ParGolf Magazine (August 2015)

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PGA Championship WHISTLING IN THE WIND

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Jordan Spieth

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FIRST

ALL THE NEWS AND VIEWS!

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Contents august 2015 ● www.pargolfmagazine.com

Features 22 The PGA Championship Whistling In The Wind

28 Rising Star Juniors

Shaping Tomorrow’s Talent

31

Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia

Food Truck Invasion

36 Jordan Spieth Athlete First

50 Ian Millar Great Scot!

56 Golf Fitness

Better Golf With Stronger Hips

66 Albany, Western Australia Great Southern Lifestyle

74 Mount Kinabalu Quake Aftermath

22 the pga championship: Whistling in the wind

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Contents august 2015 â—? www.pargolfmagazine.com

36 jordan spieth: athlete first

28

rising star juniors

Instructions & Golf Tips 58 Golf Foreladies With Kuriko Tsukiyama

String Your Putts!

60 Health Chat With Dr Glenn Cameron Road To Recovery

Events 62 EG27 Challenge 85 World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship 86 Carlsberg Golf Classic

Columns 32 34 39 40 52 53

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Reading The Lines Two Sen Worth Almost OB Bunker Mentality Chip Shots Asian Angles

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Contents august 2015 ● www.pargolfmagazine.com

Departments 14 Editorial 16 Line-Up 18 Freeze Frame 20 First Tee 41 In The Bag 48 Essentials 54 Around Asia 73 Pot Shots 76 The Golf Scene 78 Young Guns 79 Pro News 80 Subscription 81 Calendar Of Events 82 Style Lounge 84 Cars + Pars 88 In The Spotlight 94 Golf Course Directory 98 Final Tee 100 Great Golf Holes

66 albany's Great southern lifestyle

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from the pargolf team Facts & Stats

PGA Championship Total Purse (since first strokeplay event in 1958)

If there’s one thing that will never fail to

But before that, join our European

unite us Malaysians, it’s our singular passion

correspondent Mike Wilson as he reveals his

for good food – and there’s more than

best bets to claim the Wanamaker Trophy in

ample of that right here on our shores for

this month’s final Major of the year – the

foodies to rave over. So you’d be glad to

PGA Championship at Whistling Straits,

know that this year’s edition of the

Wisconsin. So who will be ‘Whistling In The

prestigious Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia will

Straits’? Flip to page 22 for the ‘Wilson

highlight, aside from some of the most

Prophecies’.

extraordinary female talents in golf, the

Also in our fabulous ‘Spieth-splashed’

food-on-wheels concept that’s increasingly

August issue, we take a look at what it takes

gaining popularity in the country! Get ready

to make a ‘serial winner’ like Jordan Spieth,

for the invasion of the food trucks come

having won the Masters and US Open this

October 8-11 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf &

year, followed by another win at the John

Country Club – deets on page 31. (Contest

Deere Classic less than a month after – head

buffs, listen up. Here’s your chance to tee off

on over to page 36 for full story.

with the gifted ladies of the LPGA in the

A little later, join ParGolf’s resident

Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Pro-Am – flip to

health expert Dr Glenn Cameron to learn

page 33 to participate. Hurry, contest ends

about how you can improve your fitness

September 21!)

level and game with stronger hips on page

Also, get acquainted with Rising Star Juniors, a new initiative conceived in an

56.

Then join globetrotting wine and golf

effort to seek, nurture and develop a fresh

connoisseur David Bowden as he journeys

pool of golfing talent. Find out more about

Down Under to Albany. Discover the ‘Great

this first-of-its-kind golf programme funded

Southern Lifestyle’ of Western Australia

by Yayasan Sime Darby that aims to provide

amidst verdant vineyards, whale-watching in

youths from disadvantaged backgrounds an

pristine waters off the coasts, breathtaking

opportunity to know, love and succeed in

nature and great golf – all on page 66.

golf – story on page 28.

All these and more, so get to it folks!

2015 $10 million $1.8 million 2014 $8 million $1.445 million 2013 $8 million $1.445 million $8 million $1.445 million 2012 2011 $8 million $1.445 million 2010 $7.5 million $1.35 million 2009 $7.5 million $1.35 million 2008 $7 million $1.35 million 2007 $7 million $1.26 million 2006 $6.8 million $1.224 million 2005 $6.5 million $1.17 million 2004 $6.25 million $1.125 million 2003 $6 million $1.08 million 2002 $5.5 million $990,000 2001 $5.2 million $936,000 2000 $5 million $900,000 1999 $3 million $630,000 1998 $3 million $540,000 1997 $2.6 million $470,000 1996 $2.4 million $430,000 1995 $2 million $360,000 1994 $1.7 million $310,000 1993 $1.7 million $300,000 1992 $1.4 million $280,000 1991 $1.4 million $230,000 1990 $1.35 million $225,000 1989 $1.2 million $200,000 1988 $1 million $160,000 1987 $900,000 $150,000 1986 $801,100 $140,000 1985 $702,000 $125,000 1984 $700,300 $125,000 1983 $600,000 $100,000 1982 $451,800 $65,000 1981 $401,600 $60,000 1980 $376,400 $60,000 1979 $350,600 $60,000 1978 $300,240 $50,000 1977 $250,750 $45,000 1976 $250,950 $45,000 1975 $225,000 $45,000 1974 $225,000 $45,000 1973 $225,000 $45,000 1972 $224,087 $45,000 1971 $202,440 $40,000 1970 $200,000 $40,000 1969 $175,000 $35,000 1968 $150,000 $25,000 1967 $148,200 $25,000 1966 $149,360 $25,000 1965 $149,700 $25,000 1964 $100,000 $18,000 1963 $80,900 $13,000 1962 $69,400 $13,000 1961 $64,800 $11,000 1960 $63,130 $11,000 1959 $51,175 $8,250 1958 $39,388 $5,500

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freeze frame

OH GEE! Lancaster, Pennsylvania, July 12: Unheralded Korean Chun In Gee celebrates victory in her maiden US Women’s Open appearance, claiming the title by one shot over compatriot Amy Yang.

Four shots back going into the final round at Lancaster Country Club, the 20-year-old birdied three of the last four holes for a 66 and a total of eight-under-par 272.

“Everything I faced and did here was completely new, so all I did was enjoy the new stuff. Even though I’m Korean, the American fans supported me a lot,” said Chun, who turned pro in 2012 and plays on the Korean and Japan tours.

In The Bag Driver Fairways Hybrid Irons Wedges Putter Ball

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Ping G30 LS Tec (9°) Ping G30 (#3, #5) Ping G30 (22°) Ping i25 (5-9, P) Edel Golf (50°, 54°, 58°) Ping Scottsdale TR Anser 2 Srixon Z-Star

ParGolf august january2015 2015

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first tee

Getting Better All The Time ...

“I’m off to the right start in order to make an impact on the history of the game.”

Jordan Spieth

©Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

It’s just getting better and better for Jordan Spieth.

The 21-year-old phenom’s one-shot victory in the US Open at Chambers Bay makes him only the sixth golfer in history to win the Masters and US Open in the same season, joining Tiger Woods (2002), Jack Nicklaus (1972), Arnold Palmer (1960), Ben Hogan (1951, 1953) and Craig Wood (1941).

“Those names are the greatest that have ever played the game, and I don’t consider myself there. But certainly I’m off to the right start in order to make an impact on the history of the game,” said Spieth, who would go on to win the John Deere Classic three weeks later to take his official PGA Tour title tally to five.

Spieth’s one-shot win over the luckless Dustin Johnson at Chambers Bay also made him the youngest US Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923 and the youngest golfer to win two Majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922. As this issue went to print, Spieth was heading to St Andrews to attempt to win the third leg of the coveted Grand Slam.

Love Of The Links “I don’t know what’s so special about links golf but it’s my favourite. The golf course can play so different day after day and it presents a new challenge.”

Rickie Fowler

©Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Rickie Fowler has professed his love for links golf following his dramatic victory in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open the week before the Open Championship.

“I don’t know what’s so special about links golf but it’s my favourite.

The golf course can play so different day after day and it presents a new

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challenge,” said Fowler after his fourth professional title and first on the European Tour.

In gusty conditions, Fowler birdied three of the last four holes to edge compatriot Matt Kuchar and France’s Raphael Jacquelin by one shot at the Gullane Golf Club. He saved his best shot for the last hole, hitting a wedge to 1½ feet for a tap-in birdie and the win.

“I tried to birdie the last four holes and made some good swings – and the best swing I saved for last. To win here in Scotland is really special. I want to be World No 1 one day but I also want to be a global player capable of winning tournaments all over the world,” noted Fowler, who has now won twice outside of America with the other overseas win coming in the 2011 Kolon Korea Open.

This was the 26-year-old’s second come-from-behind victory of the season, reminiscent of his triumph in the Players Championship in May when he played the last six holes of TPC Sawgrass in six-under-par.

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Top Of The World

©Michael Cohen/Getty Images

Park celebrates Major No 6 with hubby GH Nam

With everyone raving about Jordan Spieth, Inbee Park’s dominating win in the KPGA Women’s PGA Championship kind of went under the radar – but that took nothing away from the magnitude of the Korean’s achievement in winning the event for the third successive year.

For starters, she already has six Majors to her name, surpassing legendary compatriot Pak Se Ri and former World No 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan as the Asian-born player with the most Majors.

“She had great

accomplishments in women’s golf, inspired a lot of young Korean golfers like me,” said Park of Pak. “I never thought I would be able to win more Majors than her or tournaments than her,” added Park, who turned 27 on July 12.

The five-shot win at Westchester Country Club also propelled Park to the top of the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, taking back the spot from Kiwi hotshot Lydia Ko. “I probably feel more happy winning this Major than being back to No 1 again,” said Park.

©Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Justin Rose spent the weekend before the defence of his Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open title watching his hero Roger Federer in action at Wimbledon.

“I love watching Roger Federer play tennis; he’s probably my sporting hero, my sporting idol. That’s someone that I believe you can look up to the way he goes about things and the way he carries himself, what he achieves and how calm he is,” said Rose, who was in the stands with wife Kate for Federer’s third round win over big-hitting Aussie Sam Groth.

“The one thing I took away from Wimbledon was the shift in momentum,” added the 34-year-old former US Open champion. “You’ve just got to sort of ride out the storm sometimes.

“The other interesting thing is

sometimes you can lose your momentum for 30, 40 minutes in a game of tennis and the result doesn’t necessarily matter.

Whereas in golf, with double-bogeys, etc, it can happen and tally up in your 72-hole total [so] in that point of view it’s different.”

Sadly for Rose, he encountered a

10 Majors for Annika Sorenstam

©Scott Halleran/Getty Images

©Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Rose Learns From Wimbledon ... NOT!

negative momentum shift in his failed title defence – from a strong start of successive 66s to rounds of 72 and 76 over the weekend, finishing at the wrong end of the leaderboard.

fast fact LPGA founding member Patty Berg tops the list of women golfers with the most Majors, having amassed 15 in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Swedish legend Annika Sorenstam is joint fourth with 10 Majors.

Most Women’s Major Wins: 15 – Patty Berg; 13 – Mickey Wright; 11 – Louise Suggs; 10 – Annika Sorenstam, Babe Zaharias; 8 – Betsy Rawls; 7 – Juli Inkster, Karrie Webb; 6 – Pat Bradley, Betsy King, Inbee Park, Patty Sheehan, Kathy Whitworth.

Note: Correct at July 12, 2015.

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Whistling pga championship

In The Wind With golf’s ‘Minor Major’ now carrying equal prize money to the Masters and US Open, its status is on the rise and there will be no shortage of pretenders seeking to shake up what appears to be the new established order

By Mike Wilson

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Presented By

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of his three Majors at Whistling Straits back in 2004 and, whilst it’s hard to make a case for the big Fijian 11 years later, there is a stronger argument for the other course winner, German Martin Kaymer, who opened his Majors account over the Straits Course in 2010, adding the US Open last year to cement his credentials as one of the best in the world.

The US$10 million prize fund – US$1.8 million going to the man who holds the giant Wanamaker Trophy on the evening of Sunday, August 13 – introduced by the USPGA last year encouraged the Masters and the US Open to follow suit and the man who wins will have earned his money and the generous world ranking points that accompany the cash.

Whistling Straits is a muscular as

well as a strategic sporting test, although the Straits Course is, somewhat unusually, foreshortened by some 276 yards for the season’s final Major. A difference of over 80 feet exists between the highest and lowest points on the course, with three 500-yard-plus par-fours, two of them on the last four holes and three par-fives each a fraction under or over the 600yard mark.

Vast rolling greens, deep, dangerous pot bunkers and grass-topped sand dunes the height of a house increase the physical and mental challenge thrown down to those seeking to win a maiden Major or add to their existing tally. And the notoriously unpredictable winds along the Wisconsin shoreline make for a formidable examination of both body and mind.

©David Cannon/Getty Images

he youngest of golf’s four Majors, the final one of what has to date been an interesting if not yet epic 2015 season, takes place on the shores of Lake Michigan at Whistling Straits starting on the 10th of this month – and indeed the 97th US PGA Championship has the opportunity to shine like never before.

The 7,514-yard, par-72 Pete and Alice Dye-designed course is hosting its third PGA Championship in 11 years and is also the third links-style course to host a Major this season, following on from the controversial Chambers Bay track in the Pacific North West and incontrovertibly the most famous and authentic links course in the world, the Old Course at St Andrews.

Vijay Singh won the last – to date –

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pga championship

Firm favourite – Jordan Spieth

Flashback: 2004 Vijay Singh won his third Major the hard way at Whistling Straits in 2004, finishing with a 76 for a total of eightunder-par 280.

The Fijian made his only birdie of the day, a five-foot putt on the 10th hole, on the first of a three-hole cumulative score playoff with Justin Leonard and Chris DiMarco. Singh parred the next two playoff holes, the treacherous par-three 17th and even dicier 18th, a 500-yard par-four nicknamed ‘Dyeabolical’, to win the Wanamaker Trophy.

Leonard had a two-stroke lead over Singh and DiMarco with three to play in regulation but bogeyed the 16th, missing a five-footer, and 18, failing with a 12-footer.

©Harry How/Getty Images

©David Cannon/Getty Images

Singh’s closing 76 was the highest score by a Major winner since Reg Whitcombe’s 78 at Royal St George’s in the 1938 British Open.

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Intriguingly, whilst one might expect a winner at Whistling Straits to play with a low ball trajectory, neither course winners Singh or Kaymer are renowned for keeping the ball close to terra firma – thus logic would suggest the advantage will lie with a links specialist in the mould of Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington or Louis Oosthuizen.

Whether reigning champion Rory McIlroy will be fit to defend the title he won last year at Valhalla will depend on how his damaged ankle ligaments respond to treatment and the severity of the injury – but, if he does, the Irishman is likely to be short of match practice.

Meanwhile, the odds on an

American PGA Tour player lifting the Wanamaker Trophy this month must surely be reduced courtesy of the diet of manicured TPC-style courses they play week in, week out, but with a few exceptions.

First, Phil Mickelson, who won the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol a decade ago, has clearly taught himself to play links-style golf – most probably against his better judgement – winning the Scottish Open and the Open Championship in successive weeks in 2013. Whistling Straits could suit a man with a hybrid style, the ability to play prodigious high, towering irons or manufactured bump-and-run shots as the situation demands, so look out for

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Presented By

©Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Dustin Johnson's bunker 'mishap' at Whistling Straits in 2010

Flashback: 2010 Germany’s Martin Kaymer won his first Major at Whistling Straits in 2010, edging Bubba Watson in a playoff.

The German holed a 15-foot par putt on the final hole of regulation to tie Watson on 11-under-par.

One shot behind in the three-hole playoff, Kaymer made another 15-footer for birdie on the par-three 17th. Watson imploded on the last hole, going from the right rough into the water and then over the green into a bunker. His bunker shot hit the flag for a tap-in double bogey.

Kaymer also drove into the rough and chipped out after seeing Watson go in the water, then hit a 7-iron to 15 feet and two-putted for bogey and the win. ©Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

‘Lefty’ and a second USPGA Championship and sixth Major title.

Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth is on the crest of a wave, most things he touches turning to gold – or at least dollars and ranking points – winning the Masters and the US Open earlier this year, his victory at Chambers Bay evidence he can cope with and win over links-style courses.

In the possible absence of McIlroy, the American, who will reach the ripe old age of 22 by the time he arrives at Whistling Straits, could – depending on what happens in The Open at St Andrews – be gunning for a season Grand Slam and certainly the prospect of holding 75% of Major titles simultaneously.

As for Rickie Fowler, his Players Championship win apart, the Californian has endured a patchy season, missing the cut at Chambers Bay. But back on Scotland for two links golf experiences ahead of Whistling Straits, he will be seeking for sure to recapture the seaside form that earned him a tie for second at last year’s Open behind McIlroy at Royal Liverpool.

Dustin Johnson had a one-shot lead at the last hole but inadvertently grounded his club while playing his second shot, unaware he was in one of more than 1,000 bunkers on the course. If not for the resulting twoshot penalty, he would have been in the playoff as well.

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Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson, who this correspondent believes should not even be permitted to line up at Whistling Straits due to his alleged drugs-related absence, has the game – especially the length – but perhaps not the mental fortitude to make the 2015 US PGA Championship his maiden Major.

The fifth and final American with the game to win over the links is one Eldrick Tont ‘Tiger’ Woods (remember him?) – a man who has won three Open Championships, his mastery of St Andrews in 2000 and 2005 and sterling performance at Royal Liverpool in 2006 clear evidence of that.

©Getty Images

Jack Nicklaus won by seven shots in 1980

PGA Championship Records

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Most Titles: 5 (Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen)

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Largest Winning Margin: 7 shots (Jack Nicklaus, 1980)

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Lowest Winning Score (in relation to par): 18-under 270 (Tiger Woods, 2000)

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Youngest Winner: Gene Sarazen – 20 Years, 5 months, 22 days (1922)

South African swingers – Branden Grace (above) and Louis Oosthuizen

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Oldest Winner: Julius Boros – 48 Years, 4 months, 18 days (1968)

And, despite not a single Major title since winning virtually on one leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, notwithstanding his travails of an 82 in Phoenix, 85 at the Memorial and 80 in the opening round at Chambers Bay, Woods at last showed some form at the Greenbrier recently, three rounds (66, 69 and 67) in the 60s and a 71.

That performance (of the year?) earned him a distant tie for 32nd place, perhaps confirming the scale of the task that lies ahead and highlighting how golf has moved on whilst Woods has been hacking his way through the wilderness.

But no one, least of all this correspondent, would dispute the fact he is cussed enough to come back, news of his demise possibly exaggerated – only time will tell.

Meanwhile, of the European challenge, Paul Casey, who recently gave up his European Tour membership to concentrate exclusively on the PGA Tour, has been reaping the rewards, six top-10 finishes this term alone including runner-up in the Northern Trust Open and the Travellers Championship – back to where many believe the Englishman belongs in the upper echelons of the world ranking, 24th going into the British Open.

High-fliers Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia invariably flatter to deceive on the biggest stages of all, whilst Justin Rose can win on parkland or links and is perhaps, with compatriot Casey, the best European hope of getting its hands on the Wanamaker Trophy this year.

There would be no more popular winner than Australian Jason Day, given what he endured at Chambers Bay. But, given his problems with vertigo, Whistling Straits may not

©Andrew Redington/Getty Images

pga championship

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©David Cannon/Getty Images

Where's the grass? Whistling Straits' par-four 18th aka 'Dyeabolical'

be the place for him to play. Compatriot Adam Scott is the more likely Australian to contend on the final day.

The Asian challenge is getting stronger by the year. Korean Bae Sangmoon and Japanese youngster Hideki Matsuyama, who are both now winners on the PGA Tour, and Thongchai Jaidee are all outside bets to follow YE Yang

onto the USPGA Roll of Honour.

But, having tied second and tied fourth in the 2015 US Open, South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace respectively have both the game and the temperament to prevail at Whistling Straits; Oosthuizen already knows how to win and lose a Major.

But Grace, in the form of his life,

who certainly learned how to lose one at Chambers Bay in June – with the ever-steady Zack Rasego on the bag – perhaps edges his compatriot in this commentator’s prediction to win the 97th US PGA Championship; either way, it could well be a South African whistling the champion's tune in Wisconsin this month. PG

• The 2014 PGA Championship was the first Major to offer a purse of US$10 million, Rory McIlroy making off with US$1.8 million following his win at Valhalla.

• Chinese star Liang Wen-chong holds the course record for the Straits Course at Whistling Straits, an eight-under-par 64 in the third round in 2010.

• Made from sterling silver, at 2’4” (71.1cm) high and weighing in at 27lb (12.25kg), the Wanamaker Trophy is by far the largest Major trophy in men’s and women’s professional golf.

• With a population of 2,120, the small town of Kohler, on the banks of Lake Michigan

and the nearest place to Whistling Straits, will see its population rise more than 10-fold each day with over 100,000 spectators expected to attend the 2015 PGA Championship.

•T he 156-strong line-up for the PGA Championship is compiled in a different way to the three other Majors, with neither the top-50 in the world nor the leading amateurs guaranteed an invite. Twenty places are reserved for USPGA club professionals, the leading 20 from the Club Professionals Championship staged in May each year.

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•F rom its inception in 1916 until 1957, the PGA Championship was a match play event before switching to stroke play.

Americans Lionel Herbert and Dow Finsterwald were the last match play champion and first stroke play winner respectively.

Getty Images

PGA Championship Fast Facts

•T he PGA Championship has yielded some unheralded champions in recent years, such as Jason Dufner (2013), YE Yang (2009), Shaun Micheel (2003), Rich Beem (2002) and Mark Brooks (1996).

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Rising Star Juniors

Shaping Tomorrow’s Talent Yayasan Sime Darby funds Rising Star Juniors, Malaysia’s first golf academy for disadvantaged youths

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aimed at youths between the ages of 12 and 17. Out of 240 applicants from 30 children’s shelter homes, 18 children were selected to participate in this comprehensive golf training programme

Participants of Rising Star Juniors flanked by (L-R) Sime Darby Property deputy managing director Dato IR Jauhari Hamidi, Sime Darby Foundation CEO Yatela Zainal Abidin, Yayasan Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam and KLGCC general manager Steven Thielke

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which commenced in May – equipping participants with complimentary training equipment, professional coaching and transportation to and from KLGCC throughout their course.

©KLGCC

ith this year’s Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia looming in the horizon, one question is on every Malaysian golf aficionado’s mind – will a local talent finally get serious and lay claim to the pretty pewter trophy? Well, we’ll just have to wait and find out for ourselves when the sixth edition rolls into town on October 8-11, along with champion golfers from across the globe.

In the meantime, in an effort to seek, nurture and develop a fresh pool of golfing talent, host venue Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) in partnership with Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) and MST Golf Sdn Bhd (the operator of the KLGCC Golf Academy), have established a first-ofits-kind golf academy, Rising Star Juniors (RSJ), to provide youths from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to get acquainted with, embrace and excel in golf.

Funded by YSD with an RM645,000 sponsorship, the two-year programme is

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Tun musa hitam, chairman of yayasan sime darby

YSD chairman Tun Musa Hitam said the foundation firmly believed that all children should have equal access to developmental opportunities, regardless of their background. “The foundation has always been a catalyst to promote recreational and sporting activities to help our youth realise their full potential; develop their skills in sports; cultivate sportsmanship; raise the standard of sports and support sporting activities that benefit society. This is in tandem with RSJ’s objectives of developing underprivileged youths through golf, equipping them with life-skills and golf playing opportunities and

MST Golf Academy director of instruction Dean Hartman observes as an RSJ participant practices his putting

producing successful, well-rounded and educated young golfers.

“By funding and sponsoring grassroots programmes such as RSJ, we hope to increase awareness and interest in this particular sport, ultimately creating a talent pool for national selection and representation at international tournaments and competitions,” continued Tun Musa.

The RSJ programme is divided into three phases. Phase 1 in April began with the screening of 240 participants at KLGCC via a series of physical fitness tests monitored by certified instructors, from which 18 junior trainees were selected for the academy.

Phase 2 began in May where 18 junior trainees started a 40-week training stint at the club three times a week for two hours – the syllabus includes the fundamentals of putting, chipping, pitching, swing and bunker play, followed by the rules and etiquette, playing on the golf course, course management and introduction to the psychology of the game, which helps prepare them mentally for the sport. During the final stages of the programme, they will learn advanced shot-making and also be introduced into the club environment and golf industry.

Phase 3 is a continuity programme where the 18 junior trainees will be

©ParGolf

“By funding and sponsoring grassroots programmes such as RSJ, we hope to increase awareness and interest in this particular sport, ultimately creating a talent pool for national selection and representation at international tournaments and competitions”

©ParGolf

“The objective of RSJ is not only to train these youths in golf but also to develop skills and uplift their lives to become good, well-rounded and successful citizens contributing positively to society,” said KLGCC general manager Steven Thielke.

“We were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming response from the homes. The principals were very excited with the RSJ programme and the numerous opportunities in store for the children. Besides golf, there will also be other activities including leadership development skills, life skills and community engagement,” added Thielke.

He also highlighted the importance of involving the homes and the families of the Rising Star Juniors programme participants in the project.

“KLGCC will not only work with the individuals, but will also be a support structure for the homes providing assistance financially, physically, morally and emotionally.

This is important for the individuals under the RSJ programme so they do not feel isolated from the home.

“Golf is often perceived as a sport for the elite in Malaysia; and the programme will extend golf training to disadvantaged youths with limited resources – an initiative we believe has never been introduced before,” he said.

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Rising Star Juniors building and I believe that RSJ will greatly impact the lives of the selected youths. With the training in golf, they will be exposed to positive developmental opportunities and potentially turn this sport into their vocation someday. I also hope that this opportunity will help to narrow the gap, as golf is often perceived as an elite sport,” he said. PG

©KLGCC

recommended to train for an additional 40 weeks under the advanced nine-level training programme.

Tun Musa also stressed that golf can help the children develop character as it requires high standards of behaviour and sportsmanship.

“Honesty, integrity and self-regulation are pre-requisites of character

Student Profiles

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Muhammad Nor Ehsan Musa Age: 14 • State: Kuala Lumpur • Hobbies: Playing football and futsal • Strengths: Good physical endurance

“In my opinion, this programme is really good because it gives us the opportunity to learn more about golf.”

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Muhammad Arif Awatif Age: 13 • State: Selangor • Hobby: Riding the bicycle • Strengths: Hard working, motivated to learn

“I am very happy to be able to participate in this programme. Thank you to all.”

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Muhammad Afif Rizduan Mat Sari Age: 16 • State: Selangor • Hobbies: Riding the bicycle, playing badminton • Strengths: Good physical endurance, able to communicate well

“This programme can train and guide me to become a good golfer.”

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Mohamad Hafizuddin Mohd Haulidi Age: 17 • State: Perak • Hobby: Playing volleyball • Strengths: Good physical endurance, able to communicate well

“It’s an interesting programme and I really enjoy it with my friends.”

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Mohamad Afiq Aiman Aznan Age: 13 • State: Kelantan • Hobby: Playing football • Strengths: Able to focus well, does not give up easily

“I find it to be a very good programme as it helps to nurture an individual’s hidden talent.”

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Muhammad Mukhriz Mohd Mubin Age: 15 • State: Selangor • Hobby: Playing football • Strengths: Sporty by nature

“This programme helps us to nurture our ability and talent in the game.”

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Muaz Hamidi Suppian Age: 15 • State: Kelantan • Hobby: Playing futsal • Strengths: Sporty by nature

“The Rising Stars Junior programme is a good way to search for kids with a natural flair for golf.”

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Nurayu Farhana Ahmad Faisol Age: 16 • State: Selangor • Hobbies: Reading, surfing the internet, playing volleyball • Strengths: Good physical strength

“This programme definitely helps to nurture an individual’s talent.”

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Noor Syafiqah Alia Muhamad Suhaili Age: 16 • State: Selangor • Hobbies: Reading, surfing the internet, watching movies • Strengths: Good physical strength

“This programme seeks out talented kids to play golf. Maybe one day we can represent our country and compete with others in the future.”

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Nur Batrisyah Azmi Age: 16 • State: Selangor • Hobby: Running • Strengths: Sporty by nature

“In my opinion, this programme can help to nurture an individual’s natural talent in golf.”

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Adrian Pang Chun Keat Age: 17 • State: Selangor • Hobby: Playing basketball • Strengths: Responsible, able to communicate well

“It is an interesting programme for juniors with a hidden talent for golf; it enables us to experience the game.”

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Navesh Kumar Sereden Age: 15 • State: Kuala Lumpur • Hobby: Playing football • Strengths: Hardworking

“This programme is good and fun!”

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Kartini Ibrahim Age: 16 • State: Kuala Lumpur • Hobbies: Surfing the internet, playing hockey • Strengths: Friendly with good leadership skills

“It is fun and good for my future.”

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Mohd Watiq Fiqhrie Abd Manap Age: 15 • State: Selangor • Hobby: Playing football • Strengths: Good physical strength

“Playing golf teaches us to be disciplined.”

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Hamikah Hamdi Age: 14 • State: Selangor • Hobby: Sewing • Strengths: Keen sense of responsibility

“This programme is fun … and the golf instructors teach me well. Therefore, I can learn fast.”

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Ezza Najihah Mohiddin Age: 16 • State: Selangor • Hobbies: Playing badminton and table tennis • Strengths: Responsible, high level of confidence

“This programme is very good because it can nurture our talent in golf. Besides that, I have the opportunity to learn something new and I am enjoying it!”

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Muhd Nur Aqil Azmi Age: 13 • State: Selangor • Hobby: Playing sepak takraw • Strengths: Strong leadership skills, fast learner, able to swing well

“I really love the programme as the coaches treat us and guide us very well. I am truly thankful for this kind of opportunity.”

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Mazlina Nazri Age: 15 • State: Selangor • Hobbies: Reading, drawing, playing badminton • Strengths: Relish new experiences

“I enjoy this programme very much because I get to gain more knowledge and understanding on the game of golf.”

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Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia

Food Truck Invasion

Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia widens its culinary horizons this year with the KL Food Truck Festival @ Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

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ust when you think the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia – the region’s most anticipated ladies tournament – couldn’t get any better, guess what? It does. In fact, it gets a whole lot better!

With a string of new initiatives planned both on and off the golf course, this year’s edition promises four fun-filled days of entertainment with live DJs and food stalls – and introduces its very first KL Food Truck Festival!

Open to the public from October 8-11 (from 7.30am to 6pm), the food trucks, stationed within the tournament concourse, will offer visitors a range of authentic local fare as well as international cuisines such as Mexican, French, Italian and the good ol’ American BBQ. With prices capped at RM10 per dish – and a free dish included in the ticket price – the initiative will bring a new dimension to the tournament, ensuring a feast of entertainment both on and off the fairways of the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC).

“Part of Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia’s aim is to make this event an accessible and enjoyable experience for all, and we’re very excited and proud to be a part of it this year,” said KL Food Truck Festival organiser Jeff Little.

Burger Giler Power offers a blend of Malaysian-style western street food such as the Oystershroom Chicken Mushroom Burger with Salad and the TOOnaMUCHroom BeefBurger.

Carnivores can enjoy dishes from the BBQ, Italian and French food trucks, with firm favourites such as Homemade Crusty French Loaf with Slow Smoked Beef Brisket, Half Dozen Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings tossed in Garlic Parmesan/BBQ Sauce, Meatballs in a cup with Bread and various pastas such as Bolognaise, Carbonara, Aglio Oglio, Chicken Confit and Grilled Fish. Vegetarians can indulge in gourmet Western/ European dishes such as Garlic Butter Broccoli and Cauliflower, Cauliflower and Broccoli Gratin and Ratatouille by Chef Kenneth Sim,

formally trained in Switzerland, England and Australia.

“In recent years, Malaysia has established itself as the street food capital of Asia and home to a host of renowned culinary events such as Malaysia International Gourmet Festival and KL Big Kitchen Festival,” said KLGCC general manager Steven Thielke of the initiative.

“With food being such an important part of Malaysian culture, we wanted to ensure KL’s favourite pastime would be prominently featured in the nation’s favourite golf event.” PG

Clockwise from the top: Cowboys and Burger Giler Power food trucks; burger of homemade patty with charcoal bun @ Burger Giler Power; Thyme Out’s Lambfries and Lamb Tortilla ParGolf august 2015

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Keep Calm & Play Golf

It may have spawned an industry but let’s not forget that golf is, after all, still just a game

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here’s a worrying tendency in Malaysia now to get hyper worked up about stuff that does not deserve even getting a teeny weeny bit worked up about.

Perhaps it’s a sign of the troubled times we live in, where reason is smothered and morals are compromised by hatemongers who prey on insecurities and ignorance – often for their own gain. It’s no help either that the economy is not in the most robust of states, battered by a weakening ringgit and rising costs. Economic pressures have a way of amplifying social problems as frustrations reach boiling point, looking for fissures in the fabric of society so that they can be vented.

And it’s really not a good thing when this ‘hate and blame’ mentality starts to creep into golf. It’s more than a little startling to see heated allegations and insinuations flying around of late, drawing equally heated responses.

Of course, not all of the allegations are baseless and, true, there is room for improvement in how the game is administered here – and, for that matter, how the industry works as a whole and its progress. But many critics tend to get carried away, fanning small fires into infernos with the winds of overreaction and, dare I say, stereotyping. This is 32

usually catalysed by a whole lot of virtual screaming on social media, inciting even more overreaction – indeed, it’s like a microcosm of what’s happening with the country.

How much good does that do?

Hysteria is not needed to make a point; indeed it only incites more hysteria – and hate. Astute observations put forward in a calm and collected manner are what is needed in times like this, followed hopefully by rational analysis, respectful responses and realistic suggestions.

Let’s face it. No one and nothing is perfect. That’s true in any sport or industry, anywhere. The development of the sport/industry is often driven by individuals rather than institutions, those individuals inspiring change in

©Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

reading the lines jonathan ponniah

the institutions – and ultimately the industry – by effort and example.

At the end of the day golf was, is and always will be, for most of its followers, a game. For those who choose to make golf their profession, whether by playing the game, managing its facilities or – heaven forbid – writing about it, then treat it like any profession.

Expect and accept the bad and ugly with the good. No one owes anyone a living; we all have to work to put food on the table. If there are problems, whatever or whoever the cause, deal with them.

So keep calm and play golf. And if you work in golf, then do your work well and try and put in a little extra to help the industry grow.

The rest will take care of itself. PG

RIP Ravi The Malaysian golfing fraternity recently mourned the loss of T. Ravi Chitty, who passed away on July 15 after a heart attack. A qualified rules official and member of Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia, Ravi quietly and selflessly devoted much of his time to golf. He was not only a dedicated referee but was also heavily involved in junior tournaments, where he could often be seen buzzing around on a buggy taking photographs – which was his other big passion.

A Chetti Peranakan from Melaka, Ravi’s life touched people of all races, religions and backgrounds. He was indeed a true Malaysian. RIP, my friend.

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contest

Hit ‘Em

Up With

The Pros Ever fancied the idea of hitting the fairways with some of the most gifted lady golfers on the planet? Well, dream no more!

Just answer 3 easy questions, complete the slogan, and send in your entries before September 21, 2015 (Monday) – and you may just get to tee-off alongside these ladies in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Pro-Am when this year's edition rolls into town on Oct 8-11!

MAIN PRIZE (X1)

One Pro-Am Slot + Two Hospitality Passes + Two Tournament Merchandise* CONSOLATION PRIZE (X10)

Two weekend Passes + Two Tournament Merchandise Each* *Tournament merchandise subject to confirmation and may differ from winner to winner

SIME DARBY LPGA MALAYSIA CONTEST OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

Address ...............................................................................................

Complete the slogan in not more than 20 words.

I would LOVE to play in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Pro-Am because

.............................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................

Email.....................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................

Full Name ...........................................................................................

Tel ................................................ HP ................................................

Answer the following questions correctly. (tick only one answer)

1. Who is the defending champion of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia?  Inbee Park  Michelle Wie  Shanshan Feng 2. When was the inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia held?  2009  2010  2011 3. What is the name of the new initiative by Yayasan Sime Darby to promote golf among less fortunate children?  Rising Star Juniors  Star Search  Shining Star Juniors

..........................................................................................................

Mail entries to: SIME DARBY LPGA MALAYSIA CONTEST c/o Write Track Publishing & Communications Sdn Bhd No. KA3-1-6, Kuchai Avenue, No. 39, Jalan Kuchai Maju 13, Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, Off Jalan Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-7987 1889 Closing Date: September 21, 2015 (Monday) Terms & Conditions • Entries must be completed in full and legibly; unclear and incomplete entries will be rejected.

• Only original entry forms will be accepted. Photocopies will not be considered.

• Entries will be selected based on all correct answers with the slogan as tiebreaker.

• Each person is entitled to win only one prize in this contest.

• The closing date is Monday, September 21, 2015. Late entries will not be entertained.

• Employees of Write Track Publishing & Communications, Sime Darby Berhad and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

• In the event of any dispute, the decision by the organisers is final and binding.

No protests of any kind will be entertained.

• The organizers reserve the right to change the prizes at their absolute discretion.

• Winners will be contacted by phone/email and their names announced on the ParGolf Facebook Group page.

• Winners are required to personally collect their prizes from Write Track Publishing & Communications Sdn Bhd.

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two sen worth

©Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

A column by golf industry personalities on the state of the game in this region. This issue, outspoken American architect Ronald Fream gives his verdict on the controversial US Open venue, Chambers Bay.

Do Not Cry For Me, Chambers Bay

The US Open venue was a nightmare for many but in the end served up a dramatic setting for a dramatic finish

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lot of words will be spread around the various media in the aftermath of the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay Golf Course near Tacoma, Washington.

Comments ranging from favourable and praising to distasteful and faulting.

It is worth noting that the best players came closest to winning; the best did win.

Some prima donna pro tour players, softened – spoilt – by mediocre courses, weak set-ups, soft conditions on offer at weekly PGA Tour events, lost their way and were not happy with the course or their scores. Good! The US pro circuit is a feeding trough for many overmarketed players.

But Chambers Bay does need some remedial help; so too does the USGA

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senior executive staff.

It was foolish to try and realise Augusta National-type putting speeds on greens much more contoured, significantly larger and more difficult than those at Augusta.

The goal to have the entire course planted with a variety of fine Fescue grass had good intents. This to support the bold, dramatic, seaside links inspired design. However, anyone with turf grass agronomic knowledge would – should – have known that it is physiologically and morphologically impossible to mow fine Fescue grass as close or nearly as close as Creeping Bent Grass used at Augusta. Mowing close helps produce the much sought after faster putting surface – but close mowing of a grass not suitable for close

mowing will kill or severely damage that grass plant.

The brownish hue to the greens from Thursday on, progressively more so, was a clear indicator of grass plant vigour decline. Lack of watering added stress, further decreasing grass growth.

The tees and fairways showed the physical stress impact of closer than normal mowing heights and lack of irrigation. The rough performed grandly, just as intended, left in a wonderful natural state.

Chambers Bay presented a majestic change from the cookie cutter and sameness design at many professional tournaments. Robert Trent Jones Jnr and his design colleagues did wonders with an otherwise nearly useless plot of glacial sand and gravel deposits. The

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Rickie Fowler in the hay-like rough

A deserving winner – Jordan Spieth

©Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

magnitude of play options, terrain changes, huge bunkers, wildly contortionist green surfaces and surrounds set a new standard for monumental design.

The great courses are a product of their site primarily. Such is true here.

The architects responded very well to the conditions of the site.

The location did present another factor that became an all influencing element, not anticipated originally.

The Tacoma-Seattle area is home ground to an invasive, persistent form of grass, or weed, called Poa Annua for which cool, coastal, overcast, moist weather is nirvana. Seattle Golf Club, Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Cypress Point and Spyglass Hill are other examples of coastal courses impacted

by Poa. In the seven years or so since opening for play, the Poa has invaded, slowly but surely. The most obvious result was greens covered with many spots of a grass different in colour and texture than the intended Fescue. On television, the Poa plants looked like a case of measles within the Fescue.

The two greens rebuilt some two years ago were noticeably less infested than the older greens. This intermixing contributed to the uneven, wobbly path of numerous putts.

Poa also has a growth habit unlike any other turf grass. Within a few hours of being mown, the grass will sprout seed heads that extend above the mowing height. These seed heads are most prominent in the afternoons, some hours after the morning green mowing action. They act as speed bumps or small barriers, micro thumbs that can

©Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

©David Cannon/Getty Images

A Poa 'speed bump' cost Dustin Johnson the title

Chambers Bay presented a majestic change from the cookie cutter and sameness design at many professional tournaments. deflect the path of a ball not correctly or firmly enough stroked.

Sunday evening in the closing action, a speed bump of fractions of a millimetre can deflect and did. This deflection caused not only Dustin Johnson, but others as well, considerable discomfort. That is why so many putts missed by just a hair’s width of going in.

Chambers Bay should remove the

Fescue, go to full Poa greens, keep the Fescue tees and fairways (mow higher), and retain the rough. Green speeds on the Poa will be somewhat slower but for many players there, slower greens will be a blessing. For competitions, there are ample tucked pin locations, slopes, swales, hillocks, hollows, falling away surfaces to compensate for slightly slower putting speed and give full challenge.

I suggest that in a few years, Chambers Bay will be talked about in the same sentence as Pine Valley. Nice company. No one has ever said that Pine Valley is an easy course.

There is need of golf course design diversity.

Trent Jones’ creation at Spyglass Hill, Pebble Beach nearly 50 years ago turned heads as something different.

Spyglass Hill is considered calm now but still formidable. Chambers Bay can have a long run too; it will host another major event but likely not the PGA championship tournament. The PGA would not want to embarrass its members.

We here in tropical Asia do not have to contend with Poa Annua except in a few highland golfing locations, as it cannot withstand the tropical climate.

Tropical turf managers should not even consider trying to produce Augustastyle putting speeds. The prominent hybrid Bermuda found on most greens also cannot take too-close mowing.

The faster the greens, the higher the scores, the longer the round of golf.

Slow play is a contributor to declining volumes of play and reduced income.

Golf was never meant to be easy.

Play it as it lies still has merit. PG

About The Author Hailing from California, Ronald Fream has been a golf course architect since 1966 and founded the Golfplan design firm in 1972. He has been involved in golf planning and design and turfgrass maintenance in over 60 countries, first coming to Malaysia in 1976 to design the Awana course in Genting Highlands. Together with the Golfplan team, Fream has helped create more than 225 distinctive golf courses worldwide. Now residing in Johor Bahru, he continues to provide occasional golf counsel for remodeling and new development projects.

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Athlete First jordan spieth

Jordan Spieth’s multi-sport development laid the foundation for his amazing success in golf

By Dave Phillips, Titleist Performance Institute (TPI)

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But there is more to Jordan’s success than the work he has done as a golfer.

In many ways, the work he did as a quarterback, pitcher and point guard laid the foundation for a successful career. This multi-sport development is the embodiment of the model that we preach at TPI. Develop the athlete first,

then the golfer.

It won’t guarantee success on tour, but it will help your child maximise their physical potential and overall enjoyment of the game.

Jordan discovered golf at a young age and immediately fell in love with it.

By the time he was 12 he was asking

©Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

ordan Spieth is an immense talent. To succeed on the PGA Tour at such a young age, you have to have a certain measure of natural ability. Add a relentless drive, level head and physical prowess, and you’ve got a chance to play golf at a very high level.

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©Tom Pennington/Getty Images

his parents if golf could be his only sport. Though they knew their son loved golf (and showed promise), Jordan’s parents didn’t want their kids to specialise in one sport at a young age.

“We did not raise our kids to be one-sport athletes. You have to let them explore options ... you have to make sure they know that life is more than one sport, or one goal,” said Jordan’s mother, Chris, in an interview with Purpose2Play.com.

“There’s a lot that can be learnt from competing as a team. I think having that experience really grounds you and prepares you for other things in life beyond sports. I think, sometimes, when kids show an aptitude for golf at a young age, their parents push them into spending all of their time on that one sport. They get burnt out and they don’t have the opportunity to explore all the other things out there,” she added.

Throwing a baseball or football is a tremendous movement prep for golf as it teaches the athlete to generate power from ground force reaction and transfer that power to their arms.

As a young athlete, Jordan excelled as a quarterback and pitcher, while trying to keep up with his younger brother, Steven, on the basketball court (Steven would eventually play Division I basketball at Brown University).

“He hung up his golf clubs during football and baseball season – he was a quarterback and a pitcher – two pretty big roles. Then, he’d pick up golf again when summer rolled around,” Chris said.

Throwing a baseball or football is a tremendous movement prep for golf as it teaches the athlete to generate power from ground force reaction and transfer that power to their arms. Just as in golf, the kinematic sequence must be fluid to maximise efficiency. Learning the coordination and athleticism to do that in baseball can translate to golf, as it did for REMAX Long Drive champ and former NCAA pitcher Tim Burke.

Additionally, as a left-handed thrower, Jordan turned his body the opposite way of his golf swing, giving him a huge (albeit, counterintuitive)

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©Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

jordan spieth advantage over young competitors. By turning his body the opposite direction, Jordan was able to balance strength and flexibility in his body, helping to avoid overuse injuries.

Several years ago, Dr Greg Rose and Dr Tom House coined a theory called the Big Break Theory. The Big Break Theory postulates that your body can only accelerate to the point where it knows it can safely decelerate.

Therefore, if you train your body to move in both directions, you’ll improve your body’s ability to decelerate and increase your potential for speed.

A mistake that many young athletes make is that they only train in the direction that they’ll move in their sport. This creates a legitimately dangerous imbalance, but also limits their potential. All of the speed training that we do is done in both directions.

Golf is littered with athletes who turn the opposite way. He’s not the only prominent golfer who turns the opposite way when throwing, either.

There are a number of things that contributed to Spieth’s success as a golfer, but it wasn’t just more golf.

It’s true in virtually every other sport too (with the exception of early specialization sports like gymnastics). In 2014, the USOC completed a comprehensive survey of their Olympians and found that, on average, Olympians played three sports per year from 10 - 14 and over two sports per year from 15 - 18.

The same is true in football, too.

We aren’t trying to discourage your kids from playing golf, but we do want to encourage your kids to play. Look at the leaders in driving distance on the PGA Tour. Nearly every one of them had a deep background in another sport.

Your kid can’t win the Masters at 13, but they can become burnt out at 13.

Jordan is special, but he is also lucky. Lucky to have parents who saw a bigger picture and lucky to have a TPI Certified team who recognised that playing multiple sports would enhance his long-term athletic development. PG

About Titleist Performance Institute Founded by Dr Greg Rose and Dave Phillips in 2003, Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) is widely-recognised as the world’s foremost authority on how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing.

Through the study of thousands of golfers ranging from top professionals to weekend enthusiasts, TPI amassed an incredible amount of data on players of all shapes, sizes, ages and fitness levels. This data was analysed to discover how a properly functioning body allows a player to swing a golf club in the most efficient way possible, as well as how physical limitations can adversely affect the golf swing and potentially lead to injury.

TPI’s mission is to educate golfers and industry professionals on the body/swing connection through its ‘TPI Certified’ educational programme, developed by Dr Rose and Phillips along with a 52-member advisory staff of industry leading experts. There are five fields of study offered for TPI Certification – golf, medical, fitness, power and junior development – and there are currently over 15,000 TPI Certified professionals in 58 countries.

TPI sits inside the Acushnet Company’s Oceanside, California Test Facility. The 33-acre site is the most technologically advanced golf evaluation and education facility in the world, boasting three fairways with tour quality greens and bunkers, a state-of-the-art fitness facility and a three-dimensional motion capture studio. www.mytpi.com

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Dave Phillips

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almost ob loo keng yip

Intrepid photographer and long drive proponent Loo Keng Yip gives his rather slanted view on all things golf

Fescue To The Rescue

As much as we like watching top pros go super low on pristine courses, there’s also much to like about players who adapt and win in all conditions fours to 500-plus yards and reshaping or gouging out additional bunkers at the Majors but if the scores are anything to go by, the tour pros are still winning the war.

In 2014 Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship carding 16-under and the Open Championship 17-under. Spieth won the 2015 Masters matching Woods’ 18-year-old record in the process.

Incredibly, this included a bogey at the last hole. Just when state-of-the-art technology in the hands of a new breed of top pro seems poised to overwhelm any golf course, the Fescue grass on Chambers Bay GC’s hard packed fairways and greens have restored a semblance of respectability. Even the 1974 US Open organisers would have been pleased.

Fescue is known for its drought and salt water resilience. Little wonder it is the grass of choice at the site for this year’s US Open which has seen past service as a rock quarry, paper and wood mill and a gravel and sand mine. It is not a lush uniformly “pretty”, prime time TV-friendly grass but therein lies one of its unique qualities. Tough and relatively low maintenance, it remains playable even when patchy and brown. Not that the playing surfaces at Chambers Bay were scruffy, unreasonably rough, bad, bumpy or otherwise unworthy of staging a golf tournament. Far from it. There were several amazing hole-outs from a distance. That some were successfully

Jordan Spieth taking on Chambers Bay GC during the 2015 US Open

©Harry How/Getty Images)

T

he standout event at this year’s US Open was that Jordan Spieth bagged his second Major in a row, helped in no small part by Dustin Johnson who on the final hole missed a 12-foot eagle putt pushing it a tad long and high. Incredibly, Johnson then proceeded to miss the remaining threeand-a-half-foot birdie putt that would have forced a playoff. But an equally salient point is that Spieth’s five-under winning total is quite a bit higher than the spectacular double digit under par winning totals that are posted quite regularly these days. Spieth’s rather sober winning total speaks to the tough conditions at Chambers Bay GC. Tournament organisers have been engaged in a running battle with overachieving pros for decades. Forty years ago, Hale Irwin struggled to a 287 (+7) and staggered away with the 1974 US Open title. It was alleged that the course was set up super tough in response to Johnny Miller carding an inconceivable (back then) record low round of 63 the previous year. The big numbers posted by the entire field came to be known as ‘The Massacre at Winged Foot’.

Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters posting -18, then set the lowest winning score for a Major (-19) at the 2000 Open at St Andrews. That seemed to coincide with a period of narrowing fairways, growing out the rough, stretching par

banked off backstops and side slopes indicates that the greens and fairways were rolling smooth and true even if they were pitched at relatively steep angles.

Perhaps we have unwittingly overindulged our PGA pros. Name any televised tournament and both the players and fans now expect nothing less than spotless, perfectly manicured fairways and greens. Remember pros can still induce tons of backspin seemingly in complete defiance of the revised clubface groove regulations that were introduced specifically to reduce the zip and fizz. Ball checking backspin at times seems just as potent as it had been in the past in part because super receptive greens have now also become the expected tournament norm.

But in so many ways Chambers Bay GC dared to be different and I’m certain golf is better for it. It was great to see how the slippery mottled Fescue slopes forced powerful low trajectory players (eg Dustin Johnson) to adapt and launch towering approach shots or aim for the side-hills and back stops in attempts to hold the greens. Still, not everyone was a fan. The normally jovial Sergio Garcia was not amused. Colin Montgomerie and Phil Mickelson were not exactly impressed.

Sure, there is a certain undeniable appeal to watching top pros go super low on pristine courses. But there is also much to like about players who adapt and win in all conditions. Great tennis players find ways to succeed on grass, clay and hard-courts and the best rally drivers have learnt to win on gravel, tarmac and snow. Ask either and they will surely tell you that they have a favoured surface but have to adapt to win. Golf could learn a thing or two from other sports.

Regardless, kudos to Chambers Bay for hosting the 2015 US Open on its mottled Fescue even if it didn’t quite conform to the plush green, picture postcard perfect expectations of armchair golfers and even some pros.

Drive long and prosper. PG ParGolf august 2015

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bunker mentality mike wilson

ParGolf’s European correspondent Mike Wilson vents his views in this ‘no-holds-barred’ column

Fine Whines, If Not A Vintage Open Forget the USGA prohibiting belly putters; they should concentrate on outlawing the bellyachers who whine and whinge every time they are presented with a golf course that is not entirely to their satisfaction

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became a par 4”, adding “Shame about 18. I know I made triple [bogey] but it’s a stupid par 4 and a great par 5.”

In truth, the Chambers Bay management got unlucky with the weather, wet and cold over winter, dry and hot in the lead up to the tournament, causing the course to resemble a lunar landscape.

©Andrew Redington/Getty Images

H

ands up those who feel a bit sorry for the Chambers Bay golf course – Washington State golf-mad fans, even, heaven forbid, the USGA. In enticing the national open championship of golf’s largest constituency to the Pacific North West for the first time, and to a public golf course – Chambers Bay – the USGA, State authorities and the golf course itself were entitled, especially given the multi-million-dollar investment involved, to expect some good PR and a return on investment.

Okay, Chambers Bay was a quirky, slightly flaky choice, but a thankful departure from the drive, pitch-and-putt stereotype courses we are force-fed most weeks by the Golf Channel and the PGA Tour. But the response of the players, many of whom were critical before they even saw the course – Ian James Poulter take note – others who should have known better, was as over the top as it was disrespectful.

Poulter has a track record for this, criticizing Colin Montgomerie’s greens at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain in 2011. Monty himself joined the chorus of criticism about Chambers Bay, a classic case of gamekeeper turned poacher from the Scot.

Sure, the greens were not the best; Henrik Stenson’s comments comparing the surfaces to “like putting on broccoli” appeared to be not too wide of the mark and delivered with the Swede’s trademark humour.

Justin Rose remarked dryly that holing out on the putting surfaces was akin to ‘outdoor bingo’, his fellow Englishman Lee Westwood joining the fray on Twitter, commenting that “the 18th hole, which was a par 5 on Thursday [and Saturday and Friday/ Sunday alternating with the first] which

And the USGA in general and tournament director Mike Davis just plain and simple got some big calls wrong.

Tricking up a golf course that is what it is and speaks for itself simply was neither necessary nor credible, the bizarre alternation of the par-rating of the first and 18th holes, whilst sloping tee-off areas was a Davis ‘own goal’ those highly-paid clothes horses took full advantage of.

With the USGA and the players coming out on the 115th US Open

smelling of something other than roses, two constituencies deserve our sympathy.

First the caddies, whose safety was compromised by the slippery surfaces described by fourth-placed Branden Grace’s bagman Zack Rasego as “treacherous for us guys as we can’t wear spikes.” Indeed, several of Rasego’s colleagues took a tumble during the week.

Secondly, finally and most importantly, the spectators, the paying public, for whom the 2015 US Open truly was a fully-fledged disgrace; paying top dollar, many attending their first ever Major when the circus came to Washington State for the first time ever, how many might have been turned off golf as a result?

Fans were unable to follow a group through all 18 holes, whilst sponsors and officials enjoyed a bird’s eye view from reserved bleachers and hospitality suites.

Vantage points were thin on the ground, some holes literally and figuratively out-of-bounds to the fans, their heroes a distant vision often 250 yards away – prompting some players including 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson to call for spectators to get a refund.

The scale of the damage done to the USGA’s flagship tournament is difficult to gauge – there is already bold talk on the event going back to Chambers Bay in the next decade. Whether the authorities would be willing to risk it again is another matter.

Of course, conditions were identical for all 156 players in the field, there were few, if any complaints from those in the mix come Sunday afternoon. Let’s just admit it, the prancing popinjays – occasionally otherwise known as professional golfers – would play golf in the central reservation of a highway at night if the money was right. PG

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in the bag

www.honmagolf.co.jp www.pan-west.com

Honma Tour World TW727 Irons

Tour performance The second generation of Honma’s Tour World line offers four high-performance irons to suit the needs of better golfers.

Utilising feedback from tour professionals, the irons are forged from mild steel and are designed for stronger amateur golfers who have similar demands as professionals. In the 727Vn and V models, Honma’s proprietary W-Forged Technology enhances feel and increases forgiveness. The W-Forged process

is a high-density forging method that gives greater design flexibility by maintaining hardness but increasing strength by about 15%.

Shaft options for the TW727 range include Honma’s highlyacclaimed new Vizard series, which utilises YARN Prepregs Sheet combined with layered amorphous metal fibres to help generate ideal trajectories.

Honma TW727V

Honma TW727P

Honma TW727M

• Forged mild steel • Cavity back • Slightly larger than Vn with thicker sole and deep cavity • Stronger lofts for more distance

• F orged mild steel body + maraging steel face • High MOI for more stability • 2.44mm face thickness in long irons for more distance • 2.7mm face thickness in midirons for spin and feel

• Forged mild steel • Flowing face design in long and middle irons • Unified short iron design provides uninterrupted line preferred by better players • Half mirror + mirror finish

SRP (5-11, S): RM7,250.40

SRP (5-11, S): RM7,250.40

SRP (5-11, S): RM7,886.40

Honma TW727Vn • Forged mild steel • Compact head with half cavity back • Smaller half cavity for muscleback-like feel • Slim look at address SRP (5-11, S): RM7,250.40 Honma Concept Store, Intermark Mall

Note: All prices are nett, available at the Honma Concept Store at the Intermark Mall, Jalan Tun Razak and selected Pan-West outlets.

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in the bag srixon.com

Srixon Z Series Irons

Forged For Feel Golfers looking for feel and response in their irons will love Srixon’s new Z Series, forged from ultra-soft S20 steel.

There are two models, the Z 745 which is a half cavity and will appeal to low handicappers, and the Z 545 which is a distance iron with larger, more forgiving head with pocket cavity. The long- to mid-irons have a tungstennickel weight which optimises the sweet spot for longer flight and more distance.

Both models have a redesigned Tour VT Sole that increases leading bounce and decreases trailing bounce, creating a sole profile that is proven to help tighten shot dispersion. Srixon’s tour professionals have raved about the crisp, consistent feel through impact that the new sole provides.

A double laser milling process places two different milling patterns on the club face, one parallel to the grooves and another slightly more angled.

This results in more stable spin performance and more confident distance control from every lie and in all conditions.

Srixon’s proven Dual Speed Technology helps golfers generate higher clubhead speed and thus greater ball speed plus distance with less effort.

SRP (5-9, P): Z 745 Irons: Dynamic Gold DST – RM3,600 / NS Pro 980GH DST – RM3,600

545 Irons: NS Pro 980GH DST – RM3,600 / Z Srixon RX-45 – RM3,600

Team Bradley and Curran’s Z-factor Keegan Bradley and Jon Curran used the Srixon Z Series irons for their team victory in the 2015 CVS Health Charity Classic at Rhode Island Country Club, combining for a 21-under par total.

Bradley used the fourth generation Srixon Z Star XV ball, Srixon Z 545 driver (10.5°), Cleveland Launcher FL fairway (15°), Srixon Z U45 utility, Srixon Z745 irons (4-PW) and Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 custom wedges (54°, 60°).

Curran also played the new Z-Star XV ball and used a Cleveland Classic XL Custom driver (7.5°), Srixon Z H45 hybrid (16°), Cleveland 588 MT 4-Iron, Srixon Z545 irons (4-5), Srixon Z745 irons (6-PW), and Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 wedges (52°, 58°).

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www.nikegolf.com

Nike Engage Wedges

The new Nike Golf Engage wedges offer three sole grinds made from the hands of master craftsman Mike Taylor.

Nike engineers followed a similar design that is utilised in the Nike Vapor family of clubs, Modern Muscle, which positions the CG to promote stability and consistent turf interaction.

World No 1 Rory McIlroy was one of the tour players who tested the new wedge design and provided valuable feedback during the product development process.

The Nike Engage wedges are available in three sole grinds: Dual Sole, Square Sole and Toe Sweep.

The Square Sole is designed to be played with a squared-up clubface while the Dual Sole – inspired by grinds used by McIlroy and Tiger Woods – offers two distinctive surfaces for a wide range of shots.

The second-generation Toe Sweep grind performs excellently from the worst lies while improving versatility on tight lies. The wide toe and narrow heel width allow the club to be laid open at address and stay open through impact.

The wedges are precision milled with X3X grooves to deliver superb spin on full shots. The grooves have more volume and sharper edges to deliver a more consistent shot as well as a more consistent ball flight.

The raw finish reduces glare as well as increases surface roughness to improve spin and control.

SRP: RM595

©Michael Cohen/Getty Images

Engaging Shotmakers

“To me, they perform really well from the rough around the greens. The ball seems to consistently get up easier and land softer.”

Rory McIlroy

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in the bag www.mstgolf.com

Daiwa GIII

Beyond Limits If you’re looking for maximum distance and forgiveness for everyday play outside of official competition, then the new GIII range from Japanese clubmakers Daiwa fits the bill perfectly.

With super-high CORs beyond the conforming limit, the premium GIII clubs include drivers, fairway woods, utility clubs and irons. The high repulsion clubs boast advanced features and cutting-edge technology, all designed to propel the ball a long way for the benefit of the non-competitive golfer.

Daiwa also manufactures the OnOff and Roddio clubs.

Key Features One of the keys to the increased distance of the GIII range is the breakthrough Daiwa Carbon GIII shaft, produced by Daiwa Carbon Technology. Daiwa is famous for revolutionising the fishing industry by utilising advanced carbon material technology to produce high performance fishing rods.

The GIII shaft is a smooth and soft feeling shaft which generates amazing acceleration to maximise distance for each player.

Daiwa’s proven high repulsion face technology has been revived and improved in the new Hyper Titanium Face of the driver and 3-wood.

GIII Driver Every detail of this driver has been created with distance in mind. The new Hyper Titanium Face creates a new standard for high repulsion drivers, with a super-high COR of 0.875 – well beyond the USGA limit of 0.830. This is matched up with the SVF (Super Volume Fibre) Lite shaft, packed with Daiwa’s carbon fibre technology. The head design and shaft work together to generate more distance, even with easy swings.

SRP: RM4,500

GIII Fairway #3 The new Hyper Titanium Face and SVF Lite shaft combination work together to create a 3-wood with driver-like distance. The larger head size instils confidence while the optimal CG placement creates a strong, low-spin ball flight for more distance.

SRP: RM3,400

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GIII Fairway #5 and Utility Club The optimal face thickness design in both the 5-wood and utility club generates more distance. This is matched with the SVF Lite shaft to create ideal conditions for efficient energy transfer and stability. An improved sole design makes the clubs highly versatile and easy to play out of any lie.

SRP: Fairway #5 – RM 2,600 / Utility – RM 2,300

GIII Irons Specific design features in each iron create ideal launch conditions. The longer irons are designed for distance and forgiveness, the mid-irons for distance and stability and the shorter irons for stability and accuracy. The unique design combines with the new and improved 455 Hi Maraging Face along with the SVF Lite shaft to produce the most efficient flight, resulting in distance with accuracy.

SRP (5-10, P, A, S): RM12,500

GIII Shaft Daiwa’s high quality SVF Carbon, a tightlypacked carbon fibre material that increases energy transfer and stability, has been used to create the GIII shaft using the Daiwa Carbon Technology. Nano technology allows the Fullerence material to be applied towards the butt section, which creates more effective energy transfer while maximising stability and control.

Note: Available at MST Golf, along with the GIII Caddie Bag and GIII Boston Bag which retail for RM2,600 and RM1,100 respectively.

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in the bag

www.transviewgolf.com.my / www.brainstormgolf.com

Happy Putter

DON’T WORRY, PUTT HAPPY! The Happy Putter will bring a smile to your face as it offers the same levels of adjustability that tour players enjoy, allowing golfers to choose from three loft positions, three lie positions, three offset positions and numerous weight options. Two models are available, the Happy Mallet and Happy Blade.

Offset Adjustability The adjustable hosel provides three offset options – zero, half-shaft and full-shaft – via the positioning of two offset rings. Offset adjustments are used to help square the putter face square to the intended target line at impact. Golfers who tend to open the face will benefit from more offset, while the opposite is true for golfers who tend to close the face.

Loft Adjustability The face loft of the Happy Putter can be easily adjusted to three loft positions – standard (3.5°), high (6°), and low (1°) – using loft ‘shims’.

If the golfer has the putter shaft at 90° to the ground at impact, a standard loft putter setting is best. If the golfer has a forward leaning shaft, the effective loft of the putter is decreased, so adding loft is best. A golfer with a backward leaning shaft at impact adds loft, so reducing loft is best.

In general, golfers will benefit from more loft on greens that have more grain such as Bermuda greens, so the ball will roll on top of the grain rather than fighting through it. Softer and slower greens typically cause the ball to rest slightly deeper in the grass, requiring more loft to get the ball rolling on the intended line. Less loft is needed for firm and fast greens.

Lie Adjustability Golfers who carry their hands lower at impact will benefit from a flatter lie angle, while those who carry their hands higher will benefit from a more upright lie angle. The adjustable lie angle system provides three lie positions: standard (71°), upright (74°) and flat (68°).

Weight Adjustability The heel and toe weight ports can be fitted with three different weights (standard, light and heavy), based on preference, green speed and ball impact tendencies. Varying the weight on the heel and toe can also benefit golfers who tend to hit off centre.

The Happy Putter comes with a grip that suits both left- or righthanded players.

SRP: RM1,239 at Transview Golf outlets

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JUly 21, 2015

ST. ANDREWS “SPECIAL” TO LOUIS LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN BIRDIED THE 72ND HOLE TO EARN A SPOT IN THE PLAYOFF AT THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. in another superb major performance, Louis Oosthuizen contended once again, this time at St. Andrews, site of his 2010 Open Championship victory, finishing T2 in a three-man, fourhole aggregate playoff. Including the U.S. Open in June, he has tied for second in the last two majors. But he was especially excited to return to St.

Andrews. “I was really motivated,” Oosthuizen said. “I love this golf course. St. Andrews is a very special place.” The 32-year-old South African’s PING technology included a G30 LS Tec driver, i25 fairway wood, Rapture driving iron, S55 irons, Tour Gorge and Glide wedges, and a Scottsdale ZB S putter.

PING’S NEW TECHNOLOGY ON PRO TOURS

S55

G30

i25

Rhapsody

Count Lee Westwood among several early adoptees of PING’s newest technology, which was formally introduced last week. He recently moved to the new i iron and Cadence TR Ketsch Mid putter, and he switched drivers, gaming the G30 LS Tec. See his What’s in the Bag on the next page. The i iron is now in the bags of a number of LPGA PING pros, including Azahara Muñoz. Alejandro Cañizares is one of four European Tour pros who play the i iron. The Ketsch Mid, which has a more compact head than the original Ketsch, is one of two new easy-to-aim Cadence TR putters that PING unveiled. The other model is the Craz-e-r, which has new alignment

features that distinguish it from its predecessor, the popular Craz-E, introduced in 2003. PING also released the Glide ES (Eye Sole) wedge, inspired by the Eye2 sand wedge.

i IRON

CADENCE TR KETSCH MID

PING DEMO/FITTING DAYS SCHEDULE FOR AUGUST 2015 AUGUST DAY VENUE

Sole Distributor:

WINSTON’S SDN BHD (15202-W)

36, Jln Pemberita U1/49, Temasya Industrial Park, Seksyen U1, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Tel : 03-5569 2623 Fax : 03-5569 2639 Email : winstons@wingolf.com.my Available at leading golf shops, pro shops and department stores.

047•PING.custom.Aug15.indd 47

TIME

4/Aug/15 Tue

Sri Damansara Golf Driving Range 5.00pm to 8.00pm (Custom Fitting with latest nFLIGHT Fitting System)

6/Aug/15 Thu

Tropicana Golf Country Club Driving Range 5.00pm to 8.00pm (Custom Fitting with latest nFLIGHT Fitting System)

11/Aug/15 Tue

Danau Golf Club Driving Range 5.00pm to 8.00pm (Custom Fitting with latest nFLIGHT Fitting System)

13/Aug/15 Thu

UPM Golf Club Driving Range (Custom Fitting with latest nFLIGHT Fitting System)

4.30pm to 7.30pm

20/Aug/15 Thu

Monterez Golf & Country Club Driving Range (Custom Fitting with latest nFLIGHT Fitting System)

5.00pm to 8.00pm

25/Aug/15 Tue

Extreme Park Golf Driving Range Kota Damansara (Custom Fitting with latest nFLIGHT Fitting System)

5.00pm to 8.00pm

Winston’s Sdn Bhd Showroom (Indoor) AUG’15 DAILY EXCEPT - Sat, Sun, (Custom Fitting with latest nFlight Fitting System) (PLEASE CALL FOR APPOINTMENT) & Public Holiday

10.00am to 5.00pm

7/22/15 3:32 PM

essentials

Style Meets Functionality FootJoy

emPOWER by FootJoy provides a comfortable, eye-catching, lightweight spikeless footwear option that performs. Its distinctive BreathEasy sports mesh upper delivers premium breathability, keeping the foot cool throughout the day. MaxGrip traction pods integrated into the outsole provide the additional traction to make confident swings. Developed on the women’s Power Last, emPower offers a rounded, athletic toe character, generous fit across the forefoot with a slightly narrow heel. A new, soft underfoot foam provides EveryStep comfort, while a massaging footbed ensures comfort throughout the round.

Available in three laced styles and one BOA lacing system: Lime Green + Light Blue / Orange + Yellow / Gray + Pink / Navy + Plum (BOA).

SRP: Laced – RM560 / BOA – RM620

The S6 Advantage Garmin

The Garmin Approach S6 touchscreen watch boasts first-of-its-kind swing metrics and training tools right on a golfer’s wrist. It comes equipped with full CourseView maps with GreenView, Touch Targeting, and PinPointer on a high-res colour touchscreen.

Like other Garmin golf devices, it comes preloaded with more than 38,000 international courses with no additional subscriptions or fees.

The Approach S6 is the first golf watch with advanced swing metrics, including: SwingTempo, which measures the relationship between a golfer’s backswing and downswing; TempoTrainer, which uses the 3:1 ratio and gives golfers audible tones to synchronise their swing mechanics and fine-tune their tempo; and SwingStrength, which provides golfers with immediate feedback on their power percentage.

It also has a handicap scoring feature, 10 hours of battery life in full GPS mode or 14 weeks in watch mode, and is equipped with Smart Notification technology.

It also doubles up as an electronic scorecard to save, review and share scorecards and stats. www.aeco.com.my SRP: RM1,550 at MST Golf outlets

Bag ‘Em Up Titleist

Constructed from polyurethane leather, the Titleist Boston Bag (ref: TA5ACBB) is part of the brand’s Essential Travel Gear 2015 range, measuring 19.25” (w) x 14” (h) x 10” (d). Offered in three colour options, the bag is fitted with an adjustable shoulder-padded strap that is detachable, a shoe bag compartment (via a horizontal zipped access pocket located at the back of the bag) as well as valuables pocket.

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special > nike golf

Tribute To Golf’s Heritage Nike Golf’s latest Club Collection pays tribute to the history of the game

T

he game of golf has evolved – and so have the players, the clubs, the courses and the style. Its history, however, will never change.

The latest edition of the Nike Golf Club Collection, a tribute to golf’s heritage, was released in time for The Open Championship played at St Andrews, Scotland last month.

Designed for on-course performance and off-course casual, the collection celebrates the game’s journey with a worn, weathered look, inspired by the famous links of Scotland. The ever-present elements at the historic course, especially wind and rain, lend to the garment’s washed appearance – and that theme is most evident on the T-shirt graphics from the collection. Each shirt emphasises the harsh conditions with a washed and muted aesthetic. The Nike Golf Every Damn Bunker T-shirt honours the sand hazards that

notoriously disrupt the game of even the world’s best players. An extension of this idea, the Nike Golf Swinging Blind T-shirt refers to the St Andrews hotel that obstructs the fairway view from the 17th tee box.

Each piece of the collection takes from a palette of primary colours that are reminiscent of the third Major championship. The Nike Golf Tipped Novelty Polo, available in gym red and white, is a classic polyester polo with a knit rib collar and cuff. The Nike Golf Windrunner, meanwhile, is borrowed from Nike Sportswear while adding a weathered look to the classic Nike silhouettes.

Other products in the Nike Golf Club Collection include the Nike Golf True Cap, the Nike Lunar Mont Royal Premium, the Nike RZN Black golf balls with logos reflective of the third major championship of the year, as well as a blue putter cover. www.nike.com

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Great Scot! ian millar

Glenfiddich’s globetrotting ambassador Ian Millar loves golf – after a couple of whiskies By jonathan ponniah

W

hen I first found out that I would be playing golf with Glenfiddich Global Brand Ambassador Ian Millar, I must confess that I was a tad nervous. He was, after all, a Scot and – by default as far as I was concerned – must be pretty deft at the game his ancestors invented.

Five minutes into the game at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) and all my fears vanished. Ian shares not only the same handicap as me – 18 – but has a similar attitude towards the game as me, more intent on enjoying the game, company and surrounds 50

rather than worrying about the scores.

It was just nine holes and some of the golf was pretty ugly – Ian struggling to get used to his rental set and me having one of those days when the swing decides to go AWOL – but we both had a great time out on the course and were good mates by the time we sat down at the terrace for lunch.

Ian was in town for Glenfiddich’s four-day Valley of the Deer event at Carcosa Seri Negara and was really glad to get out on the course – something he rarely gets to do while on his globetrotting duties for Glenfiddich.

“With all the travelling I do, last

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year I had four games and this is my first this year – I’m not getting enough,” he lamented while gulping down a plate of fried rice.

“I think you know you’re getting your business and life balance right when you’re getting a minimum of 20 rounds a year – that way you can go up to a pretty good standard without being too serious about the game,” he added.

Ian picked up the game in his home town of Pitlochry in the Scottish highlands – well, at least the putting part of it, as he explains: “I probably started when I was around nine on putting courses – there are many in Pitlochry and we actually have one of the best in Scotland, complete with curves and undulations.

“I bought some clubs when I was in my teens and played on the local course but I only really started to get into golf in my twenties.”

Ian’s getting into golf was very much linked to him getting into the whisky business. It was when he was the distillery manager at Bladnoch that his love for the game matured.

“Bladnoch was a small distillery in the south and was very easy to run, so I spent a lot of time on the golf course!

Our head office was six hours’ drive away, so there was a lot of time to get off the course and back to the distillery if the boss decided to come over,” he quipped.

While Ian has played all over the world during his travels and has been to Malaysia on a number of occasions, this was the first time he’s played in Malaysia – and indeed in the tropics.

“Golf here is different – I think the humidity here slows the ball down a little and there are not as many borrows on the greens and they’re not as fast,” said the Scot.

Ian names the Presidio Golf Club in San Francisco as one of his favourite

“I think you know you’re getting your business and life balance right when you’re getting a minimum of 20 rounds a year.”

Ian Millar

courses. Dating back to 1895, the course has been upgraded and extended over the years and is now rated as one of America’s top public courses.

“It’s a beautiful old course next to the military camp lined by trees that are more than a hundred years old. I’ve played there about three times and it’s just stunning,” he enthused.

The topic of golf and whisky inevitably came up and Ian had this recommendation: “Before a game of golf, a few shots of whisky with ice and water will relax and you’ll play better. I mean if you’re standing on the first tee and there’s a bunch of people watching, that’s a lot of pressure – but after a couple of whiskies, you’re not thinking about that at all but just where you want to place your ball.”

By this time, we were pretty relaxed having progressed to post-lunch drinks.

The weather was great and I ventured: “We should have played a full 18,” invoking a glint in Ian’s eye – but the good folk from PR company Text100Malaysia quickly reminded him of his ambassadorial duties.

But hoots mon, I now have an open invitation to golf in Scotland ... PG

About Ian Millar Born in Pitlochry in Perthshire in the highlands of Scotland in 1953, Ian Millar joined William Grant & Sons Ltd in 1998 and is now its Global Brand Ambassador.

Ian has over 40 years’ experience in Scotch whisky, having worked for a number of distillers in various technical and production roles, including bottling, mashing, distillation and warehousing.

He is married to Anneke and the couple have a son and daughter, along with five granddaughters. They live in Elgin, Speyside, close to the Glenfiddich Distillery.

Ian Millar in his Glenfiddich Ambassador's garb during the Valley of the Deer event at Carcosa ParGolf august 2015

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chip shots stanley saw

Pet food may be his business but golf is his all-encompassing passion. Stanley Saw reviews and writes about anything and everything golf

Golf's Superhero

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hen Robert Downey Jr aka Tony Stark walked out of the Iron Man Mark 43 suit in the latest Avengers movie, the only thing that really caught my attention was the Under Armour body suit he wore.

Let’s bring this closer to home … well, to golf. I’ve noticed that one Masters and a US Open win later, the initials UA seems to be the favoured brand of fashionable golfers. There even appears to be some sort of mystical belief that wearing the “sacred armour” would actually improve your athletic performance out on the course.

All the world loves a winner! More importantly, everyone loves a hero.

Someone who champions ideals and injects electricity into the lives of the regular Joe and makes him believe that for, one day of the week out of his ordinary life, he too has the ability to be something of a superhero.

Jordan Spieth has pulled off something quite out of the ordinary for the game in recent months. Apart from winning two Majors, the stone-cold steel persona of this young man has impressed pundits the world over. As a matter of fact, I now christen him Jordan ‘Stealth’ Spieth, because prior to this you totally could not see him coming in and sweeping golf fans off their feet.

So how will all this translate to what happens on the ground? For starters, I am observing more of my playing partners covering themselves with UA

garb, walking tall and feeling special. If this carries on or, even better, if Spieth actually pulls off the slam, we will not only see the emergence of a new super brand in golf but witness an explosion.

The management team of Under Armour have bet big by signing Spieth top to toe right up till 2025 after his Masters win. That ‘gamble’ has paid significant dividends. The US Open win is a bonus for the brand, worth whatever bonus was paid to the young Texan.

Such is the beauty and power of marketing, using intricate visual programming to send subliminal messages that make you buy and use the product and “transform” yourself into an invincible being. We have reached a point where it no longer matters what is true but how it makes us feel.

If this strategy has worked for UA, other up and coming brands might just follow suit and find their very own Jordan Spieths as their walking billboards. This could be the beginning of a new modus when brand owners no longer need an army of ambassadors flashing their marque all over the place.

All they need to find is the ‘ONE’, as UA has in Mr Spieth.

There is hope yet for the revival of the game. PG

©David Cannon/Getty Images

Are brands really moved by winners?

About Under Armour Under Armour was founded in 1996 by Kevin Plank, formerly the special teams captain on the University of Maryland football team. After graduation, he set about to develop a T-shirt that stayed light and cool in heat – working from his grandmother’s basement. Using feedback from his former Maryland teammates who’d gone on to play in the NFL, Plank perfected his product and made his first team sale to Georgia Tech. Other team sales followed and the brand really took off in 1999 when Warner Brothers contracted UA to outfit its actors for two football movies, Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday and The Replacements.

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asian angles chuah choo chiang

A thought-provoking column on Asian golf by Chuah Choo Chiang, recognised worldwide as one of Asia's top golf writers. Chuah is the communications director of the Asian Tour, based in Kuala Lumpur.

Green Days

Gavin Green’s early forays in the paid ranks have not been spectacular – but that could be a good thing in the long run

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or a guy who regularly shoots in the 60s during his amateur days with one eye closed, Malaysian Gavin Green’s first tastes of professional golf have been somewhat bittersweet.

And it’s probably good for him in the long run.

The 21-year-old, who rose to as high as fifth place in the world amateur rankings before joining the play-for-pay ranks in June, has been in the rough more often than enjoying a clear shot at the flags in his early days as Asia’s newest professional golfer.

Make no bone about it but this scribe indeed hopes for Gavin to succeed in this great game which continues to deliver exciting and young Asian talents capable of shaking the world order currently dominated by two 20-somethings in Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth.

Gavin’s professional debut in June was a low key affair as he played all four rounds and finished tied 25th in the Asian Development Tour’s PGM Rahman Putra Championship in Malaysia. Then in the Queen’s Cup on the Asian Tour, he shared 34th position

before going on to miss the halfway cut at the BMW International Open in Munich on the European Tour.

In those 10 rounds where every shot would mean a dollar earned or lost, Gavin not once broke 70, where cards of 70, 71, 73, 71, 72, 73, 71, 71, 71 and 75 looked more like a decent punt at a Sports Toto outlet.

His biggest fans and supporters would have loved seeing Gavin make an immediate impact but truth be told, playing golf for a living, even against the regulars on the ADT, is not going to be smooth sailing. As an amateur star, the pressure of competition is arguably less stressful as opposed to being in the professional ranks where a missed putt here or a poor drive there could cost dearly.

“Playing as an amateur and as a professional now definitely requires a change in mind-set and I will take some time to get used to it.”

Gavin Green

Gavin, though, is not your average Joe golfer and in time, we can expect him to slowly make his mark felt on the scene which continues to churn out top golfers from all corners of Asia and around the world.

His demeanour and all-round positive attitude should allow him to ride through an initial growing-in phase before he starts free-wheeling his game towards golfing glory. Simply put, Gavin has got too much power in his game and finesse in his shots that he can rely upon once he learns to handle the jitters of competing in the professional world.

“Playing as an amateur and as a professional now definitely requires a change in mind-set and I will take some time to get used to it,” Green conceded.

“Winning on the ADT last year helped a lot with my confidence but I was playing as an amateur back then. I am sure playing as a professional will be different.”

If the University of New Mexico, where Gavin studied before turning professional, had looked after his golfing career and education, he will not have too much to worry about in his new-found working life.

Excel Sports Management, who looks after the likes of Tiger Woods, signed him up immediately after he relinquished his amateur status. Super agent Mark Steinberg, who has been with 14-time Major champion Woods through thick and thin, will help oversee Gavin’s commercial interest.

With Gavin’s good looks and talent, he is indeed a sports marketer’s dream. The only thing now left for this young Malaysian is to rough it out in the initial phase of his career.

Remember Justin Rose, who had missed 21 straight cuts after turning professional? Well, he turned the tide and is now amongst the world’s best golfers with a Major victory under his belt as well. PG

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around asia

Asia-Pacific Amateur goes to Hong Kong The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) will go to Hong Kong for the first time when the seventh staging of the event takes place at the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club on October 1-4.

Created by three of the most respected organisations in golf – the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the Masters Tournament and The R&A – the AAC is the region’s premier amateur event, offering an

“Hong Kong has an impressive track record of staging world-class international sporting events and we have no doubt that this year’s event at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club will be another example of that.”

Dominic Wall, The R&A director - Asia Pacific

Clearwater Bay GCC

invitation to the Masters at Augusta National to the winner and spots in the British Open Qualifying Series for the winner and runnerup. Last year’s championship at Royal Melbourne was won by Australian Antonio Murdaca, who however missed the cut by five shots.

Continuing under its banner of ‘Creating Heroes’, AAC 2015 will feature 120 players from the APGC’s 39 member associations and will be played over 72-holes of stroke play with a cut for the leading 60 players plus ties after 36 holes. The venue, Clearwater Bay, is one of the region’s most spectacular courses with stunning views over Hong Kong and the South China Sea. Launched in 2009 (as the Asian Amateur

Championship, re-named in 2012) to encourage and promote the development of golf in the Asia Pacific region, the AAC has been held in China (2009, 2013), Japan (2010), Singapore (2011), Thailand (2012) and Australia (2014).

Dominic Wall, The R&A director - Asia Pacific, said: “Hong Kong has an impressive track record of staging world-class international sporting events and we have no doubt that this year’s event at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club will be another example of that. The quality of the course and facilities, combined with its accessibility from the city centre, were important factors in the decision to stage the event at Clearwater Bay.”

Laguna Lang Co signs Faldo as ambassador The highly-acclaimed Laguna Lang Co golf resort in Ho Tram, Vietnam has appointed six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo as its brand ambassador.

“As the master designer of Laguna Lang Co Golf Club, we are truly excited to have Sir Nick Faldo as our brand ambassador and fortify our partnership established since 2009. The premium Laguna brand by the Banyan Tree Group with its growing global presence and strong mission in corporate social responsibility is complemented by Sir Nick’s vision and goals as a renowned golf professional,” said Ravi Chandran, senior vice president and managing director of Laguna Lang Co. Faldo will be involved in a series of upcoming events including 54

the inaugural Laguna Golf Classic this November and 11th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in March 2017, which will be held at Laguna Lang Co. “I am looking forward to a prolific partnership. Having collaborated with Laguna Lang Co to create its signature 18-hole, par-71 championship course in one of Asia’s most dramatic coastal settings, I am drawn by this unique destination,” said Faldo.

Since opening in November 2012, Laguna Lang Co has gained much praise for its rugged and challenging design, framed by mountains on three sides and the East Sea to the west.

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Malaysia’s Michelle Koh credited a hot putter for her breakthrough professional win in the CTBC Shanghai Ladies Classic on the China LPGA Tour in mid-June.

Trailing Taiwan’s Cheng Ssu-chia by four shots going into the final round, Koh carded a superb closing 66 on Sunday at Tianma Country Club to finish on 10-under-par to claim the title by two shots. Koh made six birdies through the first 12 holes in her bogey-free final round.

“My putter should get the credit. I didn’t hit so close but I made some nice putts,” said the 24-year-old Koh, who picked a cheque for RMB120,000 (approx. US$20,000).

“At the turn I heard I was tied for the lead, but I just played my game and on the back nine I made two more birdies. I watched the leaderboard at the last two holes. I felt a little bit of pressure but I was pleased that I could play with two winners, Yan Panpan and Pan Yanhong. They were nice and said some inspiring words to me,” added the golfer from Kuantan, who turned professional in March last year after playing college golf for Campbell University in the United States.

Koh is the first Malaysian to win on the China LPGA Tour in its seven-year history.

©Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Magnificent Michelle claims first pro win

Kim ends three-year drought in Pattaya “The last three years I did not do well because I wanted to go to America and I thought if I had 20 more yards (in length) I would have a chance to win over there,” said the 28-year-old. “I changed my swing and my rhythm and it changed my results.

From there, I tried changing back to my usual swing but it took quite a while.

“This year I asked my coach to help me and he reminded me of the swing I had before. Now I have a good mental image of my swing, so that is why I am doing well,” added Kim, who turned professional in 2006 and hit the headlines in 2010 when he became the first Korean to win the JGTO Money List.

Jazz Janewattananond was the leading Thai golfer in joint fourth with Japan’s Yusaku Miyazato.

Tournament Results The Bali National Golf Championship (Asian Development Tour) June 25-28 / Bali National Golf Club, Indonesia / US$76,000 276 – Matthew Giles (AUS) 68-69-70-69; 277 – Lindsay Renolds (CAN) 69-70-70-68; 279 – Sutijet Kooratanapisan (THA) 71-73-69-66; 280 – Hsieh Chi-hsien (TWN) 67-70-71-72; 281 – Micah Lauren Shin (USA) 69-72-69-71 Queen's Cup (Asian Tour) June 18-21 / Santiburi Samui Country Club, Thailand / US$300,000 270 – Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 69-65-71-65; 272 – Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 74-65-68-65; 274 – Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 69-72-67-66, Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 69-70-67-68; 276 – Mithun Perera (SRI) 67-72-68-69

©Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Korean Kim Kyungtae ended a frustrating three-year title wait with a hard-fought victory in the Singha Corporation Thailand Open, winning a thrilling head-to-head battle with his young compatriot Wang Jeunghun.

Kim, better known as KT, closed with a seven-under-par 65 on the Plantation Course at Siam Country Club, finishing on 21-under-par to beat Wang by three shots. Wang closed with 67 in the US$1 million event, jointly-sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.

Third round leader Joshua Younger of Australia closed with a 73 to settle for third place four shots further back.

The delighted Kim noted that his title drought was caused in part by swing changes he made to adapt playing in the United States.

Prayad Marksaeng CTBC Shanghai Ladies Classic (China LPGA Tour) June 12-14 / Tianma Country Club / RMB800,000 (approx. US$130,000) 206 – Michelle Koh (MAS) 70-70-66; 208 – Cheng Ssu-chia (TWN) 68-68-72; 209 – Yan Panpan (CHN) 70 70-69, Pan Yanhong (CHN) 69-71-69, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 72-71-66, Ye Ziqi (CHN) 70-67-72, Jang So-young (KOR) 72-67-70 Singha Corporation Thailand Open (OneAsia / Japan Golf Tour) June 11-14 / Siam Country Club, Pattaya / US$1 million 267 – KT Kim (KOR) 71-64-67-65; 270 – Jeunghun Wang (KOR) 69-70-64-67; Joshua Younger (AUS) 67-70-64-73; 275 – Yusaku Miyazato (JPN) 72-68-67-68, Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 69-66-68-72 PGM Rahman Putra Championship (Asian Development Tour / PGM Tour) June 10-13 / Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia / RM250,000 (approx. US$70,000) 267 – Jake Stirling (AUS) 67-68-62-70; 226 – Masaru Takahashi (JPN) 67-64-69-69; 273 – Jarin Todd (USA) 70-65-66-72; 275 – Mathiam Keyser (RSA) 71-69-67-68; 276 – Nicholas Fung (MAS) 69-69-72-66

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GOLF fitness

Better Golf with Stronger Hips Life ain’t a dress rehearsal – we all get one shot, so let’s make each round count with better golf

By Dr Glenn Cameron

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eople commonly injure their hips. Among the most common injuries to the hip are fractures. With a high mortality rate you never need to wonder about playing golf again – because you’re dead 20% of the time, or permanently injured about 50% of the time. Do not, and I repeat, do not injure your hip region so that this never happens to you.

There are other consequences to hip injuries, including but not limited to osteoarthritis (typically age-related arthritis), overuse sprains/strains, pain in the hip, buttock, groin, thigh, knee,

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back or sciatica-like pain or it could mimic as many as 20 other diseases including metastatic cancer (spread from another region/organ). Whereas the bulk of musculoskeletal pain gets relief (hips too) when the joint in question rests or is not used, cancer never sleeps and so the pain is ongoing.

If this is you, have a medical examination as soon as possible.

The pain from a hip joint that has been either recently injured or degenerating can be mild, moderate, severe or incapacitating. Your history and complaints will be considered – your diagnosis isn’t based on your pain

level no matter how you groan.

Few doctors have X-ray vision (like Superman), so you’ll most likely require imaging, especially for hip pain; count on at least an X-ray but you’ll possibly also need a CT scan or an MRI. It won’t likely be what’s cheapest or easiest. If your diagnosis includes a fracture, your doctor or therapist will explain the fastest method to convalesce.

Chiropractic care is indicated for many Total Hip Replacements (THRs) but not for those awaiting fairly immediate surgery. It’s not unusual for this condition to arise when the L5-S1 disc is degenerating.

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Strengthening The Hips For Better Golf

Strengthening the hips has been shown to make golfers play better, drive longer, increase accuracy and lower scores – so who’s not interested?

Here’s how you do it. Most likely you’ve never heard that good exercise can reduce muscle stiffness, increase flexibility and improve muscle strength. Well, you’ve heard it now and understanding this point will have you playing better within six weeks.

Now we’re talking to a variety of you – those who’ve undergone THRs, those with a less aggressive ‘resurfacing’ surgery, those who take supplements as well as some of you under chiropractic care, who in addition take supplementation. I’ll do my best to address every type of scenario.

First to those who’ve undergone a THR surgery, your doctor or therapist should give you an appropriate exercise programme. They’ll determine when the time is right for more exacting/difficult manoeuvers based on your original problem, your particular surgery and your progress to date. Asking a total stranger for advice is asking for trouble. It’s completely unlikely that anyone who’s had a THR or a resurfacing surgery should do any high impact activities such as tennis, jogging or any of the ball games like basketball or volleyball (jumping). This type of recommendation should wait until at least 12 months have passed since the surgery due to potential loosening of parts and/or further joint or bone damage. It should be okay to walk, use a stationary bike, swim or cross-country ski even if it means dusting off and climbing aboard your Nordic Track.

Increase your muscular strength including your heart and lungs without damage to your new hip.

Assuming that’s warmed you up (you’re breaking a mild sweat), next are a few static/floor exercises with the bungee cord or theraband. Stand, your theraband/bungee is attached to your right ankle at one end and the wall at the other end. Put your left foot behind the theraband and move your right leg out, keeping your right knee straight. Then, exercise your left hip. Next, stand with your right leg turned out 45 degrees and with the band around your hips and pulling from the right, your weight on the left leg. The bungee is pulling from the

Strengthening the hips has been shown to make golfers play better, drive longer, increase accuracy and lower scores – so who’s not interested?

so expecting a miracle too soon is not likely. All in good time. Keep on getting adjusted, with time you should improve.

Your joints (all of them) will like your supplementation – and so will your back, neck and hips.

The biggest caveat for most is the effect of your weight on your hip joints. Be smaller, healthier and happier. Life is NOT a dress rehearsal.

We all get one shot, so let’s make each round count – play better golf with stronger hips. PG

right. Move your right leg forward while internally rotating it. Keep your leg and knee “straight” while at the same time have a “soft knee”. Do the other side, reversing everything. Do both of the previous exercises three sets with 10 to 15 repetitions each side. Next, stand on a pillow/foam pad with one foot. Now balance, using each foot for 30 seconds, do it three times. Last, try it with your eyes closed – three times each foot for 30 seconds. You may wish to balance against a wall for starters.

That’s it. Supplements are best for painful joint conditions or prevention, eg fish or krill oil or a similar based animal origin Omega 3 oil, glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, hyaluronic acid, boswellia.

Supplements work best for mildmoderate DJD (degenerative joint disease) often on the opposite side as the questionable joint is often your worst joint.

Important points to remember: take the correct dose at the right times; take the right kind; anticipate that all your joints will do better; and lastly, take anything that works. If I had it my way everyone would take fish oil, glucosamine and hyaluronic acid as a preventive. The others are for pain or if you are diabetic/prediabetic.

Now a little bit on chiropractic care and concurrent supplementation.

Take a lesson from Shrek who says to Donkey: “Ogres are like onions.”

What he means is ‘multi-layered’ – the same for subluxations, existing a long time and many layered. With each adjustment you get rid of another layer but there are many, ParGolf august 2015

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raise your game

Golf Foreladies with Kuriko Tsukiyama

String Your Putts!

A simple drill using a piece of string to train yourself to line up putts properly

In the last issue, I stressed the importance of lining up correctly for every putt.

While marking the ball with a straight line is the first step, there are a few drills you can do during practice to step it up even further.

If you have the training tool that I use here, that's great – but if you don't, no worries. You can always make something similar with a piece of string and a few sticks.

The String Drill For this training exercise, try to find a flat, straight putt of between three and four feet. Insert one stick directly behind the hole, stretch the string out until it is taut and insert the other stick into the putting surface keeping the string running through the centre of the hole.

Place one golf ball under the string, positioned so that the string is directly over the golf ball when looked at from above. When you set up to hit the putt, the string should run through the centre of the hole and the ball. You might have to adjust the ball position a few times so that you can get everything in proper alignment.

Putt a few balls and try to get used to this (possibly new) set-up.

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Eyes Over The Ball This drill will not only help you to align your putter face to the centre of the cup every time, but it will also help you to get your eyes right over the ball.

Why do your eyes in relation to the ball even matter?

Standing too far from the ball and getting your eyes too far

Eyes outside the line

inside the ball line will cause you to miss right. Stand too close and getting your eyes outside of the ball line will cause the opposite miss.

Addressing the ball consistently and with everything in line will lead to better putting!

Eyes inside the line

Eyes above the line

Based at the K’s Island Golf Academy in Kuala Lumpur, Kuriko Tsukiyama was born and raised in the United States and took up golf at age seven. She has worked with renowned coaches such as David Leadbetter, David Glenz and Don Law and was a prolific junior golfer with an impressive record – including a victory in the 2010 New Jersey Women’s Amateur.

Kuriko still dreams of playing on the LPGA Tour and continues to work towards her goal while teaching in both English and Japanese at K’s Island, utilizing the proven teaching methods of one of Japan’s top tour coaches, Keita Uemura. For more information, call 03-6411 6656 or log on to ksisland.asia.

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health chat dr. glenN cameron

Glenn Cameron D.C (doctor of chiropractic) (USA) is a chiropractor formerly with the Tonik Asia Group of Malaysia.

He is currently based in Miri, Sarawak. Email: homewhereibelong@gmail.com

Road To Recovery

No matter what kind of athlete you are, recovery is vital

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hether you're a weekend warrior, a committed newcomer or a seasoned veteran, you’re only as good as your recovery.

An athlete is NOT created by one workout only but rather by the consistency of multiple golf trainings.

You need to get stronger, you need more muscle, you need to go longer (increase your endurance) and you need to improve your skills (longer drives, more accuracy with your pitching wedge [not your hand wedge] and improved putting). You likely know already that each iron is made or calibrated for a certain distance. Perfect this system. Perfect your distance drives.

You’re going to stress certain tissues – these are the ones that need to recover. These could be in your legs, arms, abdomen or back.

Get the most out of your practice swings – but insure you’re getting the most out of your game. Put the methods that I recommend shortly in play and I guarantee that you’ll feel the difference.

Perhaps overtraining throws you into a tailspin?

• 1-2 rockstar efforts and it’s as though you’ve never played. Trying harder doesn’t help.

• You easily get colds, flu, allergies and cold sores. You’re constantly unwell.

• Your muscles seem weaker and you have a perceptible loss of strength.

• Fatigue – much more than the satisfying tiredness of a job well done. You’re far past tired … you’re “bone tired.” You’re beyond exhaustion and it’s an effort to play.

• Mental fog, crankiness and depression don’t only affect you, they hurt everyone in your circle of influence but you’re making questionable decisions.

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• C ramping muscles especially towards your feet or in them makes you a little bit crazy.

• A rotten sleep for the last while has you wondering if you’ll ever sleep well again.

• Dizzy spells, excessive hunger and unpredictable behavior are fast becoming your new norm.

• Poor performance; you’re not improving your game (perhaps your handicap is leaving town), you could even be getting worse.

• Injury – this is new for you.

You’ve injured yourself a lot and you’re far too easily injured.

A guide to recovery is what you desperately need, if the foregoing sounds vaguely like you. Here they are: • Eat. Have what you want rather than what you think you should have.

• Drink water, tea or coffee unsweetened and un-whitened (NOT ALCOHOL); try to take in 6-8 glasses of water (or equivalent) every day. Remember water makes your body work well, especially your joints.

• Recover. People don’t realise the stress they’re under. Learn to relax, have a massage. Just dare to let go.

• Roll your skin toward your heart.

Use sticks, foam rollers or my suggestion – just use your hands.

• Stretch. Each muscle can be stretched but you can also do compound stretches that stretch an entire region. Take your quads (the front muscles of your thigh), for example – here you can stretch one as easily as four.

• Place your legs up a wall. This forces blood to your brain and forces your circulation to clean the blood flowing (or creates your best blood) to your lower limbs.

• I ce, rub or compress your pain.

Never do you want to heat, stretch or encourage your pain by elongating it or by inflaming it unless you’re dealing with old or chronic pain.

• Quality foods. You are literally what you eat. Don’t work real hard and then feed yourself junk. Active recovery is so important. Have some fun doing exactly what you want.

• Rest. Many people think they are resting because they’re stationary.

Their mind has NOT slowed down however. Slow your mind by meditating or listening to largo baroque music such as Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ especially before bed.

• Take magnesium (any kind but carbonate is good and reasonably priced) – around 69% of us need it anyway. A good tip-off that you need it is if you’re cramping. Try it every evening. Recovery is not instantaneous, it takes at least five days.

Playing hard and playing to win is important but so is your recovery – cos’ you’re worth it. PG

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eg27

Set To Sizzle

Second edition of EG27 Golf Challenge turns it up with better prizes, more goodies and a great day out on the fairways

EG27 event partners got together for a round of golf on July 6

E

ver felt like it takes you nine holes just to warm up and groove your game? Wish you had 18 more holes to go instead of just nine?

Then the EG27 Golf Challenge is just the event for you, offering superb prizes, excellent goodies and a one-ofa-kind experience as the only one-day, 27-hole event in the country. Scheduled for September 27 at the 27-hole Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf & Country Club (SAASGCC), the event is a collaboration between three of the biggest names in Malaysian golf – the host venue itself, regional retail giants Transview Golf and ParGolf Magazine.

While EG stands for Endurance Golf, it’s not a huge test of stamina as golfers

play 18 holes in the morning, break for lunch and complete the final nine in the afternoon. This will be followed by a prizegiving dinner that will see a huge array of prizes being presented to the best nett performers over 27 holes in three categories – Medal A, Medal B and Medal C – as well as the leading overall gross finishers and novelty contest winners.

And then of course there are the fantastic hole-in-one prizes for the

lucky golfers who manage to score aces at the designated holes – a Mazda 2 sponsored by Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd and a Titoni timepiece courtesy of ATG Watch.

In keeping with the main aim of the event which is to provide an enjoyable day of golf and camaraderie, there will be numerous lucky draws to help ensure that everyone has a great time regardless of their scores. One of the highlights will undoubtedly be the grand lucky draw prize, which is a

“While there will be a huge array of attractive prizes from some of the biggest brands in golf, we want everyone to have a great time regardless of whether they play well or not. We had a lot of great feedback from last year’s inaugural edition and have used that to make this year’s event even better.”

Frankie Choo, operations manager, Transview Golf

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5D/3N Race to Dubai golfing package courtesy of Letz Travel and Emirates.

“While there will be a huge array of attractive prizes from some of the biggest

“The course is one of the best in the country with a great risk-reward design by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson.

We’ve been doing a lot of upgrading work, especially on the greens and the subsoil drainage, so golfers can expect a challenging and rewarding experience during the EG27 Golf Challenge.”

Dr Ronnie Yeo, director of operations, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf & Country Club

brands in golf, we want everyone to have a great time regardless of whether they play well or not. We had a lot of great feedback from last year’s inaugural edition and have used that to make this year’s event even better,” said Frankie Choo, the operations manager of Transview Golf.

Dr Ronnie Yeo, the club’s director of operations, noted that participants will enjoy a challenging but fair test of golf come tournament day.

“The course is one of the best in the country with a great risk-reward design by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson. We’ve been doing a lot of upgrading work, especially on the greens and the subsoil drainage, so golfers can expect a challenging and rewarding experience during the EG27 Golf Challenge,” he said.

Why wait? Places are limited, so sign up now by contacting Transview at 03-7845 2259 or the club at 03-5510 5872. PG

About The Venue Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf & Country Club (SAASGCC) opened for play in 1992 and offers a 27-hole layout crafted

by Australian legend Peter Thomson. Located in Shah Alam, the club was formerly known as Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah and was re-named following a change in ownership four years ago.

Five-time British Open winner Thomson utilises the natural undulations of the terrain along with strategic hazard placements and clever shaping to create a great test of golf.

The three nines – the 3,141-metre President Nine, 3,230-metre

Sultan Nine and 3,214-metre Alam Shah Nine – play out in loops and are all lit for night golfing.

The distinctive and airy clubhouse has a wide range of facilities, including an airy golfer’s terrace with excellent views of the course and other F&B outlets.

SAASGCC has hosted numerous high-profile events including the Volvo Masters of Malaysia (1994 to 1997), Malaysian Ladies Open (1996, 2003), Malaysian Amateur Open (2005) and Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open (2002).

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special > ippudo

Ramen Couture Conversations with Ippudo Consultant Tomo Kudo about an art form deeper than science

Chef Kudo demonstrates the preparation of the signature Ippudo ramen

by stanley saw

As I observed the Ippudo Consultant for Ippudo Ramen, Tomo Kudo, manage the ramen station at Ippudo’s Bangsar Shopping Centre outlet, the swirls and aroma emanating from the steam of their secret 15-hour-old broth invokes a high of expectations.

Such expectations are not easily obtained from any other ramen repertoire carried from the phenomenon of this particular Japanese staple’s boom, which we have been experiencing in recent years here in Malaysia, where ramen eateries are mushrooming with everyone making aggravated claims of

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taste and authenticity. But paying a visit to Ippudo will easily settle the argument that not all ramens are created equal.

As we sat in the private dining facility, Chef Kudo – whose job as the Ippudo Ramen Consultant Chef requires him to move between outlets – unfurled a lesson in Japanese degustation that one would not normally have the privilege of, and introduced the chef’s specials, kicking off with the aromatic and mouth-watering Tokushima Ramen.

This special ramen, unique to Ippudo Malaysia, features a chicken and pork broth mixed together with dark soy

sauce, inducing a rich and savoury flavour. The broth is then served with Ippudo’s straight noodles, then topped with generous slices of pork belly (butabara) simmered in onion-based soy sauce, green onions (negi) and bamboo shoots (menma) – and complemented by a raw egg on top, which adds a dash of complexity to the broth.

Then came Marinated Cream Cheese with Crispy Seaweed, a concoction of nori (Japanese seaweed) and cheese that has been infused in shoyu and served with leeks and fresh wasabi – a recipe gifted to Ippudo’s

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Marinated Cream Cheese with Crispy Seaweed

Tokushima Ramen

Bar Ippudo @ BSC

famous founder, Shigemi Kawahara, from a personal friend.

There is only one word I could use to describe the explosion of flavours in my mouth. Sublime! Nothing like you would ever taste in this life or the next.

Coupled with the Suntory draft beer (served only at Ippudo in the whole of Bangsar Shopping Centre), this combination leaves you knocking on heaven’s door.

“Along with the other chef’s specials such as Jumbo Ebi Tempura and Ippudo Ocean Roll, this offering will start your digestive juices flowing for what is to come but only for the next three months (promo ends September 30, 2015) because Ippudo’s culture is about creativity and revolution,” says Mori Hiroshi, Regional Marketing Manager for Ippudo Malaysia.

Having worked for Ippudo for 13 years, Chef Kudo goes on to explain the history of this successful chain of ramen outlets which became legendary through Kawahara’s revival and transformation of what appears to be a 400-year-old common dish of noodles and broth. If you ‘google’ Ippudo, you will quickly discover that the brand’s first unique franchise was in New York where it quickly established the cool factor among the upmarket diners in the Big Apple.

Kudo-san humbly states that there is no such thing as a good or bad ramen.

However, what he has learnt personally from his ‘ramen master’ was how to create a ramen that was different, using your heart and soul to transform a dish so simple into one that is both stylish, brilliant, savvy and outstanding. “It is this secret ingredient that makes our ramen different.

“The culture within the kitchen is

Jumbo Ebi Tempura

one of passion and we replicate this in any Ippudo in the world,” says Kudo.

“Tonkotsu ramen is unlike the other two genres of ramen, miso and shoyu ramen, whereby the broth is painstakingly boiled for 15 hours with different parts of meat and bone boiled at specific times, required in order to generate a whitish soup deep and intense in flavour. It is the dedication to this art form so steeped in tradition that made Kawahara-san and Ippudo ramen famous the world over.”

Kawahara-san has somehow managed to lend the “cool factor” to the Malaysian style of ramen too.

“It is our pleasure to present to our patrons in Malaysia the New York Style ramen bar culture. My personal philosophy that I adopt from my teacher Kawahara-san is that we serve every customer as if we were serving them ramen for the first time in their life. We make the experience unique, memorable and hopefully life-changing,” says Kudo.

“This is what makes Ippudo ramen different.”

‘One wind hall’ is the literal translation from Japanese of what Ippudo means. This signifies a gust of wind blowing. Something that we golfers brave inadvertently. A gust of wind that carries with it the instinct for imagination and creativity. The tradition and devotion to true excellence of an art form is also one facet of ramen-making that we golfers can identify with. What brings these two forms together is the culmination of friendship and finedining.

So if you’re ever in the vicinity after your round with your mates and would like some seriously good food served as an art at very reasonable prices, think Ippudo!

CHEF's SPECIALS @ IPPUDO (promo ends September 30, 2015)

n Marinated Cream Cheese with Crispy Seaweed n Jumbo Ebi Tempura n Ippudo Ocean Roll n Tokushima Ramen

About Ippudo Ippudo was founded in 1985 in Japan’s ramen capital of Hakata by Shigemi Kawahara, an internationally-renowned ramen master chef and CEO of Chikaranomoto Company which owns some of Japan’s finest restaurants.

Today, there are over 65 Ippudo outlets in Japan, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea and Shanghai. Dubbed the ‘Ramen King’, Kawahara holds a place in the Ramen Hall of Fame after winning the ‘TV Champion Ramen Chef’, a Japanese reality show produced by TV Tokyo, three times between 1995 and 1998.

Using his very own ‘Tao’ or way of ramen, Kawahara’s philosophy is to continuously innovate to remain true, reinventing and redefining recipes for a dish that emerged over 300 years ago. Kawahara’s reinvention of the Hakata-style tonkotsu (pork-based) ramen with its signature delicate, creamy broth, earned Ippudo its global acclaim.

Contacts Ippudo@Pavilion Lot C4.07.00, Connection Level 4, Pavilion KL 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-2110 6233 Operating Hours: 11am - 10pm (daily) Ippudo@The Gardens Lot-T218, 3rd Floor, The Gardens Mall Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-2201 6238 Operating Hours: 10.30am - 10pm (daily) Bar Ippudo@Bangsar Shopping Centre Lot G110, Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre Jalan Maarof, 59000 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-2011 6238 Operating Hours: 11am – 12midnight (daily) www.ippudo.com.my ParGolf august 2015

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albany, western australia

Great Southern

Lifestyle Only an hour away from Perth, Albany has something for everyone – from gourmet wine-lovers to intrepid explorers and diving daredevils to golf aficionados By david bowden

©David Bowden

and time available. A wine touring loop was planned from the air gateway of Perth to the southwest to enjoy tasting fine wine, fresh produce and dining out in some iconic settings. I headed south to Mount Barker, Porongurup and Albany, which was to be my main base.

My return journey to Perth was via the wine regions of Frankland River,

Ferngrove Sauvignon Blanc

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©David Bowden

I

t goes without saying that Australia is one big country; just looking at a map confirms that great distances are involved in travelling around. With my destination of Western Australia being seven-anda-half times bigger than the whole of Malaysia I had already reigned in my scope of travel based upon my interests

Mount Barker wines

Pemberton and Margaret River.

Albany is a leisurely five hour’s drive south from Perth and is as about as remote as any place on earth. While the next landmass was Antarctica I was pleasantly surprised as to the range of indulgent experiences that is available in this pristine and picturesque part of Australia.

Regional Wines The road south from Perth to Albany passes through rural Australia with the first reason for wine lovers to stop being Mount Barker in the far southwest. The Great Southern wine region includes the sub-regions of Mount Barker, Albany, Frankland River, Denmark and Porongurup. Each one has its own microclimatic conditions which add to the range of grape varieties grown and the wine styles produced. The inland areas have a Mediterranean climate while those closer to the coast are influenced by maritime conditions especially cool breezes from the Southern Ocean. Plantagenet Wines in Mount Barker is one of the region’s most respected wineries and wellknown for its crisp Rieslings and Rhônestyled Shiraz.

The Porongurup sub-region is home to a handful of wineries which excel in producing cool climate wines such as

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©David Bowden

Barrel room at Alkoomi Wines

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albany, western australia Riesling and Pinot Noir. Located on the alternative route to Albany, wineries here such as Castle Rock Estate produce iconic regional wines. It received greater recognition when winemaker Rob Diletti was recently awarded the James Halliday 2015 Winemaker of the Year.

After spending time in and around Albany, my wine trail back to Perth included Frankland River, one of the remotest wine districts in the southwest but well worth visiting to enjoy the wines of Ferngrove, Alkoomi and Frankland Estate. Visitors can taste wines such as Alkoomi (Black Label Riesling and Jarrah Shiraz), Ferngrove (Frankland River Sauvignon Blanc and Orchid Dragon Shiraz) and Frankland Estate (Olmo’s Reward and Isolation Ridge Riesling).

Nature Escapes Albany is also infamous for being Australia’s last whaling station and while controversial, a visit to the former Cheynes Beach Whaling Station at

Discovery Bay is an essential activity.

This fully preserved whaling station provides an education into the industry.

Whales are a common sight offshore and during certain times of the year, whale watching boats set to sea full of eco-tourists. There are guaranteed sightings of humpback, blue and southern right whales during the whale watching season from July to October in Albany’s King George Sound, a huge east facing bay where you can appreciate the atmospheric beauty of the coastline.

The new botanic gardens and wildlife enclosures at Discovery Bay offer an insight to the complexity of the region’s flora and fauna. The ocean views from here and nearby Torndirrup National Park also add to an encounter with nature that could last all day long.

The Gap and Natural Bridge in the park are ancient geological features that warrant exploring and photographing. These rocks and others in the region are also some of the oldest in the world. One of the best ways to

get close to these rocks is via the Granite Skywalk in Porongorup National Park. There is a clearly marked trail to the 670m high summit on Castle Rock where the views across this part of the southwest are well worth the strenuous climb.

There are other features of the landscape that are worth exploring with one of the most scenic beaches being Greens Pool just west of Denmark on the road to Walpole. In places, the southern coastline is quite dramatic and in winter can be bleak, wind-swept and desolate. During the warmer months, near-deserted beaches like Greens Pool are picture-perfect and popular especially at weekends for swimming, sunbathing and fishing.

Vast areas of the southwest are still carpeted in majestic eucalyptus forests which have the delightful local names of tingle, karri, jarrah and tuart. The Tree Top Walk in the Valley of the Giants offers the most thrilling adventure. Located in the Walpole Wilderness, the elaborate 600m-long

King George South Bay, ideal for whale-watching

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©David Bowden

walkway situated 40m above the forest floor provides a unique insight to the Australian bush.

From Landscapes To Links Albany Golf Club is located along Albany’s main seaside precinct of Middleton Beach. Despite Albany’s isolation, the golf course here has long been considered one of the best links courses in the world. As its website boasts: “The course in Albany is probably the closest thing that you will get to the true Scottish experience, but in our case the beer on tap is better and the weather is much, much nicer the whole year through. No snap frozen greens here; just the occasional rainbow.”

This dramatically rugged and beautiful 18-hole course is also Western Australia’s oldest and its rolling dunes and blustery onshore breezes ensure that no two games here are the same.

Its natural rolling topography and coastal vegetation have been basically left in their natural state to add to the

Tree Top Walk in the Valley of the Giants

Natural Bridge and the Gap

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albany, western australia

Eat, Drink, Love

Albany isn’t a large city by any means but there are some exciting dining prospects both here and in the region. Fresh, seasonal produce is the mantra of most of the chefs who thrive on the local produce that’s available be it King George whiting (fish), Albany rock oysters, Linley Valley pork or local marron (freshwater crayfish with the flavour of lobster).

Wine is an essential part of the dining experience and some wineries have adjoining restaurants to enable visitors to match the region’s finest food and wines together in the one location. Visitors who are in Albany at the weekend can get an idea of the range of fresh produce available by checking out the Albany Farmers Market held every Saturday morning. While it is compact, there is an excellent selection of fresh regional produce sold here.

Due South is an expansive restaurant beside the Albany waterfront where Chef Kenny McHardy and his kitchen crew present an enticing menu that caters to casual and serious diners. There are many outstanding dishes based upon the best produce from the land and the sea. The King George whiting is prepared as all seafood should – simply pan-fried. Other recommended dishes include the slowbraised beef short ribs with barbecued sauce and, a divine mushroom and hazelnut tart with Parmesan wafers, herbs and truffle sauce.

Hole 18, Albany GC

Beer is another part of the indulgence equation with craft brews being made at Boston Brewery located just east of Denmark. Visitors can sample what’s on offer with a tasting paddle of brews such as coffee stout, Belgian blonde and Boston ginger beer that have been handcrafted by head brewer Tyson Addy, who hails from the USA.

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©David Bowden

Something not to be missed while in Albany is the Great Southern Distilling Company which makes a variety of spirits including Limeburners Single Malt Whisky. Whiskey production in Australia is making connoisseurs around the world sit up and take notice with Limeburners Tiger Snake Sour Mash Whiskey not only having a catchy name but a serious bite on the palate. They also produce and sell absinthe, vodkas, liqueurs, gin and brandy.

©David Bowden

One of the wineries that has a restaurant is Rockcliffe near Denmark – Petite Villaine features small plate offerings and shared platters. Diners can choose dishes such as drunken crab cakes with fermented coconut, tequila and chili pickles, roasted duck, olive chicken plus shared platters of seafood and vegetarian or a delicious charcuterie selection.

Estate wines such as Third Reef Riesling and Rockcliffe Single Site Pinot Noir are available by the glass or bottle.

©David Bowden

Due South also has an extensive local wine list with some 40 wines by the glass for pairing with the food. These include Castle Rock Porongurup Riesling, Duke’s Sparkling Riesling, Wagnall’s Premium Chardonnay, Willoughby Park Shiraz and Plantagenet Shiraz.

Food Glorious Food! (L-R) King George Whitling and Mushroom Hazelnut Tart at Due South; Earth Platter at Petite Villaine

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©David Bowden

rugged, windswept setting. Those who regularly play the course have difficulty in narrowing down the best holes on the par 72, 6,068m course but three holes are usually mentioned – the 11th (472m, par 5), 12th (342m, par 4) and 13th (400m, par 4). While the greens are mostly small, they are fast and usually difficult to judge.

Apart from motorised carts and a practice green, other amenities of the club include the award-winning clubhouse which offers breathtaking views of King George Sound. It is also one of the most sought-after function venues in the region. PG

FAST FACTS Getting There There are numerous direct flights to WA’s capital city of Perth from Kuala Lumpur, and Albany is less than an hour away by air from Perth.

Alternatively, you can drive to Albany from Perth, which takes about four and a half hours.

A rental car is essential for golfing and wine touring in the southwest and Hertz (T: +603-27158383, W: www. hertz.com.my) makes travelling simple with an extensive range of vehicles to accommodate the requirements of all travellers.

©David Bowden

When To Go Perth, along with most of Western Australia, is generally mild and sunny, with a total of 131 perfect blue-sky days every year, making it the sunniest capital city in Australia with one of the most enviable outdoor lifestyles in the world. The average maximum summer temperature is 29°C, and February is generally the hottest month.

Temperatures hover around 12°C in winter (June to August).

Where To Stay Dog Rock Motel (www.dogrockmotel. com.au) offers excellent facilities including one of the best restaurants in town, Lime 303.

Useful Contacts/Links/Info Albany Golf Club www.albanygolfclub.com.au Western Australian Tourism www.westernaustralia.com Taste Great Southern www.greatsoutherntastewa.com Taste Great Southern Festival – The Taste Great Southern wine and food festival will be staged in 2016 from Thursday, February 18 until Sunday, March 27.

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potshots

Laura Davies and Melissa Reid were among the golfers who took on the stars of the England women's cricket team in a friendly ‘cric-golf’ challenge ahead of the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters at Buckinghamshire in early July.

After the ‘hit for six’ session at Denham Cricket Club, won by the cricketers, the players headed to the putting green and driving range for a 30-foot putting challenge and a ‘nearest

the pin’ competition respectively, where the golfers redressed the balance resulting in a draw.

“Golf is more of an individual sport but the actual mechanics of what they do and what we do – and you could see when we were on the range … they could all hit it, which was really impressive. A lot more impressive than our cricket!” said Davies. Reid added: “I think it’s good to integrate the two sports and help to promote women’s sport as a whole.”

Charlotte Edwards, the England women cricket captain, said: “It was great fun and to have some tips from some of the best players in the world has been fantastic and I’m sure we’ll go away better golfers.”

©David Cannon/Getty Images

Westwood Marriage Headed Splitsville After 16 years of marriage, English star Lee Westwood and wife Laurae have reportedly called it quits. It is claimed that 42-year-old Lee, who has played in the last eight Ryder Cups, and Laurae, 40, have made the decision after a number of bitter rows.

Laurae and their children, Sam, 14, and Poppy, 10, are likely to return from their home in Florida to live in the UK. “There is absolutely no prospect of reconciliation, it’s curtains. It couldn’t be any worse,” said a close friend of the family.

“If Laurae decides to move back near her family in Scotland, his career could be derailed for good.”

Lee declined to speak about the split, saying, “I don’t comment on my private life.” The former World No 1 is set to lose up to half his £30 million fortune in settlements.

The couple currently live in a £4-million, five-bedroom home in a gated community looking across a golf course in Palm Beach in Florida, having moved there in 2012.

©Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Cricket Meets Golf

Luck of the Leprechaun So the World No 1 golfer isn’t quite the invincible footballer, having busted an ankle during a football game with his pals weeks before the Open Championship. While golfdom was naturally disappointed that McIlroy wouldn’t be defending his title at St Andrews, not every golf fan had words of empathy for the Irishman.

After an update on McIlroy’s footie mishap, an anchor off camera, Lisa Montgomery (below pic), called McIlroy a “leprechaun” and went on saying she “can’t stand him” as the mic caught her comments.

After complaints from viewers, not least from people of Irish background across the States, Montgomery decided to “clarify” her remark. Rather than apologise, she defended what she had said: “I love sports, I love golf, but I am not a fan of Rory’s. Mostly for the way he treated tennis great Caroline Wozniacki and discarded her like a piece of chewed gum when he broke her heart and broke off their engagement in a short phone conversation.

That’s worse than breaking up on a ‘Post-it’ ... I called Rory McIlroy a leprechaun and, believe me, I wanted to call him much worse.”

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Quake Aftermath mount kinabalu

©ParGolf

Mount Kinabalu Golf Club keeps front nine open for play; remedial work to start once tremors cease By gurdev singh & jonathan ponniah

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suspension bridge leading from the teebox to the green collapsed, while at Hole 17 there was a landslide in the

middle of the fairway.”

Hole 14 is regarded by many as the signature hole. The 142-metre par three Landslide at Hole 17

©Mount Kinabalu GC

G

olfers will be glad to know that nine holes of the Mount Kinabalu Golf Club are still open for play despite damage to the course caused by the June 5 Sabah earthquake.

However, work to repair the affected holes will only begin once the tremors have stopped completely. Club manager Major (R) Seto Mun Yee noted that – for obvious reasons – they have no choice but to wait until the fault planes settle completely.

“We can only start doing repairs when the tremors have stopped for good. We still get short tremors and in fact there was one today which lasted about three seconds,” said Seto when contacted in late June.

Three holes – 1, 14 and 17 – were damaged by landslides following the earthquake. Seto noted that the front nine is open for play and that the club is still accessible by road.

“Part of the buggy track at the first hole collapsed but it is still playable,” he said. “At Hole 14, the

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©Mount Kinabalu GC

Collapsed buggy track at Hole 1

“There were rocks falling from Mount Kinabalu and we could hear a rumbling sound – it was frightening!

Luckily none of the staff were hurt but many of them are traumatized by the incident.”

Major (R) Seto Mun Yee, club manager

expect to encounter occasional blankets of thick fog. This is one of the few courses in this part of the world to boast Bentgrass greens.

The best advice while golfing here is to note that putts always break away from Mount Kinabalu, no matter what the slope looks like.

The course is run by the state government and is located in Kundasang, about two hours’ drive from the capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu. PG Mount Kinabalu Golf Club Address: WDT 25, 89309 Ranau, Sabah Tel: +6088-889 445 / 458 Fax: +6088-888 255 Email: mkgc@tm.net.my GPS N 6.027189 / E 116.596961

©Mount Kinabalu GC

Luckily none of the staff were hurt but many of them are traumatised by the incident.”

The 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck nearby Ranau and lasted for 30 seconds, causing rockfalls that killed 18 people on Mount Kinabalu.

Designed by American architect Robert Muir Graves, the par-72, 6,922metre course is one of the most spectacular and scenic in the region.

The dramatic layout challenges golfers with elevation changes, deep ravines and rocky streams, against a mountainous backdrop dominated by the imposing 4,095-metre high peak of Mount Kinabalu.

One of the main attractions of golfing here is that the climate is more temperate than tropical, so golfers can ©Mount Kinabalu GC

is one of the most spectacular par threes in golf, playing from elevated tees over a 500-foot-deep ravine with a gushing river at its base. The target is a miniscule green perched on the edge of a cliff, with a putting surface that slopes steeply from back to front.

Seto was at the clubhouse when the earthquake struck at 7.15am.

“I had just showered and was about to wear my sarong when suddenly I felt the clubhouse shaking. The mirrors were swinging,” remembered Seto, who stays in a room at the clubhouse. “I quickly ran to see if my wife was all right and we rushed out to an open area opposite the clubhouse.

“There were rocks falling from Mount Kinabalu and we could hear a rumbling sound – it was frightening!

Hole 17: before (L) and after (R) ParGolf august 2015

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the golf scene

Saujana accorded European Tour Destination status

Saujana Golf & Country Club has become the 15th member of the exclusive European Tour Properties network and is now an official European Tour Destination.

Saujana is only the third venue outside of Europe to gain European Tour Destination status and the 11th in total. The club is linked to two hotels, The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur and The Club Saujana Resort which is a Small Luxury Hotel of the World.

Saujana has a long association with the European Tour, dating back to 1999 when it was the venue for the Malaysian Open – the first event to be co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours. The club hosted

the national Open five times between 2001 and 2009, with Vijay Singh and Thongchai Jaidee among the winners.

Tan Sri Mohd Razali Abdul Rahman, the chairman of Peremba Group which owns Saujana, was delighted with the development which was announced in early June. He described it as a progression to a ‘new dimension’ for the club’s relationship with the European Tour.

“We are confident that this new partnership will add value to the organisations and to the sport. Our relationship with the European Tour has been long and fruitful, and we look forward

“I would like to pay particular tribute to Tan Sri Mohd Razali Abdul Rahman who has been a true friend, partner and supporter of the European Tour over many years and can claim an important role in our international expansion.”

George O’Grady, chief executive, European Tour

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to many more years of this,” he said.

European Tour chief executive George O’Grady lauded the tour’s long-standing relationship with Saujana and Peremba, as well as the group’s event management arm GlobalOne who are the promoters of the Malaysian Open.

“I would like to pay particular tribute to Tan Sri Mohd Razali Abdul Rahman who has been a true friend, partner and supporter of the European Tour over many years and can claim an important role in our international expansion,” said O’Grady.

The European Tour Properties’ portfolio of venues includes PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain, London Golf Club in England and Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort on the French Riviera. In late 2013, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai became the first Middle East Destination to join the network, and the expansion continued into Southeast Asia earlier this year with the addition of Black Mountain Golf Club & Resort in Thailand.

Opened in 1984, Saujana was the brainchild of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who initiated the creation of a government task force to set up a golf club in Kuala Lumpur that would attract investments. The club’s two courses – Palm and Bunga Raya – were built on undulating former palm and rubber plantations and were originally designed by Ronald Fream. In 2009, the Bunga Raya was redesigned by Ted Parslow while the Palm is currently undergoing a major redesign and upgrade headed by Fream.

For more information, visit www.saujana. com.my and www.europeantourproperties.com.

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7/22/15 11:40 AM

PapaGolf.net offers online tee-time bookings and more Golfers can now book their golf games online via a new golf and travel portal, PapaGolf.net. The portal offers online bookings at Malaysia’s leading golf clubs along with extensive golfing information and news.

A joint initiative by Write Track Publishing & Communications (the publisher of ParGolf) and 21st Century Media, PapaGolf.net provides a convenient online service for golfers to book tee-times at some of the country’s most sought-after courses.

The portal also features extensive information and reviews of golf courses,

travel features, golf tips and industry news.

“PapaGolf.net has everything a golfer needs to know about each golf course so they can quickly and easily compare their options, as well as see recommendations of clubs near them,” said Cornelius Moreira, director of 21st Century Media.

“The online service enables golfers to book their golf games any time, day or night, so this is perfect for booking a lastminute tee-time! The system also has a mobile platform making it convenient for

golfers on the move,” he added.

“With over a dozen golf clubs currently available for online bookings on PapaGolf. net, we offer a diverse range of golf courses to suit golfers of all levels,” said ParGolf Magazine publisher Suzannah Gun Palmer.

“We aim to expand the number progressively and will offer a wider selection of courses all over the country by the end of the year.”

For more information, log on to www.papagolf.net or contact 21st Century Media at tel: +60379871889 / email: info@papagolf.net.

MST Golf sets up golf course construction JV with Heritage Links MST Golf and American golf course construction company Heritage Links have formed a joint-venture company, Heritage Links MST, to offer golf course construction and project management services throughout Asia.

A joint statement from MST Golf and Heritage Links said: “Both companies are established in their respective sectors of the golf industry. The combined expertise of the two companies provides Asian golf developers and existing golf course owners with a new solution for turn-key golf services that now include all phases of golf course construction and renovation.

“Heritage Links MST will be devoted to the project management of course construction, renovation and rebuilding projects.”

Established in 1989 and headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, MST Golf owns one of Southeast Asia’s largest golf retail chains

with outlets in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. With the slogan ‘Everything Golf’, the company also runs driving ranges and golf academies, while providing corporate merchandising, event management and golf travel services.

Heritage Links is based in Houston,

Texas, and has been involved in numerous high-profile golf course projects, including the construction of Liberty National in New Jersey, renovation of the Blue Monster Course at Trump National Doral in Florida, and the construction of Chambers Bay in Washington State, site of this year’s US Open.

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young guns

Thais rule in Faldo Series Cambodia Thailand’s Thongpipat Rattanayanon marked himself down as a star of the future with a breathtaking performance in the fourth edition of the Faldo Series Cambodia Championship on June 15-16.

Following an opening 72, the 14-yearold carded eight birdies en route to a second round 66 at the Nick Faldodesigned Angkor Golf Resort and finished 10 shots clear of his closest pursuer. With a 36-hole aggregate of six-under 138, Thongpipat was crowned overall champion to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Putt

Sridama who won the Cambodian event last year.

Thongpipat thus earned a spot in the 10th anniversary Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, to be staged at Mission Hills China next March. Joining him there will be his fellow Thais Thanaphum Khanchitworakun (Boys’ Under-21 winner) and Jenjira Jinangkul (Girls’ winner), Paolo Barro of the Philippines (Boys’ Under-16 runner-up) and Tevy Sareoun as the leading Cambodian national.

As is a feature of Faldo Series events, a

grassroots clinic was held for students of the nearby Family Care Centre, conducted by the club’s head professional Alan Martin.

The 2015-16 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months and will include a minimum of 21 events in 17 countries including, for the first time, Australia.

The Faldo Series was established in 1996, expanding to Asia in 2006. Today, 40 Faldo Series tournaments take place in more than 30 countries. Past winners include Yani Tseng and Rory McIlroy.

Faldo Series Asia 2015/16 (Remaining Events) Jul 8-10 FSA China Championship Jul 13-14 FSA Shanghai Championship Jul 29-30 with Mission FSA Hong Kong Championship Winners Hills’ officials Jul 29-30 and other FSAVIPs Hong Kong Girls Championship Aug 14-15 FSA Vietnam Championship Sep 4-5 FSA Pakistan Championship FSA Singapore Championship Sep 9-10 FSA Nepal Championship Sep 21-22 FSA Malaysia Championship Sep 29-30 FSA Bangladesh Championship Oct 27-28 FSA Japan Championship Nov 5-6 FSA India Boys Championship Nov 24-25 FSA India Girls Championship Dec 12-13 FSA Australia Championship Dec 14-15 FSA Indonesia Championship Jan 2016 FSA New Zealand Championship Jan 2016 FSA Kunming Championship Jan 2016 10th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final Mar 2016

Inaugural Laguna Phuket Junior event a smash with kids The inaugural Laguna Phuket Junior Golf Tournament proved to be a great success, attracting 67 young golfers aged from six to 18.

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Organised by Laguna Phuket Golf Club in tandem with British International School Phuket (BISP), the event was played on June 21 at the club’s revamped par-71 course.

The overall winners were 17-year-old Thitapa Pakdeesetthakul who claimed the girls’ title with a score of 76, and 15-year-old BISP student Napat Paramacharoenroj who took the boys’ title with an impressive even par 71.

Both champions won term

memberships to Laguna Phuket Golf Club valid until the end of 2015.

The leading finishers in 12 different age divisions went home with some great prizes including one-day access passes to the Tree House Kids Club at Angsana Laguna Phuket and a day trip speedboat tour sponsored by Laguna Tours.

“With our newly upgraded golf facility, we are delighted to begin adding golf events to the Laguna Phuket sporting calendar,” said the club’s director of golf, Paul Wilson.

“We are fortunate to have several dedicated junior golf coaches in Phuket, with BISP head golf coach Oliver Bates at the forefront. Today’s event has been about creating a fun-packed environment for our young people to enjoy the game of golf together,” he added.

Laguna Phuket recently launched fiveyear and ten-year family golf memberships, with each membership including the parents and two children.

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©PGM Tour

malaysian professional news

Aussie Jake Stirling gave himself the ideal birthday present with a maiden professional title in the RM250,000 PGM Rahman Putra Championship, thanks largely to a spectacular second round of 10-under-par 62.

Stirling finished on 21-under-par 267 at Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia on June 13, just one day before he turned 26, claiming the title by two shots from Japan’s Masaru Takahashi.

“This win means a lot to me. It’s my first win in Asia and also, it’s my birthday tomorrow, so this will give me good reason to celebrate,” said Stirling, who qualified to play on the Asian Tour through Gavin Green

Qualifying School in January.

“I was a little nervous today actually, especially going into the last few holes but I told myself to stay calm and not think too much about winning,” added the golfer from Melbourne after receiving the winner’s cheque for RM43,750.

In an impressive display of precision and power, Stirling made one eagle and nine birdies against a lone bogey en route to his second round 62. The feat was even more impressive as he had to complete the last five holes on Saturday morning due to rain delays.

As the tournament was co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour, Stirling received six Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points courtesy of his victory.

The top Malaysian finisher was Nicholas Fung in fifth spot on 12-under 276. But most of the attention was on Fung’s compatriot, Gavin Green, who was making his much-anticipated professional debut in the event and finished joint 25th on three-under-par.

Green turned pro after finishing his senior year with the University of New Mexico (UNM), during which he won three times on the 2014/2015 collegiate circuit to take his tally to a record eight for UNM. The long-hitting youngster has already won a professional title, the 2014 PGM Vascory Classic on the Asian Development Tour, doing so by a record 11-stroke margin.

©PGM Tour

Birthday joy for Stirling at Rahman Putra

Teenager San wins PGM Development event in Port Dickson Eighteen-year-old amateur Paul San battled his way to a narrow victory in the eighth leg of the PGM Development Qualifying School Circuit, staged at Port Dickson Golf & Country Club in mid-June.

San sandwiched the only sub-par round of the tournament, a two-under-par 79, between rounds of 76 and 75, to finish on eight-over-par 221 total. That proved good enough for a one-stroke win over professional Almalik Faisal.

“I obviously enjoyed it because I won it,” said San, who just finished his first year at the University of Louisiana. “But it was difficult. The field was very competitive and the course was tough. It was not a scoring course with its narrow fairways and greens that were not easy to putt on.”

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special > malaysia golf tourism association

Experiencing Malaysia Thru Golf Japanese media delight in Malaysian golf, along with the sights, sounds and flavours of the country With almost 200 golf clubs sprinkled across Malaysia, golfing tourists who journey into this part of South East Asia really are spoilt for choice. Throw in a plethora of attractions such as ancient rainforests, pristine beaches and stunning islands, historic sites and architecture, amalgamated with various cultural and religious festivals throughout the year – and of course, the worldfamous, uniquely Malaysian food – and it’s a dream vacation one will never forget!

And that’s exactly what a couple of representatives from two Japanese golf publications, Even and Waggle magazines, got to experience during a familiarisation trip organised by the Malaysia Golf Tourism Association (MGTA) from May 30 to June 2.

Upon arrival on the first day, the media were whisked away to the JW Marriott hotel located in Kuala Lumpur, in the heart of the shopping, dining and entertainment hub of Bukit Bintang.

The next morning, following a quick yet hearty breakfast, the guests teed off at Templer Park Country Club’s 18-hole, par 72 course. One of the most spectacular courses in the country, it’s built among ancient limestone hills which are dominated by the majestic Takun Hill, and stretches 7,143 yards from the black tees.

The Even group kicked off Day 2 with morning golf at the country’s most prominent and prestigious golf club, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

Visiting Batu Caves

Japanese media ready to savour Malaysia

The award-winning club’s West and East courses have played host to some of the most highly-anticipated tournaments such as the Maybank Malaysian Open, Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia and CIMB Classic. The Waggle group, meanwhile, tackled the Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, which features two excellent courses, the 6,412-metre Valley Course and 6,404-metre Garden Course.

Day 3 saw both groups teeing off at the Palm Garden Golf Club, located within the IOI Resort in Putrajaya.

Measuring 6,027m, the course features undulating fairways with lots of swales and hollows, lined by sculptured bunkering and scenic lakes.

Apart from enjoying thrilling golf at some of Malaysia’s best courses, the All set for fun in the sun

Japanese media also got to do some sight-seeing – they visited the Blue Mosque in Shah Alam, Malaysia’s largest mosque and also second largest in South East Asia after Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, as well as the iconic Batu Caves and Kampung Kuantan in Kuala Selangor, famous for its fireflies that dwell along the banks of the Selangor River.

Not only that, the happy campers also got to indulge in a bit of shopping at Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang.

Located near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the ‘factory outlet’ shopping mall offers a myriad of uppermiddle to high-end brands and products at attractive discounts – and not forgetting a wide spectrum of delectable fare ranging from authentic Malaysian cuisines to Western/fusion delights.

“We’ve all known Japanese golfers to be avid golf travellers to Malaysia.

We believe this specialised trip to engage the Japanese golf media will help us further enhance our ‘Play Malaysia Golf’ campaign,” said MGTA president Ng Eushen. “Especially after having experienced Malaysia through golf – and beyond – first hand.”

MGTA is a non-profit organisation whose goal is to create greater international awareness of Malaysia as ‘Asia’s Best Kept Secret’ when it comes to golfing holidays, formed under the initiative of the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) in March 2011 under the Entry Point Project 9-B (EPP 9-B).

Funded by Tourism Malaysia to serve as their golf tourism marketing arm, MGTA comes under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC) and PEMANDU (Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit).

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ParGolf august 2015

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7/22/15 2:58 PM

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Calendar of Events august - september 2015 MALAYSIAN AMATEUR EVENTS Aug 1 Aug 2 Aug 3 – 6 Aug 6 Aug 8 Aug 8 Aug 9 Aug 10 – 13 Aug 14 – 16 Aug 15 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 – 20 Aug 20 – 23 Aug 20 Aug 20 Aug 21 – 23 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 26 – 29 Aug 27 Aug 29 Aug 30 Sept 2 Sept 4 – 6 Sept 5 Sept 5 Sept 6 Sept 6 Sept 7 – 10 Sept 9 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 13 – 16 Sept 16 – 19 Sept 17 Sept 17 Sept 18 – 20 Sept 20 Sept 27 Sept 28 – Oct 1

Carlsberg Golf Classic Carlsberg Golf Classic KL Amateur Open (Men & Ladies) World Amateur Golfers Championship Malaysia (Open) Prudential Astro Masters – 15th Leg Carlsberg Golf Classic Carlsberg Golf Classic World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship 37th Sandakan Amateur Open (Men & Ladies) Prudential Astro Masters – 16th Leg Carlsberg Golf Classic Carlsberg Golf Classic RSGC Ladies Amateur Open Negeri Sembilan Amateur Open (Men & Ladies) World Amateur Golfers Championship Malaysia (Open) Prudential Astro Masters – 17th Leg 24th Labuan Amateur Open (Men & Ladies) Carlsberg Golf Classic Carlsberg Golf Classic Pahang Amateur Open (Men & Ladies) Prudential Astro Masters – 18th Leg Carlsberg Golf Classic Carlsberg Golf Classic Prudential Astro Masters – 19th Leg Samarahan Amateur Open (Men) Carlsberg Golf Classic Prudential Astro Masters – 20th Leg Carlsberg Golf Classic World Amateur Golfers Championship Malaysia (Open) Johor Amateur Open (Men & Ladies) Prudential Astro Masters – 21st Leg Carlsberg Golf Classic Carlsberg Golf Classic Terengganu Amateur Open (Men & Ladies) Perak Amateur Open (Men & Ladies) Prudential Astro Masters – National Final World Amateur Golfers Championship Malaysia (Open) Karambunai Golf Open (Men) Carlsberg Golf Classic EG27 Challenge World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship

Batu Pahat GC, Johor Monterez GCC, Selangor Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam, Kuala Lumpur Horizon Hills GCC, Johor Resort World Kijal, Terengganu Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai, Sabah Glenmarie GCC, Selangor/Sungai Petani GC, Kedah Kota Permai GCC/Impian GCC, Selangor Sandakan GCC, Sabah Dalit Bay GCC, Sabah Permas Jaya GC, Johor/Nilai Springs GCC, Negeri Sembilan Kelab Golf Titiwangsa PDRM, Kuala Lumpur/Pulai Springs Resort, Johor Royal Selangor GC, Kuala Lumpur Port Dickson GCC Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah GCC, Selangor Kelab Golf Seri Selangor, Selangor Labuan GC, Sabah Penang GC, Penang/Kelab Rekreasi Angkatan Tentera, Kuala Lumpur Bukit Jalil GCR, Kuala Lumpur Royal Pekan GC Horizon Hills GCC, Johor Kelab Rekreasi Tentera Udara Butterworth, Penang/Ayer Keroh CC, Melaka Kuala Kubu Bharu GCC, Selangor Kota Permai GCC, Selangor Samarahan CC, Sarawak Bukit Unggul CC, Selangor Penang GC Tawau GC, Sabah/Staffield Country Resort, Negeri Sembilan A’Famosa Golf Resort, Melaka TBA Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia, Selangor Tropicana GCC, Selangor/Ponderosa GCC, Johor Saujana GCC, Selangor Kuala Terengganu GR Damai Laut GCC, Perak Kota Permai GCC, Selangor Templer Park CC, Selangor Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai, Sabah Kelab Golf Negara Subang, Selangor/Horizon Hills GCC, Johor Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah GCC, Selangor Tiara Melaka GCC/A’Famosa Golf Resort, Melaka

PROFESSIONAL GOLF OF MALAYSIA (PGM) TOUR Aug 3 – 5 Aug 12 – 15 Aug 17 – 19 Aug 26 – 29 Sept 2 – 5 Sept 9 – 12 Sept 16 – 19 Sept 30 – Oct 3

PGM Development Circuit – Q-School PGM Northpoint Glenmarie Championship (ADT) PGM Development Circuit – Q-School PGM Orna Closed Championship PGM I&P Group Closed Championship PGM Penang Championship PGM Bukit Jawi Closed Championship PGM Perlis Closed Championship

Taiping GCC, Perak Glenmarie GCC, Selangor Glenmarie GCC, Selangor Orna GCC, Melaka Kinrara GC, Selangor Penang GC Bukit Jawi GR, Penang Kelab Golf Putra

RM15,000 RM200,000 RM15,000 RM180,000 RM180,000 RM180,000 RM180,000 RM180,000

Firestone CC, Ohio, USA Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA Templer Park CC, Malaysia Otone CC, West Course, Ibaraki, Japan

US$9,250,000 US$10,000,000 US$750,000 ¥150,000,000

ASIAN tour Aug 6 – 9 Aug 13 – 16 Aug 20 – 23 Sept 24 – 27

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational PGA Championship Vascory Classic Asia Pacific Open Mitsubishi Diamond Cup

Note: Calendar omits unannounced schedules of tours and associations at press time

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oneasia tour Sept 10 – 13 Sept 24 – 27

Kolon Korea Open Nanshan China Masters

Woo Jeong Hills CC Nanshan International GC

KRW1,200,000,000 US$1,000,000

Colombia Edgewater CC, Portland, Oregon, USA Vancouver GC, Vancouver, Canada RTJ Golf Trail, Capitol Hill, Prattville, Alabama, USA Evian Resort GC, Evian-les-Bains, France St Leon-Rot GC, St Leon-Rot, Germany

US$1,300,000 US$2,250,000 US$1,300,000 US$3,250,000 –

Montreux GCC, Reno, Nevada, USA Firestone CC, Ohio, USA Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA Plainfield CC, Edison, New Jersey, USA TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts, USA Conway Farms GC, Lake Forest, Illinois, USA East Lake GC, Atlanta, Georgia , USA

US$3,100,000 US$9,250,000 US$10,000,000 US$5,400,000 US$8,250,000 US$8,250,000 US$8,250,000 US$8,250,000

Firestone CC, Ohio, USA Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort, Farsø, Denmark Albatross GR, Prague, Czech Republic Skolkovo GC, Moscow, Russia Kennemer GCC, Zandvoort, The Netherlands Golf Club Milano, Parco Reale di Monza, Italy Golf Resort Bad Griesbach, Bad Griesbach, Germany

US$9,250,000 US$10,000,000 €1,500,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,800,000 €1,500,000 €2,000,000

Golf Park Pilsen, Czech Republic Vasatorps GC, Helsingborg, Sweden Evian Resort GC, Evian-les-Bains, France St Leon-Rot GC, St Leon-Rot, Germany Golf De Chantaco, France

€300,000 €250,000 US$3,250,000 – €250,000

LPGA TOUR Aug 13 – 16 Aug 20 – 23 Aug 27 – 30 Sept 10 – 13 Sept 18 – 20

Cambia Portland Classic Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic The Evian Championship The Solheim Cup

PGA TOUR Aug 6 – 9 Aug 6 – 9 Aug 13 – 16 Aug 20 – 23 Aug 27 – 30 Sept 4 – 7 Sept 17 – 20 Sept 24 – 27

Barracuda Championship WGC-Bridgestone Invitational PGA Championship Wyndham Championship The Barclays Deutsche Bank Championship BMW Championship Tour Championship By Coca-Cola

EUROPEAN TOUR Aug 6 – 9 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Aug 13 – 16 PGA Championship Aug 20 – 23 Made In Denmark Aug 27 – 30 D+D Real Czech Masters

Sept 3 – 6 M2M Russian Open Sept 10 – 13 KLM Open Sept 17 – 20 Open d’Italia Porsche European Open Sept 24 – 27

ladies EUROPEAN TOUR Aug 7 – 9 Sept 3 – 6 Sept 10 – 13 Sept 18 – 20 Sept 24 – 27

Pilsen Golf Masters The Helsingborg Open The Evian Championship The Solheim Cup Lacoste Ladies Open de France

ParGolf august 2015

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style lounge

sensuous Fabulosity Hapari Standing by their mission to provide swimwear that enhances a woman’s natural beauty, the latest swimwear collection by Hapari includes a new blouson-style tankini, underwire tankini as well as new dress cover-up options.

Featuring a ruched halter-neck, the Blouson Tankini with a bloused silhouette is made from Hapari’s UltraSoft fabric which features a UPF rating of 50+, blocking 98 percent of UVA/B rays. Like all Hapari tankinis, it has secret pockets sewn into the bust for Hapari’s breastenhancing silicone inserts.

The Underwire Sport Tankini Top features three-ways-to-tie straps, allowing you to personalise your tankini as a halter, tank or criss-cross back.

Stand out features of the Halter Dress Cover-Up include the halter-style cowl neckline and drawstring waist, making it flattering for all shapes and sizes.

Available at www.hapari.com

Fresh Modernity Yves Saint Laurent

Eternal Elegance Armand Nicolet Armand Nicolet’s OHM (Original Historical Movement) Series features original historical movements from the 1950s and 1960s that are recovered and tuned in the Manufacture’s atelier. These series are produced in limited editions as the quantity is determined by the amount of original historical movements still available.

The newest addition to the series is L15, presenting a slightly smaller case, curved dial and leafshaped hands – offered in stainless steel, gold and a combination of the two. The colour of the dial varies from silvered to black without forgetting the grey shade of the stainless steel version. The grey dial with pink indexes is available on the two-toned version and also on the rose gold model that comes with silvered dial as well.

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L’Homme Libre is the newest facet of L’Homme by Yves Saint Laurent, and is described as the perfect balance of masculinity, elegance and luxury, representing the urban and charismatic 21st century male who celebrates the power of freedom.

It was created by two perfumers, Parisian Olivier Polge and New Yorker Carlos Benaïm; together, they have reinterpreted the territory of woody aromatics by adding a fresh modernity to the fragrance.

It opens with Calabrian bergamot, then reveals a new freshness enhanced by violet leaves, basil and star anise, and enlivened with nutmeg and pink pepper.

Patchouli and vetiver anchors the accord in a sparkling, masculine register, while the scent of resin and warm leather flows like a warm breeze.

ParGolf august 2015

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Rebel Wraith Rebellion

Intuitive G4 LG

Wraith Drive by Rebellion is a motorsport-inspired, two-pusher chronograph featuring date, small seconds and tachymeter scale, which enables speed to be calculated from distance and time. The 47mm steel case – with natural or black DLC finish – is complemented by a high-tech, water-resistant Nytech band or elegant calf leather strap.

Featuring bright white Arabic numerals and markers, its central hours and minute hands are complemented at 9 o’clock by a small seconds disc bearing the Rebellion logo. The chronograph function includes a central elapsed seconds hand, a minute counter at 12 o’clock and an hour counter at 6 o’clock.

Wraith Drive is available in six editions: natural steel case and grey dial; natural steel case and black dial; black DLC steel case and black dial; black DLC steel case and green-and-black dial; black DLC steel case and red-and-black dial; and a special limited edition yellow-and-black.

The LG G4’s design is defined by the Slim Arc, which runs along its entire body, highlighted by a display with a subtle curvature.

Its camera features a rare-in-smartphones F1.8 aperture lens which allows 80 per cent more light to hit the image sensor than in the LG G3. For selfie enthusiasts, there’s the industryleading 8MP front-facing camera for sharp, detailed portraits and group shots.

The LG G4 is the first phone to utilise the new humancentric UX 4.0 that promises to be simpler and more intuitive – features include: Quick Shot, which allows you to take pictures without opening the camera app; and Event Pocket, which allows users to create one, unified calendar by dragging and dropping appointments and activities from multiple calendars and social media sites.

The LG G4 is available in handcrafted, genuine full grain leather in three beautiful colours – black, brown and red.

Couture Straps Parmigiani Fleurier Designed as a couture collection, Parmigiani Fleurier’s on-trend range of straps combines a graphic finish or a pop of colour with the finest materials, sensual to the touch. These new straps bring new vibrancy to the Tonda 1950, a model famed for its fluid lines, uncluttered dial and elegant gold case.

Two types of materials are used – chic alligator with scales that vary in size, and smooth or stamped calfskin in radiant coral and lime green. This technique is beautifully illustrated by one of the straps in the collection, which sports a stunning pixellated pattern like a butterfly’s wing.

On a black background, the strap is partially overlaid with silver, and then flecked with green and a vibrant fuchsia. The metallic hints turn the Tonda 1950 into a pop chic classic.

ParGolf august 2015

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cars+pars

Legendary Class Ferrari 488 GTB

The twin-turbocharged V8 Ferrari 488 GTB’s revolutionary proprietary solutions deliver top-of-its-class power output with engine and command response times of just 0.8 and 0.06 seconds respectively. The ‘488’ in the car’s moniker indicates the engine’s unitary displacement, while ‘GTB’ stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, a reference to its

deep roots in Ferrari history.

The model’s sculptural forms accentuate its sportiness yet retain the classically clean, pure lines typical of Ferrari’s legendary styling. The extreme power required by the car is delivered by the new 3902cm3 turbo engine coupled with a seven-gear F1 dualclutch gearbox featuring Variable Boost

Management. It also sports a new version of the Side Slip Control System (SSC2) which, aside from just integrating with the car’s F1-Trac and E-Diff, now also controls the active dampers.

The Ferrari 488 GTB makes its debut in a new Rosso Corsa Met livery with black and red technical fabric cabin trim.

The Gamma 1.6-litre MPI D-CVVT powerplant is mated to a six-speed transmission, which delivers more horsepower while consuming less fuel. The model also features the latest active and passive safety technologies such as the ultra-high tensile strength body, ESC, VSM and HAC.

The Sport Edition of the Elantra Facelift is priced at RM91,928. There are also five other variants available: 1.6 Elegance (RM85,929), 1.6 Sport (RM91,928), 1.6 Executive (RM96,821), 1.6 Premium (RM101,555) and 1.8 Premium (RM115,617).

All OTR prices without insurance and applicable to Peninsular Malaysia only.

Sporty Makeover

Hyundai Elantra FL Sport edition The Sport Edition of the Elantra Facelift offers a full sport body kit which includes the front and rear bumpers as well as the side skirts, twin tail pipes and in-car audio visual entertainment. Available in Creamy White and Phantom Black, it comes with a limited edition car decal design that incorporates a barcode and serial number that runs from 001 to 999.

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World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship

Island Takedown

Green & Gold from Down Under captures third leg with outstanding finish

A

fter a rousing second leg in Borneo, the World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship (WAITGC) returned to the Peninsular for its subsequent round, this time taking on two of Langkawi island’s most celebrated courses from June 8-11.

Playing host to the exciting event were Gunung Raya Golf Resort as well as the award-winning Els Club Teluk Datai.

The golfers showed off their fairway skills on Gunung Raya’s 18-hole par-72 course, endowed with rolling greens, lush wide fairways and strategicallyplaced sand traps and water hazards.

The highly acclaimed 18-hole par 72 Els Club, meanwhile, stretched across 6,750 yards, beautifully nestled within a centuries-old rainforest with towering lush tropical foliage, with its holes meandering down to the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea. In the end, the Aussie team of Green & Gold, comprising Greg Ellis, Brad Germon, Michael Prindiville and Paul Matthew, emerged the gross champions with a four-day winning total of 908.

Coming in second was Bruneian squad made up of Zul Hilmi Rosli, Khairol Bakar, Ruddy Yussof and Pg Ahmad Zaki Pg Jambol, who amassed a total of 949. Taking third-place honours on a total of 967 was Suman Ouri, Amit Luthra, Harmeet Sahney and Apramjit Singh from India.

“We’re really looking forward to playing in the grand final,” said Green & Gold team captain Ellis, who was taking part in the event for the fifth time. “My wife and I enjoy this beautiful country, the people and the excellent food. We revel in the camaraderie of our friends from all over the world and we look forward to coming here each and every year.”

It was an outstanding finish for Malaysian team Maybank who topped the Stableford category with a total of 453 points, thanks to the concerted efforts of Ismail Mohd Yusoff, Nor Mazlan, Yasmin A Rahman and Amiruddin Mustaffa. Trailing 11 points behind in second place was Bruneian team KabakKabak, represented by Aedy Azmani Azahari, Nordin Ahmad, Muhammad Zulehram and Mahdini Rosman.

Gross champs Team Green & Gold

Following a short break due to the holy month of Ramadan, the event resumes with its fourth leg in Selangor from August 10-13 (Kota Permai Golf & Country Club and Impian Golf & Country Club), and Melaka from September 28 to October 1 (Tiara Melaka Golf & Country Club and A’Famosa Golf Resort). The 2015 series will culminate in a Grand Final at Kuala Lumpur’s Sungai Long Golf & Country Club and The Mines Resort & Golf Club from November 17-19, where the top two gross, top nett and top two senior teams from each leg will enjoy a fully-hosted experience.

(If there is no senior category due to insufficient teams, the top three gross and top two nett teams qualify for the Grand Final.)

The WAITGC is Tourism Malaysia’s

initiative to promote Malaysia as a topof-mind golf destination in the region.

Since its debut in 1994, WAITGC has emerged as a well-regarded tournament and one of the highly anticipated golfing events on the avid golfer’s calendar, having attracted more than 500 participants every year.

The annual series not only tests golfers’ golfing aptitude, but also enables them to discover the various cultures and traditions in Malaysia, as well as the country’s lip-smacking cuisines and fascinating attractions.

The WAITGC is managed by the Golf Club Managers’ Association of Malaysia (GCMAM) and sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA).

For more information, contact the WAITGC Secretariat at 03-5633 2079/ 5634 2078 or visit www.waitgc.com. PG

World Amateur Inter-Team Golf Championship 2015 Schedule Round Date Location 1

Mar 9 - 12

Johor – Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort, Horizon Hills GCC

2

Apr 20 - 23

Sabah – Dalit Bay GCC, Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai

3

June 8 - 11

Langkawi – Gunung Raya GR, Els Club Teluk Datai

4

Aug 10 - 13

Selangor – Kota Permai GCC, Impian GCC

5

Sept 28 - Oct 1 Melaka – Tiara Melaka GCC, A’Famosa GR

Grand Final Nov 17 - 19

Selangor/Kuala Lumpur – Sungai Long GCC, The Mines Resort GCC

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, Hole 2 ParGolf august 2015

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Gross and nett winners at Kluang Country Club with representatives from the club and Carlsberg

Fifth Time Lucky For Wee

Kluang Country Club kicks off first preliminary leg; George Wee claims gross title

By Gurdev Singh

G

eorge Wee added another win to his expanding resume after emerging victorious in the first preliminary leg of the 2015 Carlsberg Golf Classic.

Held on June 14 at Johor’s Kluang Country Club, the event saw Wee (4), known for his long drives, holding off runner-up Mohd Aminoddin Mapol (5) by three strokes to win the gross title.

Trailing behind Mapol by one stroke was Sooi Mee Chin (8), who clinched third spot.

“The course is very challenging. My putting and short game went hand in hand and was very good. This is the fifth time that I have qualified for the national finals,” said an elated Wee. Although Wee has never won at the finals, he is keeping his fingers crossed and hopes to create some dramatic news towards the end of the year when

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the national finals tee off in Selangor.

It was also quite an accomplishment for the nine-hole, par 35 Kluang CC to host the opening leg of the Carlsberg Golf Classic, the country’s longest and biggest amateur golf tournament, for the first time. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place on the first teebox as the event was officiated, observed by proud and thrilled club members.

“I want to thank Carlsberg Malaysia for extending the Carlsberg Golf Classic to us all in Kluang, and it’s been an honour to host the first preliminary leg,” said Kluang CC golf captain Syed Abdul Jabar.

“We had a total of 80 golfers who teed off in the morning and afternoon respectively. The weather had been gloomy but thank God the game was completed before it started to rain

heavily towards the evening.

“Although Kluang CC is a nine-hole golf course, it is packed with some very challenging fairways and greens. It is called a commando course and many who have played here will attest to the difficulty of this course,” added Jabar.

Following legs in Johor’s Palm Resort Golf & Country Club and Batu Pahat Golf Club as well as Selangor’s Monterez Golf & Country Club respectively, the Carlsberg Golf Classic continues in Sabah early this month.

“We’re delighted to inform that we have received 110 entries for the prestigious Carlsberg Golf Classic 2015 and it is already ‘full house’ before the closing date,” said Nexus Karambunai club manager Vivien Quek. The fifth leg will be played on August 8, before returning to the Peninsular for the subsequent preliminary legs.

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Official partners of the Carlsberg Golf Classic 2015 include MercedesBenz, Sharp, Titoni, Liberty Golf Travel, FJ, Ogawa, TaylorMade, Dalmore, ParGolf, Loreal Professional, Munchy’s, Gatorade and SunPlay. Part of the entry fee this year will be channeled to the JC Jacobson Foundation for charitable endeavors in relation to the environment, education, humanitarian activites and wildlife, among others. PG RESULTS Kluang Country Club June 14 Gross 1st George Wee (4) 2nd Mohd Aminoddin Mapol (5) 3rd Sooi Mee Chin (8)

77 80 81

Nett 1st 2nd 3rd

70 71 72 OCB

Muhammad Sanusi (18) Sia Keng Hwa (18) Syed Abdul Jabar (11)

Gross winner George Wee (R)

Grand lucky draw winner (R)

One of the par 3s at Kluang CC Great fun at the prizegiving

Lucky draw winner (L)

Novelty winner (L)

The ribbon cutting ceremony at Kluang CC PARTNERS

ParGolf AUGUST 2015

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in the spotlight

Danny’s Charity Golf raises RM35,000 for East Coast flood victims

Malaysia’s most celebrated professional golfer Danny Chia staged his inaugural charity event at Tropicana Golf & Country Resort on June 28, in aid of flood rehabilitation efforts in the East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia.

Despite short notice, Danny’s Charity Golf 2015 succeeded in raising RM35,000 from the participation fees, dinner-only attendees as well as an auction of memorabilia from Chia’s storied golf career. The money will be channelled via MERCY Malaysia to help rebuild homes and infrastructure in Kuala Krai, Kelantan – one of the worst-hit areas during the devastating East Coast floods last December.

“I had the opportunity to see the devastation in Kuala Krai myself as an ambassador of the Malaysian Open and what I

Danny Chia (L) with winner Wong Hong Nung

saw immediately brought tears to my eyes.

Whilst numerous corporate companies and noble individuals have stepped forward to assist the affected families, many are still

struggling in the rebuilding process of their houses and public infrastructure,” said Chia, who made history in the 2010 British Open at St Andrews when he became the first Malaysian to make the cut in a Major.

“That is why I decided to run the charity golf event with the intention of raising money to assist the people of Kuala Krai to rebuild their town. I thank all the participants and donors for their generous contributions, which will be forwarded to MERCY Malaysia to aid the rebuilding efforts,” he added.

Sponsors of Danny’s Charity Golf 2015 included Titleist, Absolute Thai, Brother, Carlsberg, Crest Link, Maxtrack, Pen-Drive, Singleton, Tamico-Bell, Transview, Titoni and True Golf.

Fifty Six Degrees shootout in Kota Permai New blended whisky Fifty Six Degrees organised a unique shootout competition at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club on the evening of June 30, following a golf event to raise funds for the National Cancer

88

Society of Malaysia.

The grand prize for the shootout – staged on the floodlit 18th hole – was an allexpense-paid holiday to Langkawi for four, inclusive of two rounds at the award-winning

The Els Club Teluk Datai worth more than RM11,000. More than 80 golfers took part in the tournament and the shootout, some coming from as far away as Singapore.

"The rules of the game are simple," explained Nick Dahl, sales director of the increasingly-popular whisky. “Two distances, three balls per distance and the results tallied from the closest two shots will add up to be your total score. You can select any club from 156 metres but the shot from 56 metres has to be made with a 56-degree wedge – for obvious reasons!

"This is the first time anyone in Malaysia has ever done this and we'll be taking this on the road for six months with the next shootout scheduled to be in Johor Bahru."

Saykur Mohd Suhaimi claimed the top prize at Kota Permai with a combined distance of 1.93 metres.

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Horsing around and more at Kota Permai Club Championships If there’s one club that knows how to hype up its club championships, it’s Kota Permai Golf & Country Club.

Green jackets and a horse carriage ride for the winners, a fire-eater mesmerizing spectators during the final round, plus other imaginative touches and little nuances – the club certainly pulls out all the stops in ensuring that the participants not only feel special but have a great time as well.

The championships stretched over a two-week period, with the senior and women’s events played on June 6-7, followed by the men's championship on June 12-14. The festival of golf culminated in a grand prize presentation dinner on the night of July 14, themed ‘Back To The 60s’.

In the senior event, Khoo Gee Seng clinched the title with a two-day total of 157 (82-75), just one shot ahead of defending champion Wong Shou Cherng (77-81). It was sweet revenge for Khoo as he finished second to Wong in the 2014 edition. Third place went to Gilbert Low on 166 (83-83), edging Imran Gulcharan Abdullah on countback.

Teenager Raeysha Surendran, meanwhile, successfully retained the women’s title with successive 77s for a 154 total, edging Doris Yee (76-80) by two shots. Ong Gim Hong was third on 169 (86-83) after a countback from Datuk Azlina Abdul Aziz.

The highly-coveted men’s title went to Mohd Isa Abas, who carded rounds of 79, 72 and 82 to finish on 233. William Cheah put up a strong challenge in an exciting final round but settled for runner-up honours on 235 (79-78-78), three shots ahead of third-placed Willie Lim (81-80-77).

Kota Permai also staged its annual media golf game two days after the club championships. Around 80 members of the print, electronic and web media enjoyed the experience of playing the course in mint championship condition, with the greens running at more than 12 on the Stimpmeter.

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in the spotlight

KLGCC crowns champions for 2015 Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club staged its club championships in mid-June, played at the club’s highly-rated West Course.

In the men’s event, 2012 champion Leroy Chiam reclaimed the title with a three-day gross score of 230, winning by 19 strokes over Damian Yeoh Tay Seng and Mohd Zaid Osman who finished second and third respectively.

The nett title was won by Max Chang Chan Wai who amassed a total score of 217.

The ladies’ crown once again went to June Yap, who finished with a two-day total of 158, three shots ahead of runner-up Fatin Aiman.

Ireen Teng finished third on 170.

The senior title went to 2013 champion Chong Chee Huat, who topped the standings with a two-day total of 159. Azizul Mahmud and Abdul Razak Jamaludin were second and third on 161 and 162 respectively.

Nett winner Max Chang (L) with Abdul Razak Jamaludin, club liaison committee member and 3rd runner-up in the gross category

Gross champ Leroy Chiam

Make-A-Wish stages fifth charity golf event Make-A-Wish Malaysia successfully staged its fifth charity golf tournament at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on May 21. The event was held to raise funds for the foundation, which grants the wishes of children with lifethreatening medical conditions.

More than 100 golfers took part in the event, which featured a number of unique novelty holes that had them putting with antique golf clubs and even tee-off with tennis balls and rackets. The tournament was played as a team event with the first place going to Kuiper International (Mark Somic, Harry Somic, Paul Reid, Scott McIlwraith) and runner-up honours claimed

by Malene Insurance Brokers (Tunku Abang Faisal Amir, Cameron Cheah, Edmund Lau, Teh Chee Hoe).

“Make-A-Wish Malaysia is extremely grateful to all the generous donors, sponsors and volunteers who have made it possible for

more wishes to be granted to the courageous children facing life-threatening medical conditions. We strongly believe that the power of a wish can bring much hope, strength and joy to both the child and the

child’s family,” said Dr Tang Swee Fong, chairperson of Make-A-Wish Malaysia.

For more information on Make-A-Wish Malaysia, log on to www.makeawish.org.my or call 03-2011 3300.

Danau holds Tamar Run Golf event Danau Golf Club organised their muchanticipated Tamar Run Golf event on July 5, with 50 golfers turning up for the ninehole golf event.

The event was followed by buka puasa (breaking of fast) and solat terawih (special Ramadan prayers) at the clubhouse. During the prizegiving, participants enjoyed a late moreh (supper) with a surprise durian feast.

Seventeen-handicapper Nur Muhammad emerged as the winner with 22 nett stableford points, edging runnerup Razak Ismail (15) by a single point.

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golf course directory Kuala Lumpur BUKIT JALIL GCR (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8994 1600 KELAB REKREASI ANGKATAN TENTERA (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 2141 1113/1881 KELAB GOLF PERKHIDMATAN AWAM (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 7957 3344 KELAB GOLF TITIWANGSA PDRM (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 2693 4964 KUALA LUMPUR GCC (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 2093 1111 KELAB GOLF MAKTAB TENTERA DIRAJA (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 9058 7212 ROYAL SELANGOR GC (45 holes) Tel: 603 - 9206 3333 putrajaya PALM GARDEN GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8213 6333 SELANGOR AMVERTON COVE GOLF & ISLAND RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 3123 3800 BANGI GR (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 8925 3728 BUKIT BERUNTUNG GCC (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 6028 1841 BUKIT KEMUNING GCR (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 5121 7188 BUKIT UNGGUL CC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8920 2888/2188 DANAU GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8925 1010 GLENMARIE GCC (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 7803 9090 GUTHRIE GOLF ACADEMY PITCH & PUTT COURSE (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 7846 3505 ILSAS TENAGA NASIONAL RECREATIONAL GC (9 holes) Tel: 012 - 382 7475 IMPIAN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8734 4195 KELAB DARUL EHSAN (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 4257 2333 KELAB GOLF NEGARA SUBANG (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 7876 0381/0388 KUALA KUBU BHARU GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6064 2887 KELAB RAHMAN PUTRA MALAYSIA (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 6156 6870 KELAB REKREASI TENTERA UDARA (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 7734 5535/45 KINRARA GC (18 holes) Tel: 03 - 8076 2100 KOTA PERMAI GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 5122 3700 LEMBAH BERINGIN GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6460 0016 MONTEREZ GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 7846 5989 PORT KLANG GR (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 3176 1323 ROYAL KAMPUNG KUANTAN CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 3289 1069 SAUJANA GCC (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 7846 1466 SERI SELANGOR GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 7806 1111 SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH GCC (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 5510 5872 SUNGAI LONG GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 9076 2233 SRI MORIB GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 3198 1418 TASIK PUTERI GCC (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 6034 4721/22 TEMPLER PARK CC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6091 9617 THE MINES RESORT & GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8943 2288 TROPICANA GCR (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 7804 8888 THE CLUB @ BUKIT UTAMA (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 7725 5199 UPM GOLF COURSE (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8947 1888 VALENCIA GC (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 6156 0021

JOHOR AUSTIN HEIGHTS GOLF & HOTEL RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 352 4300 BATU PAHAT GC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 432 9221 BUKIT BANANG GCC (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 428 5431 DAIMAN 18 JOHOR BAHRU (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 351 6813/353 3100 GUTHRIE GCC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 752 7107 HORIZON HILLS GCC (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 232 3166 IMPIAN EMAS GCC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 552 2202 IOI PALM VILLA GCR (27 holes) Tel: 607 - 599 9099 KLUANG CC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 771 8840 KOTA TINGGI GR (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 883 1162 KUKUP GR (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 696 0950 NAM HENG CC (9 holes) Tel: 6019-775 0055 ORCHARD GCR (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 897 7934/6470 PALM RESORT GCC (54 holes) Tel: 607 - 599 2000 PERMAS JAYA GC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 388 6155 PONDEROSA GCC (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 354 9999 PORESIA CC (27 holes) Tel: 607 - 510 2033 PULAI SPRINGS RESORT (36 holes) Tel: 607 - 521 2121 JOHOR GCC (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 223 3322 SEGAMAT CC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 943 5968 SEBANA COVE RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 826 6655/88 S.T. RHODES CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 926 1209 STARHILL GCC (36 holes) Tel: 607 - 556 6325 TANJUNG EMAS GC (9 holes)Tel: 606 - 952 1550 TANJUNG PUTERI GR (54 holes) Tel: 607 - 271 1888 THE LEGENDS GCR (27 holes) Tel: 607 - 652 4388

PERAK CLEARWATER SANCTUARY GR (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 366 7433 DAMAI LAUT GCC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 685 9333 KINTA GC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 365 2827 KUALA KANGSAR GC (9 holes) Tel: 605 - 776 2396 MERU VALLEY RESORT (27 holes) Tel: 605 - 529 3300/3333 ROYAL PERAK GC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 542 3266 TAIPING GOLF RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 883 7500 TELUK INTAN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 623 7421

MELAKA A’FAMOSA GR (27 holes) Tel: 606 - 552 0888 AYER KEROH CC (27 holes) Tel: 606 - 233 2000/2001 ORNA GCC (27 holes) Tel: 606 - 521 0333 TIARA MELAKA GCC (27 holes) Tel: 606 - 231 1111/2366

PERLIS PUTRA PERLIS GC (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 976 9660 UUM GOLF & RECREATION CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 604 - 928 2684

NEGERI SEMBILAN GEMAS GR (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 948 2687 NILAI SPRINGS GCC (27 holes) Tel: 606 - 850 8888 PORT DICKSON GCC (18 holes) Tel : 606 - 647 3586/3123 ROYAL PALM SPRINGS GC (18 holes) Tel: 606 - 661 9599 ROYAL SERI MENANTI GCC (18 holes) Tel: 606 - 497 9600 / 900 SEREMBAN INTERNATIONAL GC (18 holes) Tel: 606 - 677 5277 STAFFIELD COUNTRY RESORT (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 8766 6117/8/9 THISTLE PORT DICKSON RESORT (9 holes) Tel: 606 - 648 2828 UTOPIA GR (FORMERLY ERA GCC) (18 holes) Tel: 017 - 336 0836

PULAU PINANG MOUNTAIN VIEW GR (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 583 3777 PENANG GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 644 2255 BUKIT JAWI GR (36 holes) Tel: 604 - 582 0759 PENANG GOLF RESORT (36 holes) Tel: 604 - 578 2022 PENANG TURF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 238 5226 KEDAH BLACK FOREST GCC (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 922 2790 /822 CINTA SAYANG RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 441 4666 DARULAMAN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 917 0001 GUNUNG RAYA GR (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 966 8148 HARVARD GCC (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 450 0323 KULIM GCR (27 holes) Tel: 604 - 403 2828 PERMAIPURA GCC (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 459 4000 ROYAL KEDAH GC (9 holes) Tel: 604 - 731 9405/733 0467 SG. PETANI GC (9 holes) Tel: 604 - 422 4894 THE ELS CLUB TELUK DATAI (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 959 2700 99 EAST GOLF CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 604 - 955 1153

KELANTAN GUA MUSANG GC (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 912 0010/11 KELAB REKREASI TENTERA DARAT (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 787 8200 KELANTAN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 748 2102 TERENGGANU BUKIT BESI GC (18 holes) Tel: 019 - 956 4760 DESA DUNGUN GC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 848 1041 GREEN ACRES GCR (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 616 3500 KUALA TERENGGANU GR (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 666 6836 KELAB GOLF & REKREASI PETRONAS (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 804 0232 RESORTS WORLD KIJAL (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 864 1188 PAHANG AWANA GENTING HIGHLANDS GCR (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6436 9037 BENTONG GC (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 222 2585 BERJAYA HILLS GCC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 222 8882 CAMERON HIGHLANDS GC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 4911126

FRASER’S HILL GC (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 362 2888 / 03 - 2691 6633 KELAB GOLF KEM UNGKU NAZAMUDDIN (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 312 2901 KELAB REKREASI SRI MAHKOTA (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 277 7831 KELAB REKREASI TUDM KUANTAN (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 538 4282 LANJUT GOLDEN BEACH & GR (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 414 5113 LIPIS VALLEY GC (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 312 1963/4/5 MAHKOTA GCC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 573 9595 MARAN HILL GR (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 468 9187 ROYAL PAHANG GC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 567 5811 ROYAL PEKAN GC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 422 4139 SELESA RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 233 0039/42 TIOMAN ISLAND GC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 419 1000 SABAH BORNEO GOLF RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 6087 - 861 888 DALIT BAY GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6088 - 791 333 HOT SPRING GC (18 holes) Tel: 6089 - 765 555 KENINGAU GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6087 - 331 113 KINABALU GC (9 holes) Tel: 6088 - 251 615 KUDAT GOLF & MARINA RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 6088 - 611 002 LAHAD DATU GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6089 - 867 288 MIMPIAN JADI GC (18 holes) Tel: 6088 - 787 122 MOUNT KINABALU GC (18 holes) Tel: 6088 - 889 445 NEXUS GOLF RESORT KARAMBUNAI (18 holes) Tel: 6088 - 411 215 SABAH GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6088 - 247 533 SANDAKAN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6089 - 660 557 SHAN-SHUI GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6089 - 916 888 SUTERA HARBOUR GCC (27 holes) Tel: 6088 - 318 888 SIGALONG GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6016 - 830 3657 TAWAU GOLF CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 6089 - 765 990 TAMBUNAN GC (18 holes) Tel: 6087 - 773 114/115 SARAWAK BINTULU GC (18 holes) Tel: 6086 - 253 213 BORNEO HIGHLANDS RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 6019 - 828 0790 DAMAI GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6082 - 846 088 EASTWOOD VALLEY GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6085 - 421 010 KELAB GOLF SARAWAK (36 holes) Tel: 6082 - 444 791/440 966 MIRI GC (18 hole) Tel: 6085 - 416 787 PRISONS GC (9 holes) Tel: 6082 - 613 544 SAMARAHAN CC (18 holes) Tel: 6013 - 816 1876 SIBU GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 6084 - 228 119 labuan LABUAN GOLF CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 6087 - 412 711 LABUAN INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 6087 - 468 468

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golf course directory

Surprising Amverton

The Golfers Paradise

amverton cove golf & island resort

A‘Famosa Golf Resort

The Jungle Serenity

ayer keroh country club

PT 673, Jalan Pulau Carey, Mukim Jugra, 4290 Pulau Carey, Selangor Tel: +603-3123 3888 / +6019-383 2233 E-mail: enquiries@amvertoncove.com Website: www.amvertoncove.com Designer: Jason Winter, E&G Parslow Description: 18 holes, 5,875m

Tel: +606-552 0555 Fax: +606-552 8751 Email: operations.golf@afamosa.com Website: www.afamosa.com Designer: Ross C. Watson Description: 27 holes, Rocky - 3,182m, Crocodile - 3,154m, Palm - 3,215m

KM 14.5, Jalan Tasik, 75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka Tel: +606-233 2000 Fax: +606-232 3578 E-mail: info@akcc.com.my Website: www.akcc.com.my Facebook: fb.com/ayerkerohcc Designer: Tun Dr. Abdul Ghafar Baba Accommodation: AKCC Hotel Resort Description: 27 holes - Governor, Tunku & Ghafar

Play the Best

Never Too Far From Anywhere

Public Golfer’s Paradise

Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort

staffield country resort

Daiman 18 Public Course

Jalan Jalil Perkasa 3, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-8994 1600 Fax: +603-8994 1542 E-mail: jalil@berjayaclubs.com Website: www.berjayaclubs.com/jalil Designer: Max Wexler Description: 18 holes, 6,228m, par 72

Batu 13, Seremban-KL, 71700 Mantin, Negeri Sembilan Tel: +603-8766 6117/+6018-222 1919 Fax: +603-8766 7173 Email: staffield@berjayaclubs.com Website: www.berjayaclubs.com/staffield Designer: Graham Marsh & Ross Watson Description: 27 holes, Championship Course

18, Jalan Pesona, Taman Johor Jaya, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Tel: +607-351 6813 / 353 3100 Fax: +607-351 6823 E-mail: daiman18@daiman.com.my Website: www.daiman.com.my Designer: Golf Oasis Sdn Bhd Description: 18 holes, 5,651m, par 71

Golfing At Its Very Best

Johor’s Hidden Jewel

Borneo's Golfing Haven

kelab darul ehsan Taman Tun Abdul Razak, Jalan Kerja Air Lama Ampang Jaya, 68000 Selangor Tel: +603-4257 2333/+603-4253 2333 Fax: +603-4257 6293 Email: kde@berjayaclubs.com Website: www.berjayaclubs.com/kde Designer: Ronald Fream Description: 9 holes

BUKIT BANANG GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB No. 1, Persiaran Gemilang, Bandar Banang Jaya 83000 Batu Pahat, Johor Darul Takzim Tel: +607-428 6001 Fax: +607-428 6801 Email: banang@berjayaclubs.com Website: www.berjayaclubs.com/banang Designer: Michael Coates & Associates Description: 18 Holes Championship Course

Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort & Spa Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club Pantai Dalit, PO Box 578, 89208 Tuaran, Sabah Tel: +6088-791 188 Fax: +6088-792 128 Website: www.dalitbaygolf.com.my Designer: E & G Parslow (M) Sdn Bhd Description: 18 holes, 6,369m, par 72

it's easy to book your tee time online!

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Play Exciting Golf

Danau Golf Club

In Pursuit of Perfection

Pride Of Nusajaya

Glenmarie Golf & Country Club

Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Tel: +603-8925 1010 Fax: +8925 5326 Website: www.danaugolf.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/DANAUGOLF Description: 18 holes, 6,340m, par 72 Managed by: Saujana Scape & Greens S/B

No 3, Jalan Usahawan U1/8, 40150, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: +603-7803 9090 Fax: +603-7803 2728 E-mail: ggcc@glenmarie.com.my Website: www.glenmariegolf.com Designer: Max Wexler Description: 18 holes Valley Course (6,412m, par 72) & 18 holes Garden Course (6,404m, par 72, Night Golfing) Accommodation: Holiday In Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie

No. 1 Jln Eka, Horizon Hills, 79100 Nusajaya, Johor Tel : +607-232 3166 Fax : +607-232 3919 E-mail: general@hhgcc.com.my Website: www.hhgcc.com.my Designer: Ross Watson Description: 18 holes, 6271m, par 72 Maintenance: Mon

Malaysia’s Best

Pride Of The Civil Service

Serene Beauty

Impian Golf & Country Club

Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club

Batu 14, Jln Cheras, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Tel: +603-8734 4195/96/97 Fax: +603-8734 8133 Website: www.igcc.com.my Designer: Ross C. Watson & Tze To Kok Yia Description: 18 holes, par 72 Maintenance: Mon

Bukit Kiara, Off Jalan Damansara, 60000 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603-7957 3344 Fax: +603-7957 7821 Website: www.kgpagolf.com Designer: Ronald Fream Description: 27 holes - Hill, Lake, Forest

No 1, Jalan 31/100A, Kota Kemuning Section 31, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: +603-5122 3700 Fax: +603-5122 3701/2/3 E-mail : kpgcc@kotapermai.com.my Website : www.kotapermai.com.my Designer: Ross Watson Description: 18 holes, 6,396m, par 72 Maintenance: Mon

Tee Off With Mother Nature

Where Living & Leisure Come Together

A Golfer’s Paradise

labuan international golf club Jalan Sungai Pagar, 87000 Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan Tel: +6087-468468 Fax: +6087-468467 E-mail : reservations@ligc.com.my Website : www.ligc.com.my Designer: Parslow & Winter Golf Course Design Owned by Labuan Corporation, managed by SSGSB Description: 18 holes, 6,182m, par 72

Monterez Golf & Country Club No. 1, Jalan Merah Kesumba, U9/18, Seksyen U9 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: +603-7846 5989 Fax: +603-7846 7881 E-mail: mgcc@monterez.com.my Website: www.monterez-golf.com Description: 18 holes, 5,699m, par 71

Nilai Springs Golf & Country Club PT 4770, Nilai Springs, 71800 Putra Nilai, Negeri Sembilan Tel: +606-850 8888 Fax: +606-850 3005/3388 Website: www.nilaispringsgolf.com.my Designer: DL Golf Development Sdn Bhd Description: 27 holes, Mango, Island & Pine Course

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golf course directory

Pristine Surroundings

Orna Golf & Country Club

Oasis For Golfing And Family Leisure In Johor

Palm Resort Golf & Country Club

Great Golf, Great Food

PENANG GOLF CLUB (formerly Bukit Jambul Country Club)

Batu 16, Jln Gapam, Ladang Gapam 77200 Bemban, Melaka Tel: +606-521 0333 Fax: +606-521 0222 Website: www.ornaresort.com.my Designer: Andy Dye Description: 27 holes, par 72 - East, West & North Course

Jalan Persiaran Golf, Off Jalan Jumbo, 81250 Senai, Johor Tel: +607-599 6222 Fax: +607-599 6001 E-mail: golfbooking@palmresort.com Website: www.palmresort.com Designer: Hiromasa Inagawa Description: 54 holes, Allamanda Course 6,855m, Cempaka Course 7,156m, Melati Course 7,205m

No. 2 Jalan Bukit Jambul, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang Tel: +604-644 2255 Fax: +604-644 9345 E-mail: reception@penanggolfclub.com.my Website: www.penanggolfclub.com.my / www.facebook.com/penanggolfclub Description: 18 Holes, 5,846m – Par 72

Excellent By Nature

The Family And Golfer's Paradise

Jewel Of The North

Palm Garden Golf Club

IOI Palm Villa Golf & Country Resort

PENANG GOLF RESORT BHD

IOI Resort City, 62502, Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Tel: +603-8213 6333 Fax: +603-8213 6388/99 E-mail: marketing@palmgarden.net.my Website: www.palmgarden.net.my Designer: Ted Parslow Description: 18 holes, Eugenia Course 2,960m, Bismarck Course 2,820m

PTD 44500, Jalan Indah Utama, Bandar Putra, 81000 Kulai, Johor Tel: +607-599 9099 Fax: +607-598 8101 E-mail: palmvilla@ioigroup.com Website: www.palmvilla.com.my Designer: Rick Robbins Description: 27 holes, Palm Nine 3,012m, Putra Nine 3,097m, IOI Nine 3,253m

No 1687, Jalan Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas S.P.U, Penang Tel: +604-5782050 / +604-5782022 Fax: +604-5750226 E-mail: pgrb@tm.net.my Website: www.penanggolfresort.com.my Facebook: PGRB Kepala Batas Designer: Graham Marsh Description: 36 Holes, West Course 6,247m – Par 72, East Course 6,324M – Par 72

Close To You ...

An Oasis Of Relaxation

The Ultimate Challenge

Ponderosa Golf & Country Club

pulai springs resort

No. 3, Jalan Ponderosa 1, Taman Ponderosa, 81100 Johor Bahru Tel: +607-354 9999 Fax: +607-355 7400 E-mail: enquiry@ponderosagolf.com Website: www.ponderosagolf.com Description: Designed by Max Wexler; 18-holes; 6,467 meters Par-72

20km, Jalan Pontian Lama, 81110 Pulai, Johor Tel: +607-521 2121 Fax: +607-521 1818 E-mail: golf@pulaisprings.com Website: www.pulaisprings.com Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jnr & Peter Dalkeith Scott Description: 36 holes, Pulai Course 6,230m, Melana Course 6,019m

Saujana Golf & Country Club Saujana Golf & Country Club, Saujana Resort Seksyen U2, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: +603-7846 1466 Fax: +603-7846 2316 E-mail: golf@saujana.com.my Website: www.saujana.com.my Facebook: www.facebook.com/saujanagolfandcountryclub Designer: Ronald Fream & Ted Parslow Description: PC 6,992 yds, BRC 7,034 yds

it's easy to book your tee time online!

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Good Views Of The Surrounding Hills

seremban international golf club

A New Era In Golfing

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah golf & country club

Kelab Golf Seri Selangor

3 1/4 Miles Kuala Pilah Road, P.O. Box 88, 70710 Seremban Negeri Sembilan.

Tel: 06 - 677 5277/ 06 - 677 5787 Fax: 06 6772309 Email: Sigc@tm.net.my Website: www.sigc.com.my Description: 18 holes, 6,252m, par 72

Persiaran Damansara Indah, Off PersiaranTropicana Indah 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 03-78061111/1666 Fax: 03-78061777 Email: marketing@seriselangor.com.my Website: www.seriselangor.com.my Designer: Ross Watson Description: 18 hole Championship Golf Course

No. 1, Rumah Kelab, Jln Kelab Golf 13/6 40100 Shah Alam, Selangor Tel: 603 - 5519 1512/5510 5872 Fax: 603 - 5510 5860 Website: www.kgsaas.com.my Designer: Thomson, Wolveridge & Assoc.

Description: 27 holes - 9,565m, par 72

Play Where The Pros Play

Still the Best Golfing Experience in Johor!

Princely Charm

SUTERA HARBOUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort

TASIK PUTERI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

1 Sutera Harbour Boulevard, Sutera Harbour, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Tel: +60-088-243 471 Fax: +60-088-308 194 Email: golfadmin@suteraharbour.com.my Website: www.suteraharbour.com Designer: Graham Marsh Description: 27 holes, par 72, Lakes Courses 3,140m, Heritage Course 3,176m, Garden Course 3,176m

Jalan Tanjong Puteri 1, Tanjong Puteri Resort 81700 Pasir Gudang, Johor Tel: +607-271 1888 Fax: +607-271 1333 Website: www.tpgr.com Designer: Max Wexler and Akira Mamiya Description: 54 holes, Plantation Course 6,454m, Village Course 6,414m & Straits Course 6,163m

Bandar Tasik Puteri, 48000 Rawang, Selangor Tel: +603-6034 4721/4722, +6012-201 3375 Fax: +603-6034 4723 Website: www.tasikputerigolf.com Designer: Australian Golf Mgmt.

Description: 27 holes

Golf With Nature

Experience The Best Golfing

Because Life Is To Be Enjoyed!

TEMPLER PARK COUNTRY CLUB KM 21 Jalan Rawang, 48000 Selangor Tel: +603-6091 9111/9630 Fax: +603-6091 9807 E-mail: mani_sp@tpcc.com.my Website: www.tpcc.com.my Designer: Jumbo Ozaki & Kentaro Sato Description: 18 Holes 6,725 Yards

Tiara Melaka Golf & Country Club Jalan Gapam, Bukit Katil, P.O Box 473, 75760 Melaka Tel: +606-231 1111 Fax: +606-231 4122 E-mail: tmgcc1@gmail.com Website: www.lion.com.my Description: 27 holes, Lake Course 3,107m, Meadow Course 3,215m, Woodland Course 3,291m

Tropicana Golf & Country Resort Jalan Kelab Tropicana, Tropicana Golf & Country Resort, 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: +603-7804 8888 Fax: +603- 7804 3688 Email: gm@tropicanagolf.com Website: www.tropicanagolf.com Redesigned: E&G Parslow Description: 27-hole championship golf course

Log-on to www.papagolf.net to book your tee times ParGolf JULY 2015

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Learn the rules with Liang

Chinese golfing icon and R&A Working for Golf ambassador Liang Wen-chong launched the second phase of a golf rules education campaign for China’s growing golf community in late June.

Phase 2 of the initiative, which is driven by The R&A and supported by the China Golf Association (CGA) and Rolex, saw the release of four new rules video clips presented by Liang.

Covering the rules topics ‘lost ball and out of bound’, ‘playing the ball as it lies’, ‘unplayable ball’ and ‘water hazards’, the clips are the second batch following the first four last year which focused on etiquette.

“The Rules of Golf can be complicated for both beginners and more experienced players. The simple aim of this campaign is to help my fellow Chinese golfers get a better understanding of the Rules which will add to their enjoyment of this wonderful sport. I’m very proud to be working with The R&A, the CGA and Rolex on this initiative,” commented the 36-year-old Liang, who has won 19 tournaments worldwide.

Recorded in Mandarin with English subtitles, the clips will be made available to all media outlets in China at no cost. The campaign will also be supported by posters and print advertisements carrying a QR code enabling golfers to access the content via their smartphones and tablets.

©Asian Tour

©Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

final tee

Fuji Xerox inks deal with Asian Tour

Fuji Xerox has signed on with the Asian Tour to become its Official Office Solutions Partner. The partnership will allow the Japanese company to execute its customer engagement programmes at Asian Tour events, including hospitality, pro-am benefits and activation spaces.

“Fuji Xerox is pleased to become the Official Office Solutions Partner of the Asian Tour,” said Takashi Nawata, senior general manager, marketing, Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. “As a leader in the document services and communications field, Fuji Xerox is honoured to support the Asian Tour and its players, who conceive new strategies to raise their game each time they play, akin to the way Fuji Xerox continually innovates to bring the best solutions to businesses.”

Asian Tour CEO Mike Kerr expressed his delight with the tour’s latest partnership agreement. “As the stature of the Asian Tour continues to grow in the world of golf, thanks to stellar performances by our members and strong support from corporations in Asia, we believe our brand offers a truly effective and viable commercial platform for Fuji Xerox to leverage this partnership,” said Kerr.

“We have already partnered with many other leading brands in the world and adding Fuji Xerox to our list simply reinforces the continued growth and expansion of the Asian Tour,” he added.

Rock rolls out academy at The Bluffs

English pro Robert Rock, a two-time European Tour winner, has opened his first golf academy outside of the UK at The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip in Vietnam.

The Robert Rock Golf Academy @ The Bluffs officially opened in June with the commencement of a 10-week junior golf programme led by Australian Patrick Kelly, the course's head professional. Kelly is shaping the academy with input from Rock and golf instructor Luke Ringrose and it features a spacious, open-air room with impact bags, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and an array of monitors.

Designed by Greg Norman amid towering sand dunes two hours northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, The Bluffs has received high praise since opening for play last October.

This December, the course hosts the inaugural Ho Tram Open which is a US$1.5 million Asian Tour event.

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ParGolf takes a look at the increasingly popular DMDs i.e. distance measuring devices, from the proven rangefinders to trendy GPS watches.

©Hunter Martin/Getty Images

Great Aussie Hope We catch up with teen prodigy Minjee Lee as she prepares to make her Malaysian debut in the sixth edition of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.

Lord Of The Rings International Olympic Council president Thomas Bach speaks about golf’s longawaited and eagerlyanticipated return to the Olympics in 2016.

Laguna Phuket Much has been said and written about the Laguna Phuket Golf Club following a major revamp

by South African architect Paul Jansen. Jonathan Ponniah finds out what the fuss is all about.

NEXT ROUND

What’s The Distance?

©Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Bill Bird has been named president of Srixon/Cleveland Golf/XXIO – USA after serving as interim president since March this year. He served as chief financial officer as well as controller over the course of his 19-year career with the company.

“As president, Bill will provide the direction for Srixon, Cleveland Golf and XXIO’s North American operations,” said executive chairman Hideki Sano. “With Bill’s long history of distinguished service and leadership within the organisation, he brings in-depth knowledge and experience which will help lead the company moving forward.”

Bird expressed his appreciation for the appointment, saying: “I am deeply honoured and humbled by the opportunity to continue to lead our team in this effort to compete aggressively in the North American market, and I look forward to working more closely with our global team to become the strongest collection of brands worldwide.”

©Paul Kane/Getty Images

Bird takes on Srixon USA hot seat

Note: The Laguna Phuket article was held from ParGolf’s August 2015 issue due to space.

CONTEST WINNERS

COBRA PUMA GOLF CONTEST (JUNE 2015 ISSUE) Grand Prize (One set of Cobra Fly-Z+ Irons) John Lim, Klang, Selangor Consolation Prizes (One Cobra cap each) Willis Chee Weng Foo, Cheras, Selangor • Rohaizad Hussain, Kerteh, Terengganu • Liew Yeng Hoe, Subang Jaya, Selangor • Lee Boon Seong, Serendah, Selangor • Nurazlina Mohamat, Sibu, Sarawak • Terence Lai Yuen Fatt, Kluang, Johor • Tay Siew Hong, Kuching, Sarawak • Jack Chua, Shah Alam, Selangor • Nu’aim Nabil Nasir, Muar, Johor • Lai Thian Seong, Ipoh, Perak • Dr Chew Teik Chye, Batu Gajah, Perak • Ho Choon Yen, Kuala Lumpur • Anantharaja Batumalai, Damansara, Selangor • Eugene Chan Chew Jin, Klang, Selangor • Yeoh Chiang Pheng, Ipoh, Perak

Bukit Jalil raises funds for Nepal quake relief

The Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort succeeded in raising more than RM200,000 for victims of the Nepal earthquake disaster during a charity dinner event on July 3. This took the grand total raised by the club for the earthquake relief fund to more than RM600,000, which will be managed by the Thrangu Dharma Society.

The charity dinner was hosted by Malaysian celebrity deejay and radio host Patrick Teoh, who did a great job in auctioning items off to supplement the money raised from the sale of seats for the dinner.

The evening also saw performances by 11-year-old music prodigy Lynie Chan, who played the Chinese classical string instrument known as the ‘Guzheng’, and veteran musician Kenny Tay of the famous 80s band ‘Kenny, Remy and Martin’.

The event was sponsored by numerous companies including Berjaya Vacation Club, Mazda, Alqvimia, Mi-Sedaap, Ginvera Marketing, Ecobrown, Kota Permai GCC, Staffield CR, Sisters, Baccarat, Crest Link, CSS Food & Beverages, Tai Thong Group, e-Beauty, Mei Yen Birds Nest and AD Time.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal in April killed over 8,000 people and injured many more.

make sure you get PARGOLF’S september 2015 ISSUE! TEE TO GRIN

Because so many players were hitting their ball into the pond, the green was moved out there ... but it looks like that did NOT help either!

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Golf’s Greatest Holes

Hole 7, Pebble Beach Golf Links Par 3, 106 yards One of the most dramatic holes in golf, the par-three seventh of Pebble Beach Golf Links plays from cliffside tees to a peninsula green surrounded on three sides by the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to a daunting tee shot, players have to contend with strong winds and two bunkers on either side of the smallish green.

Located on the Monterey Peninsula in California, Pebble Beach opened for play in 1919 and was designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant.

It has hosted five US Opens and will do so again in 2019.

©David Cannon/Getty Images

www.pebblebeach.com

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AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING OUTLETS: GOLF HOUSE / ROYAL SPORTING HOUSE: Bangsar Shopping Centre, KL Tel: 03-2092 4035 • Mid Valley Megamall, KL Tel: 03-2284 2241 • 1Utama (Old Wing), PJ Tel: 03-7726 3901 • Empire Shopping Gallery, Subang Jaya Tel: 035022 2058 • Gurney Plaza, Penang Tel: 04-228 1884 • Queensbay Mall, Penang Tel: 04-642 3552 • Sunway Carnival Mall, Seberang Jaya, Penang Tel: 04-380 8733 • Mahkota Parade, Melaka Tel: 06- 281 0452 • Plaza Pelangi, JB Tel: 07-332 4819 • Warisan Square, Kota Kinabalu Tel: 088-447 801

STADIUM: Suria KLCC, KL Tel: 03-2161 7199 • Pavillion, KL Tel: 03-2141 5903 • Mid Valley Megamall, KL Tel: 03-2284 6392 PRO SHOP: Tropicana GCC, PJ Tel: 03-7804 6348 • Monterez Golf & Country Club, 03-7845 1848 • Cinta Sayang Pro Shop, Sungai Petani, Kedah Tel: 04-441 9260 /golfhousemalaysia

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