them putting too much pressure on themselves to perform in 2011. It might play on their minds, trying too hard to get in.

Looking back this time next year, what’s your pass mark for your golf in 2011?

That I’ve put myself in a relaxed enough frame of mind to go out and enjoy myself. If I can do that, I think I can perform well enough.

What about the ponytail, earring and Harley?

[Laughing] No, I’ll stay as I am!

Major player (clockwise from top left): IBF with fellow past Open winner Sam Sneed in the past champions curtainraiser event at the 2000 Open Championship at St Andrews; celebrating his 1991 Open success with daughter Hayley; with Peter Thomson and Greg Norman at the 1996 President's Cup where was the International team's assistant captain.

Who do you think will be an emerging or breakthrough player in 2011 on Tour?

I love Ricky Fowler, the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. I like the look of Rory McIllroy who I think will continue to do big things in 2011. I’d like to see Lee Westwood win a major to solidify his position as the number one in the world. Graeme McDowell is another, although I see he’s changing equipment from Callaway to Srixon so I hope that works out well for him.

He had such a great year and it was great to see the two European players, Martin Kaymer and he, win majors last year.

Tell me a bit about your course design work? Are there more on the drawing board or it is taking a backseat this year?

There is a lot of redesign work going on but the development of new courses has dried up quite a lot of late. However, I’m doing a course in China and I’m also doing some work with Jim Urbina, who was a co-designer of the new Old Macdonald links course at Bandon Dunes in Oregon.

No doubt you'll be in Australia later in the year for the President’s Cup at Royal Melbourne.

Are you interested in reprising your role as an assistant if asked?

I’ll be there but I haven’t thought about that.

I haven’t spoken to [captain] Greg [Norman] at all about the President’s Cup but I’d definitely be interested if I was asked, I’d be honoured to help out. He and Frank Nobilo did a good job last time in San Francisco and I know they’d dearly love to win it in Melbourne.

A long way to go of course but the standings at the moment suggest a strong Australian and South African contingent for the International team, with probably Camilo Villegas and a few of the Asian players to add in. Not a bad looking team so far?

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39

punting

Euro Optimism Resident tipster Archie Albatross believes that European players will continue to make waves in 2011

A

h, the New Year. The time when a golf fanatic’s thoughts turn to knuckling down to that short game practice or straightening out the old three-iron once and for all. And – for those who enjoy their golf served up with a glass of nice Pinot something* on the sofa – time to gaze into the crystal ball of professional golf predictions and hatch plans to conquer the old enemy – the bookmakers who think they know it all.

With the increasing overlap of top players on both the PGA and European Tours, it’s becoming harder and harder to pick the season-long winners in each region. It is especially difficult to make an early prediction on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai given so much depends 42

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

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upon the pros' schedules later in the season. So we’ll take a look at a selection of players tipped to succeed on both side of the Pond and then spend a little time value spotting some of the markets, especially for those compelling, stayup-til-dawn major tournaments.

Ryder Cup Warriors

All eyes will be on the triumphant European players from Celtic Manor and an expectation that the many impressive performances from the blue team will transfer into continued success in 2011. Of those players, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy strike me as being the most promising to follow this year.

Westwood will clearly build his entire season around peaking at the majors. Due to his consistency and versatility, he has strong claims in all four championships – unlike other perennial contenders who play to a style (the doe-eyed Phil Mickelson, for example). If he could pick a time to peak however, it would almost certainly be in June and July, for both Congressional and Royal St George’s should be right up his alley. Assuming he stays healthy, we should expect to see the current world number one in contention many times this year, although from a betting point of view, the 7/2 on offer for him to win his first major looks a wee bit skinny.

Luke Donald, however, tempts me at 12/1 for any of the big ones. Another player who has struggled with injury, Donald now seems back to his best and has the experience, temperament and ‘feel’ of a major winner. The US Open or USPGA would seem his best chances, although he likes Augusta and can more than handle himself on a windswept links. So if, like me, you fancy Donald’s overall chances, I recommend a few early notes on him for a major and for fun maybe add a small flutter on the teaser bet for him to finish in the top 10 of all the majors at 100/1.

As for McIlroy, if he can chalk up an early victory, he could get the momentum to have a truly stellar year. Be warned however that as the current punter’s HKGOLFER.COM

darling, the bookies have already gotten hold of him. Sharp odds on for any single tour victory and 16/1 for the Open Championship are much too short for value in January. A bit more tempting is the 9/2 on him winning the Race to Dubai as his schedule will prioritise the European Tour and you get the feeling he would love to have that distinction.

That the Race to Dubai concept has currency at all says a great deal about the viability and development of the European Tour, its players and fans. Many believe it offers a truer climax to the season than the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and make no mistake, the Euros take it seriously.

Westwood, 2010 winner Martin Kaymer and McIroy are the short priced favourites (all under 5/1) but outsider hunters may want to look for better value with Miguel Angel Jimenez, who’s currently a very healthy 80/1. The old goat still has great game and is resolutely committed to playing in Europe. The price reflects his unfashionability (that ‘tail surely has to go soon!) and I suggest a minor punt each-way or go short the index at similar prices.

Trans-Atlantic titans: Archie reckons Luke Donald will carry over his solid form to 2011 (left); while Steve Stricker could be a contender at the Masters in April (below)

*While an increasing number of notable golfers now have their own wine labels, something from the Luke Donald Collection would do very nicely. Readers should note that Archie’s positive predictions for the Englishman were in no way affected by a very nice drop of the 2005 LDC Napa Valley that he enjoyed over the festive season.

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

43

Ryder Cup Wounded

The American talent pool is clearly currently overshadowed in the golfing public’s eye by the young Europeans but it would be a mistake to overestimate the depth of the American challengers.

The big four Americans at the moment are of course Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Jim Fuyrk and Steve Stricker. You could draw any of them out of your company raffle for the Masters (or almost any other event) and feel favoured by Lady Luck. No doubt their talent and experience will make them contenders in 2011.

If I had one common concern however, it might be about motivation. For different reasons, I sense the drive might not be as great as with their junior challengers. That’s not quite true for Tiger of course, and he'll be desperate to re-establish the dominance he once had.

Naturally, it’s hard to exclude any of them from any staking plan but the value bet looks like Stricker to win the US Money List at 33/1.

The interest for me will be to see how those who emerged in 2010 will handle another season in the limelight. It is tricky to forecast how the likes of Nick Watney, Jeff Overton and Rickie Fowler will deal with an off-season and the weight of

greater expectations. If I had to pick some seasonlong picks, I would look to the marginally more experienced and mature heads of Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson. Both played consistently well last year and if starting the year in Hawaii and California, they could be strong challengers in the majors (any major: 10/1 and 33/1 respectively) and the US Money List (16/1 and 150/1). I also can’t resist feeling another strong season for Ben Crane (200/1 for the FedEx Cup) – another golfer who seems to have settled very comfortably into a habit of top 25 finishes (12 out 24 starts in 2010).

Continental Rivalry

For major devotees, the best value on offer is a novelty bet offered by that old rogue Victor Chandler in a ‘Region to Win Most Majors’ market. Here the European group is offered at a surprising 9/4. In addition to the Ryder Cup warriors mentioned above, the likes of Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Robert Karlsson and the Molinari brothers all deserve to squeeze into this article as potential challengers. Similarly, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Ross Fisher and Martin Laird cannot be overlooked. If you have just one season-long punt this year, this should be it.

Senior Spread Another year on, another year older and for many of us the Champions Tour has an increasing level of interest. The performances aren't half bad either, with Bernhard Langer setting an extraordinarily high standard over the past three years.

One of the best features of this tour is that with every new season, familiar faces from the regular tour pass their fiftieth birthday and

44

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

become Champions Tour ‘rookies’. Many of us felt old Father Time knocking us hard when we saw Freddie Couples stroll languidly into the picture in 2010 – and he did not disappoint his fans, winning four times and finishing second in the Charles Schwab Cup rankings. If he stays fits, Freddie and his funky golf sneakers will surely be pushing Langer again this year.

But the best value bet in golf – on any tour

– falls on the broad shoulders of Kentuckian Kenny Perry. Perry turned 50 late last year and has played just twice amongst his age group – but this huntin’, shootin’, fishin’ nut is bound to make a big impact with a full calendar year in his crosshairs. Kenny is not going out there to sit on a porch-swing and banter with his old pals either. When asked what message the Champions Tour’s new youngest player wanted to send to his peers, Perry gave a typically feisty response: “Tell ‘em there’s gonna be a new sheriff in town. The players who are now out on the Champions Tour wore me out during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Payback is tough and I’m coming for them”.

Followers of this column over the years will know that I like Kenny’s chances as a ‘sleeper’ punt every time he tees it up and he has not often disappointed. If he can take his current form (16/20 cuts made on the PGA Tour last year) and that fighting talk into the three-day format, he should contend every single week. For this reason, the bet of the year is the 12/1 currently on offer for Kenny to win the Champions Tour Money List. If you consider (with the quarter odds offered each way) you can therefore get 3/1 on him joining Langer and Couples in any of the top three spots – I would heavily overweight your staking on Perry to take the Champions Tour by storm.

HKGOLFER.COM

From the President December 1995 will go down as one of the most important months in the history of Hong Kong golf. It was then that the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course commenced operations, thereby giving those local golf enthusiasts without club membership a place to play.

Kau Sai Chau recently celebrated its fifteenth anniversary and in the years since, the facility has earned a much-deserved reputation for excellence. Regularly touted as the finest public golfing venue in Asia, the three courses – the original Gary Player-designed North and South layouts and the three-year-old East – have played their part in the development of tens of thousands of new golfers magnificently. Its role at the very centre of golf in this city cannot be exaggerated and the Hong Kong Golf Association is very grateful for their support, especially their support of junior golf. I very much look forward to seeing the continuing growth and success of Kau Sai Chau over the next 15 years.

Kau Sai Chau was the host venue of the Mizuno Winter Junior Championship late December, which was won in fine style by Tiffany Chan and Shinichi Mizuno. Shinichi, who was the only amateur to play in November's UBS Hong Kong Open, has played some excellent golf recently and he

will join many of Hong Kong's finest amateurs in the field of the Montrose Fine Wines Hong Kong Close Amateur Championship over the Lunar New Year. The Close, which was won by Liu Lok-tin last year, is one of the city's most eagerly anticipated events and is sure to once again provide a very worthy winner.

Stefan Albinski proved to be a very worthy winner at December's Ulferts Hong Kong Seniors Open Amateur Championship. The Australian successfully defended the title he won the year before with a super display at the Hong Kong Golf Club. Hong Kong players were well represented at the event, with Joe Pethes and Terry Collins finishing in a tie for fourth.

Another event of note that is reported in these pages of this, the fiftieth issue of HK Golfer, is the Ageas Pairs Championship. Played annually at Discovery Bay Golf Club, the event's betterball format makes it an especially enjoyable tournament to participate in. Congratulations to all the winners and a note to all those who wish to play in it next year – sign up early! It's one of the most popular events on the calendar.

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

—Ning Li

President HKGA

Shinichi Wins Mizuno Dream Cup HK Qualifying

Shinichi Mizuno is a step closer to fulfilling his dream of playing in the Open Championship at Royal St Georges this summer, but the 17-year-old West Island 46

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

School student isn’t about to book his flights to the United Kingdom just yet.

The aptly-surnamed Shinichi won the final Hong Kong leg of the Mizuno Dream Cup at the end of January, a result that earns him a berth into final qualifying for the Mizuno Open Championship -Yomiuri Classic, a Japan Golf Tour event held at the end of May. Whoever triumphs there will earn a much coveted spot at Sandwich in July.

Nagoya-bor n Sh i n ich i, a Hong Kong international, seen here with the Japanese sports brand’s Ken Takafuku, fired a 76 over the Eden Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club to finish ahead of junior A mbrose Ta m (81), Chu

Koon-ching (81) and Derick Leung (90). Like Shinichi, Tam qualified for the four-man field courtesy of a high f inish at the Mizuno Winter Junior Championship. Chu and Leung earned their places after performing well at Mission Hills during the first Hong Kong leg of the Dream Cup. Despite the margin of his victory, Shinichi didn’t have everything go his way, especially after Chu, a senior, birdied four of the first eight holes to take the lead. A disastrous eight at the par-3 9th ruined Chu’s hopes however, and the long-hitting Mizuno, the only amateur to play in last year’s UBS Hong Kong Open, was able to cruise to victory.

HKGOLFER.COM

news

City Links Corporate Golf League: The War on Wyndham Calling all corporate golf warriors. City Links Golf Lounge, the swish indoor golf centre-cum-bar on Wyndham Street in Central, is now accepting entries for Hong Kong's first and only indoor Corporate Golf League. Starting from March 8, eight two-player teams will compete over seven weeks, playing on City Links' state-of-the-art golf simulators, for the War on Wyndham Trophy. The winning team will also earn a golf weekend for two to Thailand and HK$50,000 will be donated to a charity of their choice. Although only two players compete each week, each team may consist of up to eight players, which can be substituted at any time throughout the league. Entry fee per team is HK$15,000 and all players must possess a valid handicap. Visit www.citylinksgolf.com to register.

March Date for 2011 Ageas HKPGA Championship

Charles McLaughlin (Gatto)

This year's Ageas HKPGA Championship, the most prestigious professional event in local golf outside of the Hong Kong Open, sees a new date and a return to its original format.

To be played from March 29-31 the event will be headlined once again by Wayne Grady, the 1990 USPGA champion, who made his debut in September last year. The Australian, who narrowly lost out in a play-off to Mark Calcavecchia at the 1989 Open Championship at Royal Troon, finished second to Shenzhen-based American CJ Gatto (pictured) in 2010 and says he's looking forward to returning to Hong Kong.

"I really enjoyed last year and will be hoping to go one better this time around," said Grady, who works as a commentator for the BBC and Channel Nine in Australia when he's not competing. "It's a great event and thanks to Ageas' involvement, it has a really bright future."

Sponsored for the second successive year by Ageas, one of the largest insurance companies in the world, the 54-hole stroke play tournament will be played over three different courses, which is how the championship started life back in 1976. The first and second rounds will be held over the Old Course at Fanling and Clearwater Bay, while the North Course at The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course will host he all-important final round. The Pro-Am will be played on March 28 at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Among the local professionals vying for the title, which boasts a HK$300,000 prize fund, include two-time winner Dominique Boulet, 2001 champion Derek Fung and 2010 Order of Merit winner Wong Woon-man.

Stuart Fraser, CEO of Ageas Insurance Company (Asia), said: "It's all set to be an exciting championship with the best Hong Kong professionals going up against players from around the region. We're delighted to welcome back both Wayne Grady and defending champion CJ Gatto and look forward to witnessing three days of first-class championship golf."

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HK GolferăƒťFeb/Mar 2011

Max Claims US Kids Win in Hawaii Congratulations to Hong Kong's Max Ting who triumphed in spectacular fashion at the US Kids Golf 2010 Ka'anapali Hawaiian Classic in December.

Max, a member at Clearwater Bay, improved on each day, firing rounds of 75, 73 and 72 to claim the Boys' Age 10 Division by a notable 11 strokes. As a result of his win, Max earns a berth at the US Kids World Championship, which will be held at the venerable Pi nehu rst Re sor t i n Nor t h Carolina in August. This is the third consecutive year that Max has qualified for the event, considered one of junior golf's top events.

HKGOLFER.COM

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mizuno winter junior championship

In the groove (clockwise from right): Shinichi Mizuno; Cheria Heng; Ambrose Tam; Liu Lok-tin; James Inge; Anthony Tam; Kitty Tam; Tiffany Chan

Winter Wonders

Shinichi and Tiffany live up to their billing as preevent favourites with comfortable wins at Kau Sai Chau at the end of December

Kitty Tam, whose wonderfully languid swing enables her to drive the ball impressive distances, showed signs of a return to form – her second round of 77 earned her third spot (and also victory in the 13-14 age group), one better than Mimi Ho and Cheria Heng who tied for fourth.

For a full list of results visit www.hkga.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL WONG

T

iffany Chan underlined her status as the best female golfer in Hong Kong with her fourth straight Mizuno Winter Junior Championship girls' title, while Shinichi Mizuno proved his credentials as one of the rising stars of the local men's game by topping the overall boys' division.

The first day of the 36-hole tournament, held on the South Course at The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course, was played in particularly windy conditions, which made the par-69 Gary Playerdesigned layout a far more difficult test than its relatively diminutive yardage might suggest. Ambrose Tam, led the way in the overall boys' category with a respectable 77. Mizuno, was one back, while Anthony Tam, the reigning champion and no relation to Ambrose, was a further shot adrift on 79.

The second day was a different story, however. In far calmer conditions, Mizuno, a former Hong Kong Junior Close champion, showed his class with a stellar one-under-par 68 to walk away with the title. Ambrose placed second, seven shots back, following a 76, although he had the consolation of claiming the 13-14 age title. Talented Marcus Lam leapt up the leaderboard into third spot thanks to a solid 72. Liu Lok-tin, the star of 2010 after collecting both the Hong Kong Amateur Close and Open titles, was off his game however. His two-round total of 158 (20-over-par) left his well off the pace in a share of fifth.

In the girls' section, Chan led from start to finish, rounds of 74 and 76 giving her a three-shot cushion over fellow Hong Kong international Michelle Cheung.

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HK GolferăƒťFeb/Mar 2011

OVERALL BOYS DIVISION 1 2 3 4 5=

7=

10=

Shinichi Mizuno Ambrose Tam Marcus Lam Anthony Tam Liu Lok-tin Terrence Ng Tom Scott Jackie Chan Matthew Cheung Antony Lung

78 68 77 76 84 72 79 78 81 77 80 78 87 73 84 76 83 77 85 77

146 153 156 157 158 158 160 160 160 162

OVERALL GIRLS DIVISION 1 2 3 4=

6 7 8=

10

Tiffany Chan Michelle Cheung Kitty Tam Mimi Ho Cheria Heng Kimberley Wong Christy Chong Michelle Ho Emily Vickie Leung Carol Ho

74 76 77 76 86 77 85 79 84 80 86 81 85 85 92 82 91 83 91 86

150 153 163 164 164 167 170 174 174 177

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51

seniors open

Albinski Reigns Supreme Brilliant Aussie lights up Old Course en route to defending Ulferts Seniors Open title at Hong Kong Golf Club REPORT BY ALEX JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL WONG

A

ustralia's Stefan Albinski continued his love affair with the Old Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club by racking up his second successive Ulferts Hong Kong Seniors Open Amateur title in early December.

Albinski, 57, finished the three-round championship with a total of 220 (10-over-par) and a three-shot victory over fellow countrymen John Beaumont and Greg Corben in second. Joe Pethes placed third, six shots back, and was awarded the Alan Sutcliffe Salver for finishing as the highest placed Hong Kong player. Pethes pipped Terry Collins on countback for the trophy thanks to his final round 77. The local pair finished alongside another Australian, Grahame MacDonald, on a score of 226.

"Last year was my first time in Hong Kong and I loved it," said Albinski, who plays out of the seaside Mona Vale Golf Club to the north of Sydney. "This year has been exceptional; it 52

HK GolferăƒťFeb/Mar 2011

wasn't easy out there, but I'm delighted I made the trip and ended up on top of a strong field. It's been a great week."

Albinski, an Australian international who plays with an eye-catching yellow Srixon ball, proved his class by winning wire-to-wire. Carding back-to-back rounds of 73, the reigning champion, buoyed by a comfortable cushion, shot 74 to ease to victory. In addition to the silverware, Albinski earned a HK$6,000 voucher from Ulferts, a leading European furniture retailer, for his efforts.

Rou nd- of-t he-week honours went to Beaumont.

Opening with indifferent scores of 78 and 76, the Aussie fired a brilliant one-under 69 in the last round to leap into second place. The 61-year-old won the 60-64 age category as a result of his efforts, while Pethes, a three-time Seniors Close champion, picked up the 65-69 age title.

Overall Results 1 2=

4=

7=

10

Stefan ALBINSKI John BEAUMONT Greg CORBEN Grahame MacDONALD Joe PETHES Terry COLLINS William CHUNG PANG Yat-wai David WILLIS John BLACKWOOD

AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA HONG KONG HONG KONG HONG KONG HONG KONG CANADA HONG KONG

73 73 74 78 76 69 76 74 73 75 78 73 75 74 77 74 73 79 78 80 74 75 80 77 74 78 80 77 82 75

220 223 223 226 226 226 232 232 232 234

For a full list of results visit www.hkga.com

HKGOLFER.COM

Fanling contenders (clockwise from top left): Terry Collins in action; Pang Yat-wai; Australia's John Beamont; fellow countryman Grahame MacDonald; Stefan Albinski lifts the silverware for a second time; presentation laughs; Joe Pethes, top Hong Kong player

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53

ageas hk pairs

Perfect Partnership Tang and Chiu combine once again for Ageas Hong Kong Pairs triumph REPORT BY ALEX JENKINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHARLES McLAUGHLIN

F

or the second year running, Tang Kei-hin and Chiu Choi-lung emerged victorious at the ever-popular Ageas Pairs Tournament, which was held in early December at Discovery Bay Golf Club. The duo recorded 37 Gross Stableford points in the event's better-ball format over the Diamond/Ruby layout to pip the team of Gus Scott and Terry Greene on countback. Richard Phoebus and Rungnapa Winchester, who won the title in 2008, placed third following their 36-point haul.

The event, which was being sponsored for the first time by Ageas, one of the largest insurance companies in Hong Kong, featured over 100 competitors and was played under gloriously sunny skies. Conditions at Discovery Bay were, as ever, sublime with the beautifully manicured greens running at around 11 on the stimpmeter. Maurice de Mauriac, makers of luxury Swiss watches, and SkyCaddie, the number one rangefinder in golf, debuted as associate sponsors of the long-running tournament.

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HK GolferăƒťFeb/Mar 2011

In the Nett Division, the partnership of Jean Paul Cuvelier and Dallas Reid once again reigned supreme, the pair's impressive total of 48 points earning them their second title in three years. Their effort, which was effectively 12-under the card, was three points better than the second placed team of Philip Tam and Alwin Tsang. Au Chi-wai and Fung Kwan earned third spot with 44 points.

Stuart Fraser, CEO of Ageas Insurance (Asia), said: "Ageas is delighted to sponsor the Pairs, which is one of most popular eagerly anticipated amateur golf tournaments in Hong Kong. It has been a tremendous event and congratulations to the winners. Our thanks go to Discovery Bay Golf Club, the Hong Kong Golf Association and all the participants involved."

Gross Division Results 1 2 3 4 5

Tang Kei-hin / Chiu Choi-lung Gus Scott / Terry Greene Richard Phoebus / Rungnapa Winchester Michael Stott / Jay Won Jean Paul Cuvelier / Dallas Reid

37* 37 36# 36 35

Nett Division Results 1 2 3 4=

Jean Paul Cuvelier / Dallas Reid Philip Tam / Alwin Tsang Au Chi-wai / Fung Kwan Domine Ko / Roy Lee Angus Sexton / Peter Macfarlane

48 45 44 43 43

* Won on countback # Third on countback For a full list of results visit www.hkga.com

HKGOLFER.COM

Doubling up (clockwise from top left): Charles McLaughlin and David Hui show off their bunker skills; Peter Kim rues a missed put; Tang and Chiu, winners of the gross division; Cuvelier and Reid, victors in the nett section; Alistair Laband pitches to the eighteenth; Stuart Fraser of Ageas is oh so close.

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HK GolferăƒťFeb/Mar 2011

55

junior golf

EFG Bank HKGA Junior Tour Grand Final Shinya and Phyllis Star in Top Divisions

T

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL WONG

he Hong Kong Golf Club's Deep Water Bay course was the venue for the second playing of the EFG Bank Junior Tour Grand Final in mid-January. Featuring a full field of young golfers, the event, which was open to golfers up to the age of 14, proved once again to be a great success and was highlighted by a number of fine individual performances.

Shinya Mizuno, brother of Shinichi Mizuno, a Hong Kong international, performed admirably. carding a 63 to win the Boys 13-14 age division by an impressive six strokes. In the Girls 13-14 age division, Phyllis Tang's 73 earned her a slender one-shot win over Peony Tan in second place. As sponsors of the Hong Kong Golf Association's Junior Development Programme, EFG Bank's role in local junior golf continues to be signifcant – and the Junior Tour illustrates the increased number of playing opportunities now available to budding young golfers in the city.

Shinya Mizuno

Phyllis Tang

Champions Boys 13-14: Girls 13-14: Boys 11-12: Girls 11-12: Boys 9-10: Girls 9-10: Boys 8 & Under: Girls & Under:

Shinya Mizuno Phyllis Tang Taiga Iwasa Emily Vickie Leung Max Ting Vanessa Yan Nathan Han Stephanie Wong

For a full list of results visit www.hkga.com 56

HK GolferăƒťFeb/Mar 2011

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HK Golfer Events

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With over twenty years’ experience, HK Golfer Events is Hong Kong and southern China’s leading golf tournament and event organizers HK Golfer events is a division of HK Golfer, Hong Kong’s premier golf publication. Call (852) 3590 4153 or email info@hkgolferevents.com

HK Golfer

results

Around the Clubs The Hong Kong Golf Club Monthly Medal – Gross Section 4 December Donald Moore won the Monthly Medal Gross Section played over the New Course with a 75 on countback over the last nine holes from Joe Pethes.

Monthly Medal – Nett Section 4 December Joe Pethes won the Monthly Medal Nett Section played over the New Course with a 72 on countback over the last nine holes from John Arnold.

Eden Trophy – Gross Section 5 December Doug Williams won the Eden Trophy Gross Section played over the Eden Course with +3. Eric Saxvik was the runner-up with -4.

Eden Trophy – Nett Section 5 December David Wong won the Eden Trophy Nett Section played over the Eden Course with +5. Doug Williams was the runner-up with +3.

HKGC v Singapore Island 11 December Played on Eden Course HKGC: 33 Points SICC: 23½ Points Senior Golfers Cup – Gross Section Joe Pethes won the Senior Golfers Cup Gross Section played over the Old Course with 32 points. Donald Moore was the runner-up with 29 points.

Seniors Golfers Cup – Nett Section David Wong won the Senior Golfers Cup Nett Section played over the Old Course with 41 points. Alistair Laband was the runner-up with 38 points.

HKGC v Royal Bangkok 18 December HKGC: 23½ Points RBSC: 10 Points Arthur Woo Trophy 19 December Ken Ko won the Arthur Woo Trophy played over the New Course with 32 points. Patrick Lam was the runner-up with 30 points.

Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club

Charles McLaughlin

Men's/Mixed Division

Dragon Cup 5 December Gross Winners:

Nett Winners:

Stuart Gethin, Raaj Shah, Edwin Kam & Giles Scott (57) Maggie Ho, William Ho, Angela Lau & Matthew Lau (54)

Founders Cup 11-12 December Gross Winner: Gross Runner-up: Nett Winner: Nett Runner-up:

Stuart Gethin (158) Giles Scott (160) Fursy Chung (153) Tommy Shiu (154 C/B)

Captain's Cup 18 December Gross Winner: Gross Runner-up: Nett Winner: Nett Runner-up:

Tony Melloy (78) Giles Scott (80) Jackson Chu (72) Tony Melloy (74)

Chairman's Cup 18 December Winner: Denis Cheung (39 points) Runner-up: Chow Tak-yiu (36 C/B) 58

2010/JAN 2011 2011 HK Golfer・DEC Golfer・Feb/Mar

Ladies' Division

December Stableford 1 December Division 1 Winner: Lydia Mak (40 points) Division 2 Winner: Catherine To (41) December Medal 8 December Division 1 Gross Winner: Division 1 Nett Winner: Division 2 Gross Winner: Division 2 Nett Winner:

Callie Botsford (84) Madoka Murayama (76) Fizzy Pavri (96) Miko Kudo (73)

Christmas Scramble 15 December Winners: Joanne McKee, Callie Botsford,

Jennifer Wan & Peggy Wong (57 C/B) Runners-up: K Iijima, Winnie Lam,

Cindy Chung & Mose Mak (57)

Discovery Bay Golf Club Chairman's Cup 4-5 December Nett Winner: Nett Runner-up: Best Gross: Day One Best Nett: Day Two Best Nett:

DS Koh (141) Kimitoshi Hoshiyama (142) Stephen Ahmoye (150) Oscar Ho (68) Jamo Lo (69)

Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau JCKSC 15th Anniversary Cup 13 December Winners: Chang Chun-chau, Joseph Ren,

Teddy Inn & Liu Hsuch-chin (52.8) Second place: Dai Xiao-ming, Jacky Lam,

Bei Kwok-ho & Pan Ying-jie (53.2) Third place: Norton Chan, Edwin Wong,

Eric Lam & Wilson Ng (53.9)

Hong Kong Golf Association 12th Dr George Choa Cup 23-24 December Winners: HKGA 1 - Tiffany Chan, Liu Lok-tin,

Terrence Ng & Ambrose Tam (431) Second place: SZGA 3 - Fan Shi-yu, Jian Chuan-lin,

Luo Ying & Wu Sha (435) Third place: SZFG - Lai Guan-jun, Liang Ce,

Wang Wen-peng & Yin Yuan-ru (456)

Tiffany Chan helped HKGA 1 claim the honours at the 12th Dr George Choa Cup HKGOLFER.COM

hk golf history

HONG KONG GOLF

IN THE 1960s - Part Two

Taken from chapter seven of his magnificent travelogue Golf Addict Goes East (Country Life, 1967), George Houghton turns his attention to golf at Shek O Country Club, a venue he describes as the most fragrant spot in Hong Kong.

TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS © Country Life

Hong Kong Has a Shangri-La

We were invited to a party by the Skipper of the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club, Colonel the Honourable ‘Duggie’ Clague at his home among the parasol pines near Fanling.

Many golfing, and non-golfing, people sipped and chatted on smooth law n s by t he s w i m m i n g p o ol.

Economist Sir Joseph Lockwood discussed with the Governor how free enterprise has made for the great prosperity of Hong Kong. We were getting into deep water so I reminded Lord Shawcross of a golf story he once told at a ‘30 Club’ dinner in London.

Lady Shawcross doesn’t play. ‘A toast to the other vices,’ she said, raising her glass, and we all went indoors to cold salmon, sucking pig and a dozen eastern alternatives all worth coming from England to sample.

Duggie Clague has a mammoth group of Hong Kong businesses embracing everything from heavy industry to the large- scale manufacture of artificial flowers. He also has a ‘London house’ on the Sunningdale golf course. During the war he was taken prisoner by the Japanese, escaped, and led guerillas. He was one of the senior officers who took the surrender when the enemy left the island. Once, ‘just to take a look see’, he returned to Hong Kong Island under the enemy’s nose and had a bathe in Deep Water Bay. With a bathe in mind in addition to golf the Golf Widow and I also went to Deep Water Bay. We had in store the pleasure of hearing a senior professional 60

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

talking of the old days. Deep Water Bay is six miles from Hong Kong and costs only 8s. in one of the fleet of taxis owned by Chinese golf addict, Mr Choy.

The golf club comes under the banner of Roya l Hong Kong a nd t he maest ro commanding is Bill Hitchens, a professional golfer since 1910, when he worked in a London club-making factory in East Sheen. After the 1914-18 war Bill became assistant at Richmond Park under J. H. Taylor’s brother Josh. Then he came to the Royal Hong Kong club and without much doubt was the first British golf professional to be appointed in the Far East.

No-one in any walk of working life puts in more hours than the old senior golf pros and this applies to Bill. He lives on the Kowloon side of the water and leaves his home at about 6.30 a.m. to be at Deep Water at 8 o’clock. He seldom finishes before 8 o’clock in the evening and rarely takes a day off.

Deep Water Bay is a short, 9 holes course, less than 3,500 yards, twice round. More than once, Bill has done nine consecutive threes. He doesn’t claim this as a tremendous golfing feat, but it is a couple of shots inside par and when it happens the lovely valley in which the course is set looks even more beautiful.

High hills, broken only with semi-skyscrapers perched on crags, arise on three sides and the entrance to the glen stretches down to a pleasant HKGOLFER.COM

sandy beach. During the war, when the Japanese were in occupation, the clubhouse was used as a piggery, and going back further there were wild tigers and grey wolves. A python, eleven feet in length, was caught, stuffed and displayed in the bar. Also, ladies were wearing shorts on the course and I am wondering if this is the first instance of such frivolity in golf.

Deep Water Bay G.C. was always progressive.

There was once a caddie-strike and 100 sepoys were sent over from the barracks to relieve difficulties. When the club became completely mechanised in 1927 the labouring water-buffaloes went, but in t hat year foxes became a nuisance. Also, Bernard Shaw visited the club.

‘Hong Kong’ is Chinese for ‘Fragrant Harbour’, but by far the most fragrant spot we visited on the island is the Shek O Country Club, just fourteen miles from the buzzing crowds who make money instead of honey.

Shek O is a sheltered, though not so secret valley. Twenty-one householders living there own the golf club (limited to 300 members), the swimming pool, such accoutrements as a small driving range, and an army of devoted club servants. There is considerable visitor restriction at the club; also, only twenty-one building sites are allowed on the estate. None of the rank and file membership has any say in the running of the club and that suits everyone, including the Shek O Development Company which owns the lot.

The Convenor (they don’t have a President, Captain or Professional) is the executive boss, and his rule is absolute, benevolent and, of course, honorary. My buddy Graeme Nicholl is the Secretar y. He reports to the Convenor (currently the genial Walter Vaughan, a past-captain of Royal Hong Kong), and he, old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, report to the chairman of the company.

The clubhouse, a simple bijou, is built on a peak looking down on the serene valley which is sheltered from the noisy world, and laid out as a charming golf course.

Because, here and there, rock comes to the surface, the lie HKGOLFER.COM

The impression of playing in a lovely valley is constant. You are away from unpleasant things.

Within minutes of arrival, the Golf Widow and I both said ‘Shangri-la!’

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One day, the Secretary was making a course inspection when he was accosted by a homely little chap. They passed the time of day, and the visitor said: ‘Nice course you have here. My name’s Joe Kraft and I’m from Chicago. I make cheese.’

of your ball could once be improved on the outward 9, but you can’t improve the view. At all times the links is a short shot from the sea. At the 6th (Land’s End) you have to carry a neck of ocean with your drive as at the renowned hole at Pebble Beach in California. The 18 holes stretch to about 5,000 yards, short enough, but so pleasant, particularly for the predominantly senior membership with corresponding avoir du pois.

The impression of playing in a lovely valley is constant. You are away from unpleasant things.

Within minutes of arrival, the Golf Widow and 62

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I both said ‘Shangri-la!’ As for testing golf, don’t expect too much. Kel Nagle holds the course record with 58 that can’t last. But who cares.

The members of Shek O really rally round.

Mr Nordahl Wallem (I hope he will excuse me for tossing in the fact that he is a Norwegian millionaire) has generously presented a new watering system, and someone else is giving a ski-lift to transport players from the 17th green to the lofty 18th tee. The bridges over burns are ships’ plates from the docks... In fact, Shek O affluence is liberal in an unobtrusive way.

One day, the Secretary was making a course inspection when he was accosted by a homely little chap. They passed the time of day, and the visitor said: ‘Nice course you have here. My name’s Joe Kraft and I’m from Chicago. I make cheese.’

Everyone who is anyone tries to take a peep at Shek O. Many of the twenty-one villas looking down on the valley are owned by the large Hong Kong companies and are used by their executives for entertaining. Jardine Matheson’s have the one with the St Andrews flag, and a United States businessman has the ‘Hanging Gardens of Babylon’ that rises as a background to the 15th green.

Also, we met a very remarkable club servant.

Mr Lau Kang Poo has been the Chief Steward at Shek O for more than a quarter of a century. But he is much much more. As Headman, or elder, of Shek O village he is a man of considerable importance. The village is a col lect ion of houses on t he promontory that juts out to sea.

All the club staff come from there and Mr Lau engages them (indoor and outdoor), determines salaries, and takes any disciplinary action necessary. He has about a hundred people in his charge.

In a small basement room, an abacus on his table, he is clearly a man of substance. His son, like most of the young men from the village, is a steward on an oceangoing liner. But the girls in the village work as caddies and for them this is considered a high honour, quite unlike the state of affairs in the villages near Fanling, where the elders said to club officials: ‘You have perverted our sons. You shall not have our daughters’ The little girl caddies at Shek O are worth coming miles to see. Three of them were recently upgraded to ‘special club assistants’.

They are Kitty, Nancy and Julie (she wanted that name after Julie Andrews) and wear snappy tight blue pants, blue sleeveless tunics with brass buttons, white silk shirts with ritzy cuffHKGOLFER.COM

links, and pale blue bandeaux in their hair. Kitty conducts the charming ‘Half Way House’ by the 10th tee. Coloured tiles, geraniums, a miniature Chinese bridge… Most attractive, like a chip from a willow-pattern plate - where you can get drinks.

These are little things, and Shek O is made up that way, with strong emphasis on homely privacy. There is a strong family side, and the swimming pool, with the professional ‘savelifer’ (as the Chinese call him), serves the dual purpose of keeping the kiddies happy and away from the golf course.

Three times a week, Billy Tingle comes over from his Hong Kong duties to give swimming and athletic instruction. Billy is five feet one inch of bounding Yorkshire energy. How he ever persuaded t he Hong Kong Cricket Club to lend him their sacred sward, bang in the centre of the city with a land value of £5,000,000, no-one will ever k now. But t he Hong Kong kiddies benefit there, because Billy puts them through his course of games and athletics. He has become a bi-weekly institution.

Every Boxing Day, and this has been going on at Shek O for years, golfers set off in sixes, each member of the ‘team’ carries one club, all different. On these occasions the tiny children of the village turn out to caddie. There have been as many as two hundred and eighty! Each gets a present, and it has been known for members to finish up by carrying their kiddie caddies!

Village life and the golf club are tightly interwoven. The Secretary told me he once had to visit the local school to report that some of the children had been playing on the course. He had serious talk with the school ma’am and with great dignity and good humour a settlement was made whereby there would be no further trespassing—in exchange for the present of a football!

There is no post off ice in the village; letters, which are rare, go for collection to the communal assembly room, where Mr Lau, the golf club Steward, is master. In the garden of the police station there is an emblem in enamelled clay of John Bull shaking hands with John Chinaman.

No starting times are ever necessary at Shek O golf. Only at weekends, when big business pauses, do the occupiers of the lovely villas escape from the city and come to recharge their batteries in the lovely valley. Then things become crowded, in a bearable way.

But normally everything at Shek O is leisurely.

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Since 1925 this is where the privileged few have relaxed. The first chairman of the company was named Bird and he chose the club motto which encircles the ibis bird and means “In the middle it is best you go’.

The Golf Widow and I left Shek O with much regret. The valley is very near to what every golf addict has in the back of his mind as a retreat for the day the football pools come up.

Hong Kong was an adventure, and meeting old and new friends was always enjoyable.

Since 1925 this is where the privileged few have relaxed. The first chairman of the company was named Bird and he chose the club motto which encircles the ibis bird and means “In the middle it is best you go’.

Most importantly, the golf took us away from the bustling cities of Victoria and Kowloon, which frankly are not for us. Colourful Chinese people, fascinating junk life, thousands of small venturous restaurants . . . We could take all that. But, towering above everything, there are menacing skyscrapers of flats, office blocks, hotels (two of which are 300 feet tall), all terrifyingly clinical. Buzzing along crowded streets like demented bees, four million lost souls chase dollars. Frightful.

‘Nothing in Hong Kong is quite as it appears to be. There’s always something else, beneath the surface,’ said Henry Heath. Of course he is right.

The British Colony started back in 1841. In those days the island had a bad reputation for illhealth, running sores, deafness and dysentery.

All that has gone. Brainy British administration and Chinese hard work have produced a kind of twentieth century civilisation.

‘It is a twenty-four hours slog,’ said a Chinese businessman. ‘I have to work much harder in Hong Kong than in China. But I know my son will get a good start,’ The Golf Widow’s great-grandfather lived here, and when he eventually returned to Plymouth he brought back his pigtailed Chinese servant. The poor chap couldn’t stand English crowds and climate, and pined until he was allowed to return to Hong Kong. To-day the reverse would happen. Unless, of course, he was a golfer living at Shek O. HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

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feature

Leader of the Links Alan McGregor, who retired as chief executive of the St Andrews Links Trust at the turn of the year, talks to Lewine Mair about his time in charge of the Home of Golf

A

lan McGregor does not disagree with the notion that he has enjoyed 13 years in arguably the best job in the game. “I think,” he nods, “that it’s because almost everyone who works in the golf industry has a passion for the game. It makes everything so much easier.”

The Open championships of 2000, 2005 and 2010 took place during McGregor’s term of office and this modest man wastes no time in picking out something he had got more wrong than right.

“After Tiger had won in 2005,” he recalled, “I remember saying that it would be the best possible scenario if he were to come back in 2010 with the chance of overtaking Jack Nicklaus’s haul of 18 majors. It seemed like a sensible call at the time.”

McGregor’s love of the game was fostered during preparatory schooldays at New Park in St Andrews. The establishment boasted a golf-mad headmaster named Derek McLeod who, whenever the great golfers of the day were in town, wasted no time in calling a holiday. “He might say it was because So-and-So had got 42 per cent or whatever in his Common Entrance exams,” says McGregor, with the 42 per cent figure hopefully having rather more to do with the telling of a good story than the hard facts.

It was in such circumstances that the young McGregor saw Peter Thomson winning the 1955 Open over the Old Course. This was the second of Thomson’s quintet of Open victories and the second year of a seven-year-run in which he never finished outside the top two.

McGregor remains one of Thomson’s greatest admirers and chuckles to this day at the memory of how his fellow member of the R&A went over to the US senior tour and won nine events in the one summer. “It was his answer to those Americans who had belittled his efforts on the grounds that he was not well known over there.

“When Peter came back,” continues McGregor, “he contented himself with a wry, ‘Well, I think they’ve heard of me now.’”

McGregor, who has given way at the Trust to Euan Loudon, formerly the chief executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, picked out the 2005 Open as the best from his 13 years. “Tiger’s win in 2000 was so amazingly perfect in every way as to be a little short of drama,” he ventures, before going on to admit that he was not entirely sure he could separate 2005 from 2010.

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Alan McGregor, St Andrews, November 2010

Courtesy of the St Andrews Links Trust

Photo courtesy of the St Andrews Links Trust

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Past champions: Tiger Woods cradles the Claret Jug after claiming victory in 2005 (below), while McGregor admits to being spellbound by John Daly's play enroute to capturing the the Open Championship title in 1995 (right)

This was down to his staff’s presentation of the course last year. Following the mother and father of all storms on the night of 30 March, the Strathtyrum and the Eden were flooded, while the Swilcan Burn was depositing salt water all over the first and eighteenth fairways of the Open championship links.

“It was all hands on deck,” says McGregor, who goes on to describe how the green-keeping team had to spray gallons of ordinary water on to the relevant areas by way of diluting the salt and keeping the damage to a minimum.

"After Tiger had won in 2005,” he recalled, “I remember saying that it would be the best possible scenario if he were to come back in 2010 with the chance of overtaking Jack Nicklaus’s haul of 18 majors. It seemed like a sensible call at the time."

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Turning around the Trust’s greenkeeping arrangements was one facet of McGregor’s reign for which he will forever be remembered. When he came to the Trust in 1998 – he came via a firm of auctioneers in Perth – there was just the one maintenance shed featuring an asbestos roof punctuated with holes from stray golf balls. The machinery inside was similarly not the best.

“If any item of equipment used on the Old Course broke down,” he says with a disbelieving shake of the head, “a course as good as the Eden had to forfeit its version of whatever it was and go without.” He undertook a £40 million investment in greenkeeping arrangements and staff training, besides embarking on a successful partnership with Toro, the golf course management people. Today, there are two maintenance centres on the links, each with a fleet of state-of-the-art machinery.

“Our core activity is keeping the courses in prime condition and, generally speaking, the feedback is great,” says McGregor.

The new Links Trust clubhouse was already in place when McGregor took up his post and, to this day, he heaps praise on his predecessor for overcoming any amount of local opposition to see the project through. Before it was built, those visiting golfers who were not based in a nearby hotel would have to change their shoes in the carpark as, indeed, McGregor and his father had to do on a trip to play the Old Course in the 1970s.

It was McGregor who was responsible for bringing the catering in-house and, shortly afterwards, for employing Danny Campbell, a first-class director of retail. As much as anything else, these twin moves have enabled the Trust to keep down the price of the locals’ golf.

For a mind-boggling, believe-it-or-not £170 (approximately HK$2,000), a St Andrews’ resident can buy himself an annual links ticket for all the courses, including the Old Course.

And for £35, he can equip himself with an annual ticket for both the nine-hole Balgove and the Strathtyrum. “The Strathtyrum is a fabulous wee course,” enthuses McGregor.

McGregor was also the man to divert more of the money made by initiatives such as the ‘Old Course Experience’ – a commercial venture which guarantees tee times for overseas corporations and groups – into the Trust’s coffers. Cheap though the game might be for the townsfolk, there are golfers from around the world who will happily pay thousands of pounds for a holiday taking in a round over the Old Course and its neighbours.

I ask McGregor to name a few of the memories which will light his retirement – much of which will be spent on the North Links in his hometown of Perth – and he wastes no time in mentioning John Daly.

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“When people think of St Andrews, they tend to think of R&A members but golf belongs to everyone in the town and John Daly absolutely fits with the place."

“ You have no idea how important St Andrews is to Americans,” continues McGregor, before advancing his story of the day a party of transatlantic visitors – “they were on a top dollar trip” – turned up to play the Old Course on just about as foul a day as the town can offer.

The CEO battled through the wind and rain to the first tee and was in the process of apologising profusely for the conditions when one of the four stopped him in his tracks.

“This is what we expected,” he said, “and we’re going to love every minute of it.”

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

AFP (Woods/Daly)

“He won before I was working for the Trust but I was spellbound by his play from the first moment he appeared in the old Dunhill Cup,” says McGregor. “When people think of St Andrews, they tend to think of R&A members but golf belongs to everyone in the town and John Daly absolutely fits with the place.

“People love him for his booming tee-shots and they love the fact that he is not afraid to bring out his driver. They also find his honesty re his various shortcomings more than a little endearing.”

From Daly, McGregor switched to Paula Creamer and her famous handstand on the Swilcan Bridge during the Ricoh Women’s British Open of 2007. “That event was a source of huge pride to everyone in the town,” recalls McGregor. “Even the most grudging of R&A members had to admit that the golf was nothing short of sensational. As for Lorena Ochoa, she was a truly wonderful champion.”

McGregor’s favourite Tiger memory relates to the 2000 Open and the night he had been attending a dinner at the Links Trust clubhouse. As he left, he noticed a gaggle of spectators standing in the half-dark beside the practice ground. Closer investigation revealed that the little crowd had stayed back to watch Tiger practising and that Tiger, in turn, had stayed back to sign autographs for every one of them. “It was very impressive,” said the former CEO. In terms of the Trust’s proliferating number of money-making ventures, no-one who knows the story will be surprised to learn that McGregor picked out the sale of the old blue starter’s box which used to stand beside the first tee on the Old Course.

His idea of selling it on eBay met with any amount of resistance from those who felt a romantic attachment to a little hut which, in reality, was every bit as uncomfortable as you would expect of a structure which had been knocked up for £21.50 in 1921.

On the day of the sale, McGregor stood in front of the clock in the Trust’s offices as the bidding got under way.

“The arrangement,” he says, “was that the bidding would stop at mid-day precisely. As the hour drew nigh, there were only two people left – a gentleman from Denmark and John Hagen from America. I had my eye on the clock all the time and it was on the stroke of mid-day that Hagen won the box with his bid of £59,000.

I have no doubt, though, that if we had not reached 12 o’clock, the two of them would have carried on.”

The money was promptly poured into the town’s junior golf, while Hagen had his prize shipped out to California.

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feature

Stevenson's Links Dr Milton Wayne highlights the connections between the legendary writer Robert Louis Stevenson and the greatest game

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AFP

obert Louis Stevenson is one of the most widely read authors of all time – his works, including Treasure Island, Kidnapped and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are among the most translated books in the history of literature. The fact is made all the more remarkable given Stevenson's near life-long battle with sickness. But perhaps more remarkable are the links between the great novelist and some of the world's finest golf courses.

Stevenson was born on November 13, 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the only son of respectable middle-class parents. Throughout his childhood, he suffered chronic health problems that confined him to his bed at his home or the family's cottage in Swanston on the outskirts of the Scottish capital. Despite his fragile state, Stevenson loved sports and, when the opportunity arose, was an eager participant in many games in and around Edinburgh.

Two golfing connections arise here. Stevenson's father, Thomas, an engineer, designed the iconic lighthouse at Turnberry, the great Open Championship links. And secondly, while Stevenson's own golfing pursuits haven't been recorded, the Writer's Museum in Edinburgh houses some of the author's personal effects from Swanston, including a guttie golf ball, with the initials 'RLS' scratched on it.

In 1867, Stevenson entered Edinburgh University as a science student, where it was tacitly understood that he would follow his father's footsteps and become a civil engineer. However, Robert was at heart a romantic, and while ostensibly working towards a science degree, he spent much of his time studying French Literature, Scottish history, and the works of Darwin and Spencer. When he confided to his father that he did not want to become an engineer and instead wished to pursue writing, his father was rather less than impressed. They settled on a compromise, where Robert would study for the Bar exam and if his literary ambitions failed, he would have a respectable profession to fall back on.

Slowly but surely, Stevenson earned a name for himself in journalism and writing in general and in 1876, on a trip to France, he met an American married woman, Fanny Vandegrift Osbourne, who was 10 years his senior. Osbourne, it seems, had travelled to Europe in an attempt to escape her estranged husband's influence.

Against the wishes of his family, Stevenson moved in with her and spent the next few years on the Continent before she returned to California's Monterey Peninsula when her divorce was finalised. Stevenson, despite his continuing poor health, made the lengthy trans-Atlantic journey to join her shortly afterwards, and by the time they were married, in 1880, he was "a mere complication of cough and bones, much fitter for an emblem of mortality than a bridegroom."

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As eccentric as ever, they spent their honeymoon in an abandoned mining camp on Mount Saint Helena, in Napa Valley, called the Silverado. He was an early fan of the wines of Napa, calling them "bottled poetry" and declaring “the smack of Californian earth will linger on the palate of your grandson." He later published an account of this stay in the travel memoir Silverado Squatters and the name became the inspiration for the Silverado Country Club, a challenging Robert Trent Jones design in the valley.

Stevenson loved the land in Monterey, calling it "the finest meeting of land and sea" and walked extensively around the area.

The land which Stevenson trod includes Point Lobos, Carmel and Pebble Beach and is now home to not only the highly regarded Stevenson School, but also the magnificent Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Locals claim, perhaps with good reason, that it was as he wandered the area that Stevenson came up with the idea for Treasure Island, his most famous novel. True or not, Spyglass Hill is named after the highest point on the fictitious isle, and every hole on the course is named after a character or place in the book.

One of the most exacting courses in the world, it has a course rating of 75.5 and an staggeringly high slope rating of 147. Holes such as the tricky “Billy Bones”, the double dogleg “Long John Silver”, and the short but deceptively tough “Jim Hawkins” give a flavour of how the names were chosen. This is perhaps Robert Trent Jones’ finest course, and he himself describes the fourth hole, “Blind Pew”, as the best par four he's ever created.

The Stevensons later returned to Scotland and reconciled with his parents. It was during this time back in Edinburgh that many of his most famous works were written and published.

Of particular note to golfers is his short story The Pavilion On The Links, which was set in the land around Muirfield and Gullane.

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The sixteenth hole ("Black Dog") at Spyglass Hill, named after a character in Stevenson's Treasure Island After his father died in 1887, Stevenson set off with his family (including his mother) to sail around the South Seas, collecting material for a proposed book. In 1889, they arrived in Apia, the capital and port of Samoa, decided to stay and purchased 400 acres on the hills in Vailima, building a home there.

The climate suited Stevenson and he was possibly healthier and happier than at any time in his life. Free from distractions, he produced what are now considered his mature works, including The Weir of Hermiston, hailed by many as his masterpiece. The Samoans warmly welcomed this celebrity in their midst, bestowing the title of Tusitalia, or “The Teller of Tales”, upon him.

Tragically, in 1894, aged 44 and at the height of his powers, he died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage. Following his express wishes, he was buried on top of nearby Mount Vaea, overlooking the sea. Inscribed on his tomb is his “Requiem”, as he requested: Under the wide and starry sky, Dig the grave and let me lie.

Glad did I live and gladly die, And I laid me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me: Here he lies where he longed to be; Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill.

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Visiting the Stevenson Tomb HK Golfer’s own whisky editor, John Bruce, has long expressed an admiration for Robert Louis Stevenson, including regularly mangling quotes from “Requiem”. As such, during a recent trip to take in the courses of the island paradise of Samoa, it was deemed essential that his lifetime ambition be fulfilled and that a visit to Stevenson's mountaintop tombstone be arranged. Setting out from the beautiful Stevenson home in Vailima, there are two clearly marked routes to the top; one takes 30-40 minutes, the other closer to an hour. Be warned however: the shorter route is steep, the path narrow and extremely slippery when wet. It also weaves through dense jungle and can be very hot and humid. One reached, the top of the mountain is pleasant, sun dappled, with cool breezes and one can enjoy stunning views over the jungle canopy towards the sea whilst admiring the tomb and its inscriptions. The longer path is recommended for the return journey, although this can also be tricky to navigate. Appropriate footwear, light clothing, plenty of water and a modicum of fitness will help matters.

CONTINUED OVERLEAF HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

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Golf in Samoa: Travel Planner

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ou wouldn't expect Robert Louis Stevenson's final resting place to be blessed with an abundance of quality golf courses – and to perfectly honest, it's not. But there is golf to be had, and the three tracks on Upolu, the country's most inhabited island, are all worth a look, for the very good reason that Samoa has some of the most beautiful and enticing islandscapes in the southern hemisphere. Samoans, as they do with most things, take a truly relaxed attitude to the royal and ancient game: six- eight-, even ten-ball flights are not uncommon; traditional golfing attire – such as tailored shorts and softspkes – is not. So while this island nation might not yet rival the likes of South Pacific neighbour Fiji as a fully-fledged golf-only destination, it's well worth bringing along your sticks, even if the majority of your time will be spent indulging in Samoa's better known tourism treats.

WHERE TO PLAY PENINA GOLF CLUB HHHH

Charles McLaughlin

The class of Samoan golf, this relatively new par-72 layout has been built on a former US military base used in the Second World War and features several historical landmarks, not least a large concrete bunker adjacent to the first tee. With

a number of holes running alongside the azure waters off Upolu's northwest coast, offering views of nearby Savaii island, and a stretch playing through a lush, tropical interior, the course is an undeniably attractive and well presented test – and a test it most certainly is, because although there is room for the wayward, at close on 7,000 yards from the 'Blue Pearl' – or regular men's – tees, your long game had better be firing on all cylinders if a worthy score is to be recorded. This is especially the case during the middle months of the year, when strong afternoon trade winds can wreak havoc. Muscular bunkering is another memorable feature, while the fourth, a mighty par-five that is flanked from tee to green by the ocean, is the standout hole. Situated next door to Aggie Grey's Lagoon Resort, arguably the most popular hotel in Samoa, and close to the international airport, Penina hosts the Samoa Masters, a three-round Australian PGA event.

PAR: 72. YARDAGE: 7,440.

CONTACT: www.peninaresortandgolfclub.com GREEN FEE: Approx HK$270

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ROYAL SAMOA COUNTRY CLUB HHH

Despite its regal title, RSCC is in much need of TLC, a fact that is hammered home when you reach the greens: there are no flags here; stuck into each cup is, quite simply, a stick. This is a shame because Fagalii, as RSCC is locally known as, could be rather good. The routing takes advantage of some dramatic hilly terrain, which results in a few spectacular holes. This is certainly the case at the sixth, a short, downhill par-three with a green tucked into a hillside. The magnificent native vegetation that surrounds the putting surface here is so dense that the green is very nearly hidden from the tee. Boring, it isn't. There's fun to be had at the last, too. At just 275 yards, this par-four provides a welcome opportunity for a closing birdie.

Samoan swing (clockwise from top): the memorable fourth hole at Penina Golf Course; the rules and regulations at Faleata; non-pro shop balls are widely available; Penina's dainty starter's hut

PAR: 72. YARDAGE: 5,956 CONTACT: www.samoalive.com GREEN FEE: Approx HK$100

FALEATA GOLF COURSE HHH

Government-owned Faleata might be a bit rough around the edges but makes for an enjoyable four (or more likely, five) hour diversion in attractive surroundings. Small greens and narrow fairways bordered by mature flora make it a lot trickier than it might at first appear, while the at times hilly nature of the terrain makes the use of a golf cart advisable.

Built on a large expanse of dried lava flow, one appealingly rustic feature of the course is the use of large pieces of volcanic rock as tee markers.

Best hole on the layout honours go to the sixteenth, a striking and lengthy par-three where the green is ringed by a deep gully.

PAR: 72. YARDAGE: 6,841 CONTACT: www.samoalive.com NOTE: Course is closed on Sundays.

GREEN FEE: Approx HK$100

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WHERE TO STAY

Nestled amongst 50 acres of tropical gardens, amidst tall swaying palms, close to the international airport, the 150-room beachfront resort of Aggie Grey's Lagoon (www.aggiegreys.com) is the best place to stay if you're looking to combine sun, sand and rounds at Penina Golf Club. Although the rooms don't quite compare with those of most international chains, the exceptionally friendly and attentive staff, large pool and decent array of restaurants makes this the first choice of accommodations for many visitors to the islands. The resort’s sister hotel, the legendary Aggie Grey’s Hotel & Bungalows an hour away in Apia, makes a perfect base for those wishing to tackle the Royal Samoa and Faleata courses and visit Stevenson's tomb.

WHEN TO GO

The best time for golfing is from May to October, the dry season, when temperatures tend to hover in the mid-20s and the humidity is relatively low. Typhoons are a risk in the latter and early months of the year; January is typically the wettest month.

GETTING THERE

Jumpers for goal posts (above): sticks make do for pins at Royal Samoa

Charles McLaughlin

Hide and seek (below): the view from the tee at the par-three sixth. Can you spot the green?

Samoa is best visited as a tag-on from Fiji. Air Pacific flies direct from Hong Kong (10 hours; www.airpacific.com.hk) to Nadi International Airport, the main gateway to the Fijian islands.

From there, the carrier flies three-times weekly to Samoa's Faleolo International Airport (three hours).

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www.enghgolf.com

USA (303) 663-1000

China +86 10 6533 1967.

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office@enghgolf.com

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final shot

Q&A

Bill Rogers

J

uly 2011 will mark the thirtieth anniversary of Rogers' stunning Open Championship victory at Royal St Georges. At the time, Rogers was one of the hottest players in golf, racking up numerous wins and earning Player of the Year honours on the PGA Tour. His rise to the pinnacle of the game was fast, but so was his fall. Within a matter of years, and with his game in disarray, he would quit the tour to take a job at a country club in his home state of Texas. Now nearing his sixtieth birthday, Rogers, a devout Christian, works as a college golf coach in San Antonio.

Getty Images

Please describe 1981 - seven wins, including the Open Championship, and second place on the World Money List...

It was magical. I look back and can hardly believe it was me. It was the evolution of all the years of loving the game, working hard, competing hard, which culminated in reaching a great competence level. Nothing bothered me and I rode the wave, so to speak.

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Royal St George's [host of this year's Open Championship] was very lush that week for a links course, with thick rough. It might have played more like a US setup than the traditional, bouncy links?

I rate Royal St Georges behind only Carnoustie in terms of difficulty amongst the Open courses. I remember going back there again in 1985 when Sandy Lyle won and was amazed at how difficult it was. I think it held its own as a true links course, with the blind shots and the premium you needed to place on hitting the ball to certain areas. I managed to work out the best lines to play the course and drove the ball well that week.

After such a year of highs, was backing it up physically and mentally, dare I say ‘burnout’, an issue for you in 1982?

In retrospect it probably was. I was pressing from day one of the tour in 1982 to validate what I had done in 1981. Why I thought I needed to do that, I don’t know, but that was my mindset. Looking back, I could say I could’ve been a better time manager but...

You tied for second in the US Open that year behind David Graham, who completed one of the greatest final rounds in US Open history to beat you. You must have been disappointed in coming so close but was it a catalyst for you at the same time?

Contending in a major like that can do more for your confidence than winning a regular tour event.

It did so much for my confidence knowing I could compete at that level and I was very much looking forward to the Open Championship at Royal St Georges after that.

You contended again the 1982 US Open at Pebble Beach. You were paired with Tom Watson in the last round and had the best seat in the house for Watson's famous chip-in at the seventeenth. What were you muttering under your breath at the time?

I was not totally at my best that week but still felt I had a strong chance to win it. In fact, I had the lead through nine holes in the last round but it wasn’t to be. I had my opportunities but it was definitely Watson’s time and it set up another great Nicklaus - Watson duel.

[The chip] is probably the most watched clip in golf, so I get to see myself in the background every time. I guess I was in a state of shock when it happened. It was a surreal experience in a way because the crowd was several hundred yards away, so there was a delayed and distant reaction. Tom Watson is a true champion in every respect and it was definitely his time to finally win the Open.

What are your memories of Royal St Georges?

Well I wasn’t afraid of anything after the US Open. I felt prepared. I lead by five into the last round which should have been a big cushion, although I managed to show a lot of people that it wasn’t by doubling the seventh hole. That threw me out of the mode I was in at the time, which was to play aggressively.

However, I knew I was playing well and fortunately I managed to right the ship.

Seve Ballesteros saw me a few weeks later and told me the two-putt I made on the eighth hole won me the tournament. In hindsight, he was probably right.

I had hit it to the front third of the green and had about 65 feet. Had I three putted there after doubling seven, it could have been a different story.

For the younger readers, which current PGA Tour players do you think have similar game to how you played in your prime?

Not that I hit it anywhere near the length of most of the players these days but I would say a Trevor Immelman type, the mistake free kind of player. Zach Johnson would be a pretty good comparison, someone who’s a fighter and plays it tough. Corey Pavin and I had a lot of similarities. – As told to Paul Prendergast

HK Golfer・Feb/Mar 2011

HKGOLFER.COM