ParGolf Magazine (February 2015)

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FEBRUARY 2015

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T S E NT

Contents

15 eR d a ! lorM Tay Drivers w r ne the oburne n i r W e &A

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FEBRUARY 2015 ● www.pargolfmagazine.com

24 WESTY'S EASTERN DELIGHTS

FEATURES 24 50 54

Lee Westwood

Westy’s Eastern Delights

MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN 30

Preview

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Interview: Maybank Chairman Tan Sri Dato Megat Zaharuddin

Kelly Tan

Kelly’s Castle

Lunar New Year Special Got Your Goat?

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Mission Hills Haikou

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Thailand Golf Championship

Ultimate Whole-In-One English Ecstacy

East Meets West

Ten Terrific Years

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West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club Beauty With Bite

30 MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN: 10-YEAR MILESTONE

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PLAY YOUR BEST ™

ITS MISSION IS CONTROL. 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

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Contents FEBRUARY 2015 ● www.pargolfmagazine.com

88 MISSION HILLS HAIKOU: ULTIMATE WHOLE-IN-ONE

INSTRUCTIONS NSTRUCTIONS & GOLF TIPS 82

Play Your our Best Golf Now! With Andrew Myles Instinctive Feel

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Golf Foreladies With Kuriko Tsukiyama Solving Slopes

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Health Chat With Dr Glenn Cameron Chinese Or Diabetic: Which Is Worse?

EVENTS 116 Penang Amateur Open 117 TM Golf

COLUMNS 40 48 62 78 80 100 114

Reading The Lines Bunker Mentality Almost OB Nick's Knacks Pass Me The Soap Asian Angles Two Sen Worth

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BACK TO BATU PAHAT WITH KELLY TAN 50

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Contents FEBRUARY 2015 ● www.pargolfmagazine.com

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WEST COURSE, KLGCC: BEAUTY WITH BITE

DEPARTMENTS 16 18 20 22 64 79 92 95 96 96

Editorial Line-Up First Tee Freeze Frame In The Bag Essentials The Golf Scene Pro News Pot Shots Subscription

97 102 108 110 112 115 118 122 126 128

Calendar Of Events Around Asia Style Lounge Time Zone Cars + Pars Young Guns In The Spotlight Golf Course Directory Final Tee Quick 18

NEW 54 LUNAR YEAR SPECIAL

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from the pargolf team Oh My Goat!

It’s February already? Yup, we ‘kid’ you not! (See what we did there?)

Alright, all puns aside, yes, we’re already slipping effortlessly into the second month of 2015, where we’ll usher in the Lunar New Year, and along with it the affable Goat, as the Horse takes an exit bow and trots graciously into the sunset.

Bet you can’t help but wonder what the Year of the Wood Goat holds in store for you, right? Well, we’re a curious lot too, so that’s why we’ve sought out renowned feng shui, bazi and face reading consultant Dato Joey Yap to do what he does best – turn to page 54 for a little forecast on the year.

But before that, with the national Open returning this month bigger and better, we bring you the Maybank Malaysian Open Special – there’s the preview on page 30, followed by an exclusive interview with the chairman of title-sponsor Maybank, Tan Sri Dato Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor on page 38, and a review of the host venue, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s West Course, on page 42. Read all about it, and brace yourself for another outstanding showcase of skill and spirit!

You’d also know by now that last year’s champion, Lee Westwood, would be returning to defend his title – flip to page 24 to catch up with the Englishman and his knack for ‘Eastern Delights’.

In this issue we also shine the spotlight on Malaysia’s top lady golfer, Kelly Tan. Join Stanley Saw as he catches up with the Johorian lass at ‘Kelly’s Castle’ in her hometown of Batu Pahat – the lowdown on page 50.

And for all you contest buffs, don’t miss the TaylorMade contest on page 63 – we're giving away the brand new TaylorMade R15 and Aeroburner drivers!

Alrighty then folks, time to get busy – and Gong Xi Fa Chai to all!

FACTS & STATS ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT 2014 Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Player David Lipsky (USA) Anirban Lahiri (IND) Prom Meesawat (THA) Scott Hend (AUS) Cameron Smith (AUS) Angelo Que (PHI) Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) Antonio Lascuna (PHI) Rashid Khan (IND)

Events Played 13 17 18 12 9 16 20 11 16 16

ONEASIA ORDER OF MERIT 2014 Earnings (US$) 713,901 602,833 532,471 428,820 427,476 383,330 296,852 255,285 253,163 243,249

Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Player Kim Seung-Hyuk (KOR) Li Hao-Tong (CHN) Park Jun-Won (KOR) Steve Jeffress (AUS) Park Sang-Hyun (KOR) Jun Seok Lee (AUS) Jake Higginbottom (AUS) Lee Tae-Hee (KOR) Ryan Fox (NZL) Park Il-Hwan (KOR)

Events Played 4 4 3 6 4 8 6 4 5 5

Earnings (US$) 501,990.07 219,982.85 205,072.74 186,520.83 161,694.54 156,566.90 147,609.42 144,646.36 117,027.06 113,010.03

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Submit your work or simply drop us an email at info@pargolfmagazine.com * All material published in ParGolf becomes the sole intellectual property of Write Track Publishing & Communications Sdn. Bhd.

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ParGolf FEBRUARY 2015

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PUBLISHER SUZANNAH GUN PALMER sue@pargolfmagazine.com EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR JONATHAN E. PONNIAH jonathan@pargolfmagazine.com ASSISTANT EDITOR SYAMA RAMASAMY syama@pargolfmagazine.com CONTRIBUTORS KP WARAN, MIKE WILSON, MELVIN POI, JULIE FAIRLESS, DAVID BOWDEN, PETE WONG, STANLEY SAW, DR. GLENN CAMERON, LOO KENG YIP, NATHAN HAUSER, K.H. WAN, CHUAH CHOO CHIANG, IDA FAHANY, NICK GOH CONTRIBUTING PROFESSIONALS DANNY CHIA, STEVEN GIULIANO, JAMES PARTRIDGE, CHIKAGE NIWA, EDMUND TAN STUDIO ART DIRECTOR CHEE CHIN MIN chinmin@pargolfmagazine.com SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER R. SUJATHA MALAR sujatha@pargolfmagazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER KHAIRUL ADNI ABD RANI khairul@pargolfmagazine.com PHOTOGRAPHIC CONSULTANT LOO KENG YIP (Light & Sound Advertising Photography) CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER TOHA DOL MARKETING & ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TERRENCE LOH terrence@pargolfmagazine.com ASST. MARKETING & JOSHUA E. RODRIGUES SALES MANAGER joshua@pargolfmagazine.com SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASRI JAAFAR (SUBSCRIPTION & EVENTS) asri@pargolfmagazine.com EVENTS EVENTS MANAGER GURDEV SINGH gurdev@pargolfmagazine.com EVENTS ASSISTANT HANIZAM HAIZI nizam@pargolfmagazine.com OPERATIONS P.A. & ADMIN. MANAGER LINDA JOSEPH CONSULTANT DATO’ RA. PARAM, DIMP, AMP PRINTER WISE ORGANISATION (M) SDN BHD No. 5, Jalan Industri PBP 11, Taman Industri Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

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FIRST TEE

Thank you, Tiger!

India’s Arjun Atwal has credited his friendship with Tiger Woods and strong family support for his victory in the inaugural Dubai Open.

The win in the US$500,000 Asian Tour event just before Christmas was especially sweet for the 41-year-old as it was his first success since the 2010 Wyndham Championship, which made him the first Indian golfer to win on the PGA Tour.

there for you when you need them the most, and he’s one of them. And I’m there for him as well,” said Atwal, who has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons and subsequently lost his PGA Tour card.

Atwal also acknowledged strong family support for his one-shot win over Korean teenager Wang Jeung-hun at Els Club Dubai.

“It’s been my dad, my wife and my

Like his good friend Woods, who is also seeking to rediscover his form, Atwal is thankful the close friendship he shares with the former World No 1 has brought him back to his playing best.

“You know, we’ve become like really, really close – him going through his stuff and me struggling the last couple of years, we’ve been there for each other. Very few friends will be

“Very few friends will be there for you when you need them the most, and Tiger's one of them. And I’m there for him as well.”

ARJUN ATWAL

©Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

whole family who have been really supportive of me, especially during those really dark days when I really didn’t think I could play anymore. But they never let me believe that I wouldn’t be playing anymore.

“I could come back to India and work with my dad and it would be all right, but it’s been good. They have been really supportive,” said Atwal.

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qualifying school. He played the last two seasons on the secondary Web.com Tour.

The only other player to be suspended by the PGA Tour for performance-enhancing drug use was Doug Barron, who tested positive for PEDs in 2009. Then aged 40, he was taking medication for low testosterone levels and his suspension was lifted two months ahead of time following the resolution of his lawsuit against the tour.

Former World No 1 Vijay Singh was the centre of a doping controversy in 2013 when he admitted in a magazine interview that he had used deer antler spray, which contained a banned substance IGF-1. The PGA Tour eventually dropped the case on the advice of the World Anti-Doping Agency, but Singh has filed a lawsuit against the tour alleging, among other things, unfair treatment.

©Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

American professional Bhavik Patel has become only the second player to be suspended by the PGA Tour for violating its anti-drugs policy since player-testing commenced in mid-2008.

The PGA Tour released a statement on January 14 announcing that Patel has “violated the PGA Tour AntiDoping Policy’s ban on the use of performance-enhancing substances and has been suspended for one year”, adding that the provisional suspension commenced on October 7, 2014, and will end on October 7 this year.

The statement also quoted Patel, who said: “In an effort to overcome an injury, I made a lapse of judgement. I regret my decision but have learnt from the experience and look forward to returning to competition.”

The 24-year-old Californian turned professional in 2012 and narrowly failed to make it to the PGA Tour via

Doug Barron

©Dave Martin/Getty Images

Drugs on tour?

Bhavik Patel

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Hooray for Hull!

©Warren Little/Getty Images

Just a year after being named Rookie of the Year, English sensation Charley Hull made history by becoming the youngest ever winner of the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit title.

The talented 18-year-old capped her second season on tour with a tied fifth-place finish in the season-ending Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club, taking her season’s earnings to €263,096.69 – just €29,808 ahead of secondplaced Gwladys Nocera.

“It’s good to win; I didn’t really know coming into this week. On the back nine today,

Arie does Asia Malaysia’s rising young talent Arie Irawan aims to make full use of the opportunity to play on the Asian Tour in 2015 after earning his card with a sixthplace finish on the 2014 Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit.

The ADT rewarded the top five players on its merit rankings with playing rights on the Asian Tour this season but Arie managed to secure his card because Thailand’s Sattaya Supupramai, who finished fourth on the Order of Merit, secured his by finishing inside the top-60 on the Asian Tour rankings.

Despite not having any wins on the ADT, Arie registered nine top-10 finishes and claimed a top-10 finish at the Asian Tour’s Resorts World Manila Masters in November. The 24-year-old capped a superb season with his maiden

I just thought don’t make any silly mistakes. I doubled the first but got two birdies on the bounce back, so pretty happy with myself there,” said the bubbly teenager from Kettering.

Hull, who was the youngest player ever to play in the Solheim Cup in 2013, continued to impress in 2014 with her first professional title at the Marchplayed Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco. She recorded eight additional top-10 finishes during the season, including two runner-up spots at the Sanya Ladies Open in China and Ladies German Open.

professional title in December, the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour’s season-ending Maybank Players Championship.

“It has been a great year, I can’t ask for a better way to end the year. I finally won my first professional event at the PGM Maybank Players Championship and to earn my Asian Tour card now is a great feeling,” said Arie.

“This is only the beginning of my career and I have to put in a lot more hard work to compete on the Asian Tour. Playing on the ADT has helped me gain a lot of confidence in my game. I’m glad I managed to transfer what I have done on the ADT to the main tour with a good finish in Manila,” added Arie, who joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2013.

“This is only the beginning of my career and I have to put in a lot more hard work to compete on the Asian Tour.”

ARIE IRAWAN

©Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

DID YOU KNOW? Patrick Reed’s playoff win in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, Hawaii came at the age of 24 years, five months and seven days, making him only the fourth player in the last 20 years to record more than four wins on the PGA Tour before the age of 24 years and six months. Reed made birdie on the first extra hole to beat Jimmy Walker and take his PGA Tour title tally to four – the most wins by an active player under the age of 25. Tiger Woods won his fourth PGA Tour title in the 1997 Masters at age 21 years, three months and 15 days.

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FREEZE FRAME

Johannesburg, South Africa, January 11: Unheralded Englishman Andy Sullivan celebrates his maiden European Tour title after a dramatic playoff victory over home favourite Charl Schwartzel in the South African Open.

The 27-year-old Sullivan started the final round seven shots back of Schwartzel and was still four adrift with five holes to play – but an error-strewn finish by the latter sent the tournament into overtime as the duo finished tied on 11-under-par at the Glendower Golf Club. After both players missed the fairway with their drives at the first playoff hole, Sullivan hit a brilliant recovery from the trees to 12 feet of the pin and made the putt for the win.

“To just play on the European Tour is something I’ve wanted to do my whole life, so to win an event just caps it all off and to do it in South Africa where I have always enjoyed playing, it has just been an incredible week,” said Sullivan.

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©Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Seventh Heaven For Sullivan

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Westy’s LEE WESTWOOD

Eastern Delights English superstar Lee Westwood talks exclusively to Mike Wilson about his love of Malaysia and why he does well in the tropics

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©Ian Walton/Getty Images

A

s Lee Westwood arrives in Malaysia for the defence of his Maybank Malaysian Open this month at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC), he does so secure in the knowledge that he is not only the reigning champion but also a course winner, a multiple winner in the APAC region and a man who clearly enjoys Asia in general and Malaysia in particular.

Asked whether factors such as climate, courses, even food could be the reason for his success, Westwood says: “I don’t think there’s any specific reason behind my success in Asia but I’m certainly not complaining. I’ve always loved playing there and thankfully there are one or two courses that suit my eye. ”I’ve had a great time all over Asia, love the different cultures, but I find it hard to think of one particular thing behind me winning regularly there,” continues the US-based Englishman. “Whatever it is, I hope it doesn’t change.”

But he does offer one insight into where his Far East success might stem: “I think you need to manage your body; it's really important to stay fuelled and well hydrated, first and foremost. You're not going to function if you get dehydrated out there and lose energy, your brain is going to stop working and then you need to use your common sense and have good course management skills.”

On last year’s victory in the Maybank Malaysian Open, his second in the country’s national open championship following his first back in 1997, the current World No 27 says: “It's pretty fresh in my mind, it was only last April, and I played well all week.

Westwood being congratulated

by Maybank chairman Tan Sri Dato Megat Zaharuddin after winning the Maybank Malaysian Open last year

“I've always enjoyed coming to Asia, not just

Malaysia – but Malaysia is one of my favourite spots. The people are great, Kuala Lumpur is fantastic, the country itself is wonderful.”

“I got off to a quick start, I was 65, I think, and then 66, and put myself in good position over the weekend, and then just stretched away and ended up winning by seven,” reflected golf’s master of understatement. “That was a great week.”

Westwood has recorded multiple wins in a number of tournaments, including the Scandinavian Masters and the prestigious Sumitomo Visa in Japan as well as successfully defending the Nedbank Challenge and the Indonesian Masters – so is this

pure coincidence, or does added confidence flow from the knowledge that he has won before?

“Having won somewhere before unquestionably gives you confidence and I’ll always relish the different pressures and responsibilities that come with playing a tournament as reigning champion,” explains the 41-year-old. “I never lack belief going into a tournament but you can’t deny that when you have little reminders of what went well last time, it can give you a little edge.

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©Stanley Chou/Getty Images

Ca Lee W tch e in acti stwood on Mayb in the Malay ank si at KLG an Open Febru CC this ary 58!

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LEE WESTWOOD

©Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Celebrating the 2014 Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles

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he embarks on his 23rd season on the circuit.

Westwood adds that he sees – and feels – the benefits from his move to the US. “Well, certainly the last couple of years I've been a lot less jet-lagged. When

I was playing on the PGA Tour in America, I was back and forth [to the UK] a lot more,” he argues.

“Obviously living in Florida makes that a lot easier, and the times when I want to practice and do most of my work

©Andy Lyons/Getty Images

“Obviously if you’ve won somewhere, the course is going to suit you as well,” he says of KLGCC’s West Course, responding with his trademark tinder-dry humour. “I played it last year at 18-under-par and won by six from a strong field, so you'd have to say that it suits my game!”

Long considered a quintessential, home-based Englishman until his surprise move to Florida in 2013, the father of two has long travelled the length and breadth of the golfing world in search of titles and has always enjoyed a great affection for this part of South East Asia.

“I've always enjoyed coming to Asia, not just Malaysia – but Malaysia is one of my favourite spots,” he says. “The people are great, Kuala Lumpur is fantastic, the country itself is wonderful.

“I think it's a great place to come play, obviously the heat seems to suit me – I always seem to play well when it's really hot and steamy, so it's just a nice place for me to come and play.

The first time was in 1994, I think, and I've been coming back most years for one reason or another,” adds the man close to according ‘veteran’ status as ParGolf FEBRUARY 2015

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Back In Business – With friend and caddie Billy Foster

©Andrew Redington/Getty Images

at home, the weather is fantastic [so] it's been a good move.”

The record-breaking European Ryder Cup stalwart has traditionally played well in February without necessarily winning that early in his season. With the Maybank Malaysian Open brought forward by six weeks, could this be a positive or negative factor in his title defence?

“There have obviously been reasons for the schedule change, it’s impossible to say until I get there, but I was pleased with my form at the end of the year and, without it all coming together, there were encouraging signs even before I won in Thailand in December.

“I’ve had a break at home with my family over the festive season but I’ve been working hard and I’m feeling great, so there’s no reason why the tournament being brought forward should be a negative thing,” he says. “Hopefully I’ll be able to show it’s a positive.”

Never a man to put himself forward uninvited, preferring to let his record on and off the golf course do his bidding, Westwood was surprisingly forthright when asked if captaining his continent in next year’s second EurAsia Cup – perhaps in preparation for a Ryder Cup captaincy of his own – might appeal to him.

“It’s no secret that I’ve had a good time playing in Malaysia over the years, even when I haven’t won,” he says. “It would be an honour to captain Europe in the EurAsia Cup if I was asked.

“The Ryder Cup captaincy is something that comes up a lot and although it’s a definite ambition for the future, I’m hoping to make a difference as a player in a few more,” he insists – and having been on the winning team seven times in nine appearances, few could argue with that sentiment.

Loyalty is a word writ large in the Lee Westwood lexicon, and it’s no surprise that winning performances have recommenced since reuniting with long-time friend and caddie, Billy Foster, and that shows in his key commercial contracts too –Westwood has remained resolutely faithful to Ping throughout his career.

“It’s been a great relationship with Ping over the years, there is a lot of loyalty between us but I’ve also always believed that I’ve been playing with the best equipment around,” he says.

“It’s a combination that just works and there’s never been any reason to think about going elsewhere.

“The Ryder Cup captaincy is something that comes up a lot and although it’s a definite ambition for the future, I’m hoping to make a difference as a player in a few more.”

LEE WESTWOOD Westwood explains his philosophy with sponsors by saying: “I’ve had long-lasting relationships with quite a number of my sponsors, such as Audemars Piguet, Dunlop and UPS. They’re all great companies that I’m proud to be associated with and it’s helped me meet all sorts of fascinating people around the world.”

To date, Westwood has not been tempted down the course design road,

where many of his near-contemporaries such as Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo and Ernie Els have done so. The Englishman is not ruling that out longer term, with Asia a prime candidate for his creativity.

“I have a strong association with Close House in Newcastle and two courses there carry my name [but] it’s a field that I can imagine getting into and I certainly wouldn’t rule out doing

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LEE WESTWOOD

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With Laurae, his wife of 15 years

©Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

something in South East Asia one day,” he attests. “Every time I travel there I can see the growing passion for golf everywhere I go, so it would be great to be involved in some way and any course I designed would have to be a fair test that would challenge the very best but also be accessible to all levels of players.”

With the Olympic Games in Rio next year set to welcome golf back to the fold, has the prospect of representing Team GB in Rio as well as qualifying as of right for the 2016 Ryder Cup in the USA begun to be addressed in Westwood’s forward plans?

“I went on record some time ago saying that winning a gold medal at the Olympics would be a truly special experience,” he says, whilst avoiding the issue of its status alongside that elusive Major. “I’m a huge fan of all sports and you don’t have to think too hard for all sorts of memories to flood back of Olympics from your childhood.

“It’s something that no one in the world of golf has done [since Americans Charles Sands and Margaret Abbott and Canadian George Lyon in Paris and St Louis in 1900 and 1904 respectively] and I would love to achieve that,” says the man who is very much in the mix, alongside Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell (should he not elect to play alongside Rory McIlroy for Ireland) and Ian Poulter, for Team GB selection.

“The 2012 London Olympics are still fresh in everyone’s mind and it would be great to experience something similar and be able to call myself an Olympian like so many iconic sportsmen,” he reflects.

“There’s no doubt that over the next few months we’ll all be paying increasing attention to those qualifying tables and Rio has to be a target for all of us.”

Meanwhile, it goes without saying when he reiterates the fact, “I love everything about the Ryder Cup and hopefully the by-product of a successful couple of years will be making the team for the 10th time.”

Knowing Lee John Westwood, OBE, he will not be getting any further ahead of himself than the, one shot, one hole, one round at a time mantra as he seeks a successful defence of his Maybank Malaysian Open and a 13th title in Asia this month. PG

FAST FACTS u Born in the Midlands of England on April 24, 1973, Westwood was an all-round sportsman at school, excelling at cricket, football and rugby before taking up golf at the relatively late age of 13. u Two years after picking up a golf club for the first time, Westwood won the Nottinghamshire Junior Championship.

His first significant victory as an amateur was the Peter McEvoy Trophy in 1990, followed by the British Junior Championship three years later. u The 1996 Volvo Scandinavian Masters was his maiden European Tour title and the 1997 Malaysian Open was his first victory in Asia, a part of the world that has been kind to him with 11 wins to date in the region. He has won professional events in 18 different countries. u Westwood has made something of a habit of winning the same events on more than one occasion, winning both the Scandinavian Masters and the Sumitomo Visa on three occasions and six other events twice. Should he defend his Malaysian Open this month, that would be his third victory in the event, his 13th in Asia and his 42nd career win. u Westwood almost fell out of love with golf following a dramatic slump in his fortunes,

falling to 256th in the world in 2002, admitting: “I was ready to walk away from golf.” u He regained his zest and his form to reach No 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking by winning the 2010 CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters in Jakarta on his 37th birthday, holding on to the top spot for over a year. u Having been based near his hometown of Worksop for the first 40 years of his life, Westwood migrated with his family to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in 2013. u Despite relying on a captain’s pick for his ninth Ryder Cup appearance last year, Westwood has been on the winning team on seven occasions and won four out of five available points at Gleneagles to more than justify his selection. u Despite a prodigious career, Westwood is yet to win either a WGC event or a Major but is hoping to put the record straight this term, as well as targeting an Olympic gold medal in Rio in 2016. u Away from the golf course, he loves spending time with his wife Laurae and two children and watching all sports; he is also a fan of two distinctly mediocre football teams, Nottingham Forest and Queen of the South.

IN THE BAG Driver Fairway Hybrid Irons Wedges

Putter Ball

Ping G30 (10.5°) with Aldila Tour-Only XNV6 shaft Ping i15 (15.5° bent to 15°) with UST Mamiya ProForce V2 76X shaft Ping G25 (20° bent to 19°) with Aldila Tour Green 85X shaft Ping i20 (4-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts Ping i20 (50° and 54°), Ping Tour with Gorge Grooves (60° bent to 61°) with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts Ping Ketsch (34”) Titleist Pro V1x

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MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN

EAST meets WEST Diversity at its best as the cream of the Asian Tour locks horns with the might of the European Tour in the 54th edition of the national Open

BY JONATHAN PONNIAH

T

here’s something about the Malaysian Open that endears the tournament to Malaysians, especially those of us who have been involved in the business of golf for some time.

Yes, it is the national Open and it has been around for more than five decades. And yes, it is one of the longest-running tournaments in Asia

and was the first to be co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours in 1999.

But there’s something more to the MMO, as it is fondly known since Maybank took on the title-sponsorship in 2006. There’s an ‘X-factor’ that sets the tournament apart from other events.

For many, it’s in the amazing mix of players and playing styles on show each year, ranging from Major winners with

textbook swings to Asian stalwarts with swings that would have the world’s top coaches scratching their heads in bewilderment – cue Thaworn Wiratchant, the quirky-swinging Thai who only recently picked up a record 18th Asian Tour title in the King’s Cup on home soil.

Stroll into the players’ lounge and don’t be surprised if you hear a dozen

Defending champion Lee Westwood will be back and the Englishman is always a favourite not only as a contender but with the galleries in this part of the world.

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©Tony Marshall/Getty Images

©Ian Walton/Getty Images

Thongchai Jaidee and Lee Westwood (below) will both be gunning for third Malaysian Open titles

At age 45, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee is playing some of the best golf of his career and will be keen to add another title to his impressive haul, which stands at 17 including six European Tour wins.

languages being spoken at the same time in a heady cacophony of noise – from Thai, Mandarin and Hindi to Dutch, Spanish and our very own ‘Manglish’. That’s the beauty of the Malaysian Open – its incredible diversity.

Come February 5-8 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC), the big guns of the European and Asian Tours will bring their firepower and flair once again to KLGCC’s West Course in what promises to be a great celebration of golf, befitting Maybank’s 10th year as title-sponsor. With a field of 156 split evenly between the two tours after subtracting the 24 invitational slots – and given its new early February date after the Dubai Desert Classic and before the inaugural Thailand Classic – fans can expect a strong turnout of world-class players.

Defending champion Lee Westwood will be back and the Englishman is always a favourite not only as a contender but with the galleries in this part of the world. His Asian CV speaks for itself, boasting no less than 12 wins on Asian soil including his second Thailand Golf Championship title last December – and if his game fires on all cylinders like it did in 2014 when he coasted to a seven-shot win, the 41-year-old will be hard to beat.

But you can bet your bottom dollar that one of the players who will be trying hard to beat Westwood will be his good friend Graeme McDowell, who is scheduled to make a welcome return to Malaysia after missing the event for the last few years. The feisty Northern Irishman who has won all over the world, including a Major in the 2010 US Open, will be keen to add a second Asian title to his resume, having won the 2008 Ballantines Championship in Korea.

2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley may be past his playing prime but will still be a favourite with fans and the media, especially with the memory of his canny leadership in the annihilation of the Americans at Gleneagles still fresh in the mind. The 47-year-old Irishman has not won on tour since 2005 but is a crowd pleaser and will no doubt be in great demand for media interviews.

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MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN

2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley

Also in the mix will be another crowd-puller, the flamboyant Frenchman Victor Dubuisson.

Hailed as Europe’s next ‘Seve’ for his Houdinilike prowess in getting out of trouble, the 24-year-old will be making his third appearance in the tournament and has the game to do well at the West as he showed when he finished fourth in 2013 and 11th in 2012.

Many in the gallery will be rooting for Thailand’s iconic player Thongchai Jaidee, already a legend in his lifetime. The wiry and wily veteran regards Malaysia as his second home and already has two Malaysian Open titles under his belt – he won consecutively in 2004 and 2005 and came close to making it three in a row when the tournament first went to KLGCC in 2006.

At age 45, Thongchai is playing some of the best golf of his career and will be keen to add another title to his impressive haul, which stands at 17 including six European Tour wins.

And he would like nothing better than to do so in the MMO – in the process, writing himself into the history books as only the second player 32

©Mike Ehrmann /Getty Images

2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley may be past his playing prime but will still be a favourite with fans and the media, especially with the memory of his canny leadership in the annihilation of the Americans at Gleneagles still fresh in the mind.

THE MALAYSIAN CHALLENGE 22 Malaysians will carry the nation’s flag in the 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open, including two pairs of brothers – professionals Hans and Iylia Jamil along with top Malaysian amateur Gavin Kyle Green and his 15-year-old sibling, Galven.

Professionals 1. Danny Chia 2. Nicholas Fung 3. Iain Steel 4. Ben Leong 5. Arie Irawan 6. Shaaban Hussin 7. R. Nachimuthu 8. Airil Rizman 9. Sukree Othman 10. Khor Kheng Hwai 11. Kemarol Baharin 12. S. Siva Chandran 13. Ahmad Farhan Syarif 14. Wilson Choo 15. Mohd Rizal Amin 16. Shaifubari Muda 17. Hans Jamil 18. Mohd Iylia Jamil Amateurs 1. Gavin Kyle Green 2. Galven Kendall Green 3. Chan Tuck Soon 4. Daeng Abdul Rahman

Gavin Green

Hans Jamil

Galven Green

Iylia Jamil

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French Flair – Victor Dubuisson's sublime skills will be a huge draw

©Andrew Redington/Getty Images

to win the tournament three times after Australian Terry Gale who triumphed in 1983, 1985 and 1987.

What are the chances of a first-ever Malaysian win in the event? Slim at most, but with Malaysian No 1 Danny Chia back to full fitness and form after missing half of 2014 due to neck surgery, and with big-hitting amateur Gavin Kyle Green in the mix again, who knows? Hope springs eternal and certainly the galleries will be rooting hard for the 22-strong local contingent.

For me, the MMO is a time to savour golf at its best – and to catch up with old friends as the national Open is also a traditional gathering ground for anyone who’s anything in the golf industry.

It’s gonna be a great one, folks – so be there or be square! PG

FAN-FARE The Maybank Malaysian Open has always been known as a fan-friendly event with loads of on-site activities and contests. To celebrate the milestone of Maybank’s 10th anniversary as title-sponsor, this year’s edition will up the ante in providing a great day out for fans and their families.

Charity Putt Around The World A unique putting challenge on a ‘World Map’ based on the concept of putting across the world. Skill and luck are required to avoid a series of holes guarding the target, the ‘Race To Dubai’ hole. Winners of this challenge will qualify for the Sunday Playoff Challenge for the grand prize of two air tickets to Dubai and two VIP passes to the DP World Tour Championship. Participants will be given three tries with a minimum donation of RM5. All proceeds will be channelled to flood victims in Kelantan through the Maybank Foundation in collaboration with MERCY Malaysia.

‘Out Of This World Bunker’ Challenge Fancy yourself a good sand player? Then take part in the ‘Out Of This World Bunker’ Challenge and try to score a hole-in-one to qualify for the Sunday Playoff Challenge, where the grand prize of two business class air tickets to Thailand and two VIP passes to an Asian Tour event in Thailand will be up for grabs.

Each participant will be given three tries with a minimum donation of RM5, with proceeds going to the JC Jacobsen Foundation.

Maybank Malaysian Open NHS Draw All Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) National Handicap System (NHS) cardholders stand a chance to win two spots in the MMO Fan Day at KLGCC’s West Course on February 10.

Just visit the Maybank booth during the event with your December or January NHS card to participate in the draw, which will take place on Saturday, February 7 at 3pm.

Eat For Free!

Spectators can use their tickets or passes to redeem a free food item upon exiting the exhibition marquee from 9am onwards while stocks last.

Maybank Malaysian Open Fan Car Stickers 2,000 lucky fans with this special car sticker will enjoy privileged parking at the West open car park. Stickers are available at Maybank branches and selected golf clubs in the Klang Valley on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lucky Pick Open to all valid ticket holders, this daily lucky draw will reward three spectators with mystery prizes. Just fill in your details on the ticket and

drop it into the box at the ticketing booth.

Winners will be announced on the Maybank Malaysian Open Facebook page and prizes have to be collected on-site at the information counter.

For more information and updates, log on to www.maybankmalaysianopen.com and www.facebook.com/MaybankMalaysianOpen.

PRICELESS PRO-AM EXPERIENCE To mark Maybank’s 10th anniversary as title-sponsor, the Maybank Malaysian Open Medal (MMO Medal) was held in collaboration with nine golf clubs nationwide culminating in a grand final at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) on January 9.

Participating golf clubs included KLGCC and past Malaysian Open venues Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, Saujana Golf & Country Club, Templer Park Country Club, Penang Golf Club (formerly Bukit Jambul Country Club), Royal Perak Golf Club and Ayer Keroh Country Club. The Sutera Harbour Golf Resort in Sabah was the participating club that has yet to host the national Open.

Four deserving golfers won themselves the priceless experience of playing in the Maybank Malaysian Open Pro-Am by emerging as category champions in the finale, namely Isac Saminathan of KLGCC (A Medal), Poh Wee Lee of Kota Permai (B Medal), Amir Rasyid of Ayer Keroh (C Medal) and Park Hyung Suk of KLGCC (ladies).

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MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN

Q&A with G-Mac

2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell talks about returning to Malaysia and his chances of winning in his first-ever appearance at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

It’s been a while since you’ve played in the Maybank Malaysian Open.

What have you heard about the tournament?

Graeme McDowell (G-Mac): I’ve heard so many great things about the Maybank Malaysian Open. I played it a few times back in my early days on the European Tour and my schedule has changed so much over the last four to six years. It’s great to have the chance to go back to an authentic, world-class global event like the Maybank Malaysian Open.

I’ve heard nothing but great things about the tournament from my friends like Lee Westwood, who obviously has played very well there.

Driving the ball is a premium, my type of venue! So I’m excited to go back. It’s just a great place to start the year.

What is it that made you decide 2015 is the year to return?

G-Mac: It just fitted into my schedule geographically as I’m going to be in Dubai the week before.

“The great thing about

being in Asia this time of the year, the golf courses are in great shape. You know you are going to get great climate and the heat in Malaysia will be a good week to beat me into shape and get me ready for the season.”

I really felt like I wanted to start my season in Asia. The west coast swing on the PGA Tour is a little hit and miss weather-wise and the great thing about being in Asia this time of the year, the golf courses are in great shape. You know you are going to get great climate and the heat in

Malaysia will be a good week to beat me into shape and get me ready for the season.

What have you heard about Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s West Course?

G-Mac: I haven’t had the chance to play it but from what I hear from the guys, it’s tough; drive it well and you’ve got the opportunity to make lots of birdies. The rough can be pretty thick and obviously you know, physically the environment is tough – hot and humid – and you really have to be prepared mentally and physically.

Maybank Malaysian Open always attracts a good field and I’m very glad to be part of that and hopefully we can compete and perhaps win.

The tournament has a history of crowning some young winners like Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Matteo Manassero and Noh Seung-yul.

Is that trend going to continue in 2015 or are you going to put an end to it?

G-Mac: Obviously as one of the slightly older players and more of a veteran these days, I suppose I’m hoping that trend doesn’t continue! I’d like to follow the footsteps of guys like Lee, who has won multiple tournaments around the world – to win the Maybank Malaysian Open would be a nice addition to my CV so far.

MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN FACT FILE LE Date: February 5-8, 2015 Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club Prizemoney: US$3 million Winner’s Share: US$500,000 Defending champion: Lee Westwood Field: 156 (Asian Tour – 66, European Tour – 66, MGA & Maybank Invites – 24) Website: www.maybankmalaysianopen.com Facebook Page: MaybankMalaysianOpen Tickets: Thursday & Friday: RM10 per day Saturday & Sunday: RM20 per day Season Pass: RM40 Hotline: +603-7880 4992 Website: www.ticketpro.com.my Note: Prices exclude RM3 ticketing fee / Free entry for children aged 16 and below / 50% discount for senior citizens

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MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN

LOOKING BACK Re-living the thrills and spills of the national Opens since Maybank assumed title sponsorship in 2006 2014

Date: April 17-20

of big names to capture his first European Tour title.

With weather delays forcing the tournament to be shortened to 54 holes, the 23-year-old took a one-shot lead over former Masters winner Charl Schwartzel into the third and final round. Other stars in the mix included Padraig Harrington and Edoardo Molinari – but not even they or a two-hour rain delay could prevent Aphibarnrat from claiming his breakthrough win.

Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club Prize Money: US$2.75 million Winner: Lee Westwood (-18) Best Malaysians: Gavin Kyle Green (A), Khor Kheng Hwai, Nicholas Fung – T47 (+1) Lee Westwood ended a two-year title drought with a dominating wire-to-wire victory to chalk up his second Malaysian Open title.

Upon resumption, the Thai hit his approach to four feet at the 16th and made the putt to take a two-shot lead. He rode his luck at the 17th when his approach stopped just a few feet from a pond – after leaving his chip well short, he drained the par-saving putt. He played safe on the closing hole for bogey, finishing one clear of Molinari.

Starting the final round one shot ahead of fellow Englishman Andy Sullivan, Westwood surged ahead by four shots before lightning forced a two-hour suspension at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club with seven holes left.

The former World No 1 shrugged off the delay and made no mistakes over the last few holes, picking up two more birdies at 13 and 18 for a total of 18-under-par 270 – a massive seven shots ahead of Louis Oosthuizen, Bernd Wiesberger and Nicolas Colsaerts.

“Yes, this win has come at an important time. I’ve started working with a new coach and Billy Foster came back on my bag at the end of last year. I’m going back to what I’ve done before because it works. It is starting to work already,” said Westwood, who picked up his 11th title on Asian soil and 40th worldwide.

Malaysian amateur sensation Gavin Kyle Green upstaged the local pros to take best local honours in joint 22nd spot.

2013

Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

Prize Money: US$2.5 million

Prize Money: US$2.75 million

Winner: Louis Oosthuizen (-17)

Date: March 21-24

Winner: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (-13)* Best Malaysian: Gavin Kyle Green (A) – T22 (-6) It was a coming of age for big-hitting Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat as he fought off a host

2012

Date: April 12-15

Louis Oosthuizen shrugged off jetlag and the disappointment of a playoff loss in the Masters to cruise to a stylish three-stroke victory.

After donning the champion’s navy blue jacket, Oosthuizen quipped: “It would have been better if I had the green jacket! I’m a little bit surprised because I thought I would be tired.

I played well and the game was there, so that made it a lot easier. I had a good week.”

©Photos by Getty Images

2011

Date: April 14-17 Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club Prize Money: US$2.5 million Winner: Matteo Manassero (-16) Best Malaysian: Danny Chia – T41 (-1) Italian teen sensation Matteo Manassero gave himself the perfect birthday gift by becoming the youngest ever winner of the Maybank Malaysian Open.

Manassero, who turned 18 two days after the tournament, produced a superb final round of four-under-par 68 to triumph by one shot with a 16-under-par 272 total from Gregory Bourdy.

Just a week after his Masters meltdown where he led for 63 holes before fading away, Rory McIlroy produced a stunning fightback on the last nine holes but failed to find the crucial birdie at the last hole to force a play-off. He three-putted for bogey and settled for third place.

Manassero started the final round tied for the lead with Alexander Noren and pulled away at the par five 10th with the shot of the tournament – holing out a nineiron approach for eagle. Two more birdies and a lone bogey saw the young Italian eclipse the previous year’s winner, Noh Seung-yul, as the youngest champion.

Best Malaysian: Shaaban Hussin – T57 (+2)

Just a week after losing to Bubba Watson at Augusta National, the 29-year-old South African topped a stellar field with a 17-underpar 271 total to win by three shots from Stephen Gallacher.

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The 2010 British Open champion had to return to the course on Sunday morning to complete his third round, which he did with a 69 for a one-shot lead going into the final 18. With his smooth swing in full flow, he kept the chasing pack at bay to lock up his fifth European Tour title.

2010

Date: March 4-7 Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club Prize Money: US$2 million Winner: Noh Seung-yul (-14) Best Malaysians: Danny Chia, M. Sasidaran – T60 (+3) Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul secured a dramatic one-stroke victory over his illustrious

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Kang, whose last title was the 2001 Myanmar Open.

Malaysia’s Danny Chia raised hopes of a first local victory in the event when he led by three shots at the halfway stage. He eventually finished joint 11th, the best finish by a Malaysian since the tournament was joint-sanctioned by the European Tour in 1999.

2008

Date: March 6-9 Venue: Kota Permai Golf & Country Club Prize Money: US$2 million Winner: Arjun Atwal (-18) compatriot KJ Choi with an audacious finalhole birdie.

Standing on the 18th tee with a one-stroke lead over Choi, Soren Hansen, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Rhys Davies, Noh hooked his drive so wildly it went onto the 10th fairway. His three-wood second shot also stayed well left, flying over the Maybank hospitality marquee and eventually coming to rest on the cart path some 30 yards left of the green. As spectators flocked around his ball, Choi tied Noh on 13-under with a five-foot birdie.

Best Malaysian: Iain Steel – T33 (-9) Indian star Arjun Atwal defeated defending champion Peter Hedlbom of Sweden in a gripping play-off to claim his second Malaysian Open title.

Atwal edged his rival at the second extra hole at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club,

Best Malaysians: Danny Chia, Shaaban Hussin – T31 (-8) Korea’s Charlie Wi produced a stunning final round comeback to thwart Thai legend Thongchai Jaidee’s bid for a historic third consecutive title.

Venue: Palm Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club

Starting the final round two off the lead, Kang reached the par five 18th needing a birdie to win – and he struck two mighty blows to reach the green in two and two-putted for birdie from 45 feet to win his first European Tour title.

“I’ve been playing here since 1996 or 1997 and to finally win this event, I’m speechless.

Malaysia feels like where I started playing my golf and to win this tournament is great,” said

2006

Winner: Charlie Wi (-19)*

Date: February 12-15

Best Malaysian: Danny Chia – T11 (-12)

At one stage in the final round, five players tied for the lead with seven others within two shots off the pace. Hedblom pulled clear of the pack with birdies on 13, 16 and 17 holes but caught a tricky lie with his second shot at the par five 18th which ended on the edge of a bunker. The Swede recovered with an exquisite pitch and took three putts to hole out for the win.

Prize Money: US$1.25 million

2009

American Anthony Kang ended an eight-year title drought in dramatic fashion, making a last-hole birdie to triumph by one shot over India’s Jyoti Randhawa, Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Englishmen David Horsey and Miles Tunnicliff.

“I’ve worked so hard to get back and try to win a tournament and now I’ve won it. It’s unbelievable. When you haven’t won for that long, you question whether you can win again,” said Hedblom.

Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club

“This is more special than my first win,” said Noh, who won the 2008 Midea China Classic en route to becoming the Asian Tour’s Rookie of the Year.

Winner: Anthony Kang (-17)

Hedblom, whose lone European Tour victory was at the 1996 Moroccan Open, overcame an overnight three-shot deficit with a clinical final round of 68 which yielded six birdies against two dropped shots.

Date: February 16-19

After being granted relief from the cart path, Noh conjured a sublime pitch over a bunker to within 18 inches of the hole to send the crowd into rapturous applause.

Prize Money: US$2 million

Sweden’s Peter Hedblom ended an 11-year title drought with a thrilling victory at Saujana Golf & Country Club, edging Frenchman JeanFrancois Lucquin by one shot.

making par on the par three 17th as Hedblom bogeyed with a disappointing three-putt. On the first play-off hole at the par five 18th, Hedblom found the water off the tee but scrambled for a miraculous par which was matched by Atwal.

Atwal started the final day seven shots back but forced extra holes with a superb 64 as Hedlbom posted a 71. The Swede agonizingly missed a birdie putt at the 72nd hole for the win.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet.

When it does, I’ll let you know. Right now, I’m in a different world,” said Atwal, who also won the 2003 Malaysian Open at The Mines.

Malaysia’s Danny Chia had a share of the lead at the halfway stage but a third round 80 ended his title hopes.

2007

Date: February 8-11

The 34-year-old Wi birdied the last hole for a stunning closing 63 in the rain-shortened event, just one shot clear of Thongchai who closed with a 66.

Starting the third and final round three shots off the lead, Wi launched his title charge with a birdie on the fourth, followed by a 30-foot eagle at the next hole. The Korean grabbed the lead with birdies on 10, 13 and 16 and made a crucial par save on 17, before rolling in a five-foot putt at the last to clinch his first European Tour title.

Thongchai missed birdie putts from 20 feet and 15 feet respectively on the last two holes and settled for second-best.

“I’m really speechless. Coming in here, I wasn’t expecting to win. You know, God was looking out for me as I got a lot of good breaks,” said Wi.

Venue: Palm Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club Prize Money: US$1.29 million Winner: Peter Hedblom (-8) Best Malaysian: Airil Rizman – T34 (+1)

*Tournament shortened to 54 holes due to weather delays

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TAN SRI DATO MEGAT ZAHARUDDIN MEGAT MOHD NOR CHAIRMAN, MAYBANK

10

PART 1

Terrific Years

Maybank chairman Tan Sri Dato Megat Zaharuddin speaks to Jonathan Ponniah on a decade of title-sponsoring the national Open consistently rise over the years and we’ve had favourable responses to the Maybank Malaysian Open from local as well as international audiences.

The continued participation by worldclass golfers has been great because it’s heightened the competition and we’ve seen the winners go on to win bigger things on the international circuit.

At the same time, the Maybank Malaysian Open has helped to promote Malaysia as an international golfing destination over the years – and this is substantiated by the increasing number of golfing tourists now wanting

©ParGolf

The coming Maybank Malaysian Open will mark the 10th year of Maybank’s title-sponsorship. Are you happy with how the event has grown and developed in that time?

We are very, very happy with how it has grown over the 10 years. The Maybank Malaysian Open has basically supplemented our efforts to drive the Maybank Group’s rising international stature as one of the top banks in the region.

We have seen the awareness of golf in Malaysia

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to play at the Maybank Malaysian Open venues, especially Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

We’ve been fortunate in the years that we have been involved in the Malaysian Open to have had great partners such as Emirates, Carlsberg, Ricoh and others – which is testimony to the overall success of the event.

Obviously, we have looked at the return on investment and that has been very good as well. We do this check as a matter of routine every year.

Maybank is now synonymous with golf through your involvement not only in the Malaysian Open but in local events and junior development. What are the main benefits that Maybank has derived from this?

In terms of gaining new customers, the Maybank Malaysian Open has certainly made it easier for us, especially for our overseas subsidiaries, to attract new customers to our products and services in those countries.

The awareness raised internationally among audiences in the countries that we’re not operating in has enabled people to understand the kind of financial institution that we are and also helped us to gain them as customers, if you like, for their foreign exchange or credit card needs and so on.

The other benefit is that we have hopefully nurtured a generation of young golfers who in the future we expect to be world-beaters. By continuing to provide development and competition opportunities for these talents, we believe ultimately that dream can be realised.

Finally, the Maybank Malaysian Open has been a wonderful avenue for us to reward our clients and other stakeholders by inviting them to watch this wonderful event annually.

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“We’ve been fortunate in the years that we have been involved in the Malaysian Open to have had great partners such as Emirates, Carlsberg, Ricoh and others – which is testimony to the overall success of the event.”

The Malaysian Open has a long and storied history dating back to 1962 and has enjoyed constant and sustainable growth – much like Maybank. Is this one of the reasons why the partnership works so well?

Maybank’s approach in partnerships has always been to achieve sustainable success and to build a legacy that our stakeholders can be proud of. That’s been our philosophy in any partnership, business or otherwise.

The Maybank Malaysian Open, with its unbroken run over the years in providing the pinnacle for golf in Malaysia, is now seen by the world’s top touring professionals as a world-class competition that enables them to do better in the future.

We’ve had very strong partners like the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA), the European Tour, the Asian Tour and GlobalOne, and they all share the same vision as us in growing Malaysian golf.

We also receive tremendous support from the golfing fraternity, from the golf clubs, golf fans and people like you in the media to maintain the Maybank Malaysian Open as the pinnacle for Malaysian golf – so it has been very satisfying.

The government, including obviously our Prime Minister, has given its encouragement and support for this endeavour and that is very significant for us as we try and sustain it even further.

The Maybank Malaysian Open offers 22 places to Malaysian players. How important is this to the development of Malaysian golf?

We believe in this way the standard of Malaysian golfers will rise. By giving

the 22 places to Malaysians, there is a greater chance that one of them could reach that pinnacle at the Maybank Malaysian Open one day.

I hope one of them will win within the next three years – I really think it’s possible. This year’s Maybank Malaysian Open will be held earlier than in recent years, in February – what that means is that it should give our Malaysian players a better chance, because it’s the start of the season and hopefully they will have a head start over the other players who usually take a few months to reach their peak.

What can spectators look forward to in the 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open given it is the 10th anniversary of Maybank’s sponsorship?

Many exciting activities are planned for the 10th anniversary and hopefully those who come will see it as a celebration like no other!

The activities include food offerings, with different kinds of menus on offer by different chefs. There’ll be fascinating car displays and being a car enthusiast, I’m looking forward to that.

There will be fun golfing activities like the ‘Putt Around The World’ and ‘Out Of This World Bunker’ contests where participants will stand to win great prizes such as flight tickets and VIP hospitality passes to the DP World Tour Championship, which is the season finale of the European Tour’s Race To Dubai.

We are also building a big hospitality marquee next to the 14th hole that will provide spectators with commanding views of the action on the 14th and 15th holes.

Why did Maybank get involved in junior development through initiatives such as the Maybank Champions Academy? Are you happy with these efforts?

The reason we got involved in junior development is to identify young talents and help nurture their golfing development through the academy’s programmes. Through competitive playing opportunities, we help them to learn about the highs and lows of the game in order to continue to excel.

When you start learning these attributes from young and if you are able to continue as you grow older, then all these become habits – which, if you are able to master them, can help you become a champion later in life.

2015 will be the last year of Maybank’s title-sponsorship of the Malaysian Open under the current contract.

What are the chances of Maybank extending the sponsorship and when is a decision expected to be made?

Well, 10 years is a long time and we are undertaking a comprehensive review of our sponsorship – taking into account all the successes that we have achieved, and taking into account the objectives that we had set for ourselves in terms of brand positioning, community involvement, engagement with our stakeholders, and getting new customers.

This process is on-going and we hope to complete it soon and then we’ll make our decision on whether we'll continue to be involved with the national Open in the form that everybody knows or in some other form. PG Look out for Part 2 of this interview in ParGolf’s March 2015 issue!

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reading the lines jonathan ponniah Count Your Blessings

In the bigger scheme of things, be thankful that we can still enjoy golf and – for some – make a decent living from it

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So what gives? Why are we so strong when the chips are down but are unable to translate that into golfing success, or for that matter sports in general? Apart from the likes of Nicol David, Lee Chong Wei, bodybuilder Sazali Samad and diver Pandelela Rinong, who are our world-class athletes?

In all other professions, performance is constantly measured to justify bonuses and pay hikes, while those who wish to move up the hierarchy need to rise above the rank and file.

I have a theory. Putting aside arguments about golf development infrastructure and lack of public access to the game, I think that Malaysians need to be challenged in order to perform. Put things on a platter for them and they start taking things for granted. Case in point is this year’s Asian Tour qualifying school – there were absolutely no Malaysian entries for the first stage and, of those that were exempt into the final stage, nine put their names into the hat to challenge for the Asian Tour cards on offer for the top 40 and ties.

With the PGM Tour now offering a lucrative local professional circuit, lack of resources is no longer an excuse. The top nine finishers on the 2014 PGM Tour Order of Merit each earned more than RM100,000 over the course of the season, with OOM winner Airil Rizman banking in almost RM220,000 – that’s a decent living by any standards.

It seems that lack of ambition, not resources, is the malaise here. Instead of challenging themselves by venturing out of their comfort zones, some of our professionals seem content to eke out a living from playing local events. That may work as long as they can feed off the local tour, but what happens when that is taken away? The bleak economic outlook may force some of golf’s corporate benefactors to re-evaluate their investments, so don’t take it for granted as it all may be too good to last.

In all other professions, performance is constantly measured to justify bonuses and pay hikes, while those who wish to move up the hierarchy need to rise above the rank and file. The same goes for golf – if you are serious about playing golf for a profession, you need to strive for constant improvement, so make use of whatever opportunities that may come by to spread your wings beyond our shores.

Playing golf for a living is not a right – it is a privilege. And like all privileges, it has to be earned. PG

©Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

o say that 2014 has been a tough year for Malaysia is quite the understatement.

The three airline tragedies, devastating floods in both Peninsula and East Malaysia that stretched into 2015, plunging petrol prices, a weakening ringgit, worries about the overall economy, not to mention the spectre of home-grown extremism – certainly the country has faced more than its fair share of challenges that have tested the resiliency of its people and will continue to do so as we head into the Year of the Goat.

But resiliency is a trait that Malaysians have shown time and again in the face of adversity. Granted, we have been spared large-scale catastrophes for the most part – until the plane crashes – but we are by no means a soft people. Ask any expatriate and more often than not, they will tell you that the Malaysian spirit and resolve is something that they admire and respect.

You would think that golf, being a game requiring resolve and resiliency, would be tailor-made for the Malaysian psyche. But we are by no stretch of the imagination a golfing power, lagging far behind other Asian nations like Korea, Japan and Thailand. Gavin Green aside, even the current Singapore amateur men’s team has the measure of their rivals from across the Causeway.

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WEST COURSE, KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Beauty

WEST COURSE, KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

with BITE

KLGCC’s West Course is good to look at and even better to play

BY LOO KENG YIP

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hank you, KLGCC ...

Feelings of nostalgia are not usually associated with a golf club or competition, but what more can be said about the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC)?

It is quite simply a great course and has been synonymous with big international events, including the Maybank Malaysian Open which it hosts for the sixth successive year and seventh time overall this February 5-8.

Nice playing conditions are taken for granted today but it was seven years ago that KLGCC took local golf courses to a totally new level. The West Course was totally rebuilt from the foundation up, raising the standard of competition venues and golf courses in general. In doing so, KLGCC inspired and cajoled the rest of the industry to match its high standards.

That they succeeded is not in doubt and local golfers have reaped the

rewards. There was pre-2008 playing conditions and since then, there has been the 'modern era'. Seems like almost every self-respecting golf course now has greens that generally run faster and truer. Plugged balls in the middle of fairways are pretty much a thing of the past.

But KLGCC has not rested on its laurels. It continues to improve and be the venue for other major competitions.

Great playing conditions aside, one

Hole 16, Par 4

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The 11th, a par three close to 180 metres over water, is a tester but is a crowd favourite in tournaments. It’s a great hole to watch and is also placed in a neat little area where action on the 10th green, 8th green, 17th green, 9th tee, 11th tee and 18th tee are all within a short stroll. If watching world-class golfers is your 'drug', this is quite possibly the 'golden triangle' of Malaysian golf.

The West Course is surely one tract that all golfers must play if the opportunity presents itself.

And the kicker is that one can hang around until the final flight turns up and follow them back to the 18th green and clubhouse for the awards ceremony and celebrations – and if you are lucky enough, to one of the hospitality marquees.

There are other great vantage points here at KLGCC. Without having to move around too much, the area around the first green also offers a close-up view of the action on the second tee,

the 15th tee and a rather more distant but unrestricted view of the action on the 15th green and 16th tee.

With just a little more leg work, the area around the 4th green, 5th tee, 6th green, 7th tee and 12th tee also offers great views.

The West Course is surely one tract that all golfers must play if the opportunity presents itself, as that puts the excellence of the pros in proper perspective.

Playing the course where the 'modern era' of great Malaysian golf courses began is not a sad nostalgic trip down memory lane. The course was and still is one of the 'great ones' per se and thoroughly enjoyable entirely on its own merits, helped on by a huge and justified reputation.

BEST OF THE WEST Here’s my selection of standout holes of the West Course.

Hole 2: After a relatively easy first hole, the cake walk is quickly over. Arriving at the second, even pros will have to apply a little more forethought standing over their shot at the teebox. There is water in play 270m out for the long

©Kuala Lumpur GCC

obvious improvement over the years has been in the area of easy crowd access. Kudos.

ParGolf revisited the West Course prior to this year's Maybank Malaysian Open and had a look into the pre-event preparations. We played off the white tees.

The West Course is a proper competition venue and plays long.

There are several 400-metre par-fours or thereabouts. Several of them play uphill, some fairly steeply as well, making them even longer. Bunkers, water and thick rough will punish errant shots.

Ahh ... the rough! My flightmate Art Thamboo, who is fit and plays to 16 on a good day, could barely advance the ball 75 metres when snarled up in the rough. This is surely something to consider when you see pros routinely digging out 150m-plus shots from the 10-centimeter deep rough and landing them softly on the greens.

A pattern soon becomes apparent, testament to KLGCC's excellent design.

The greens are large enough and hold enough contours that moving the pin around would make each hole a fair test for the pros and yet satisfy funloving weekend golfers.

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©Kuala Lumpur GCC

WEST COURSE, KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Hole 2, Par 4

hitter and a couple of bunkers before that which might trouble regular folk. I have seen pros guide metal-woods to a small patch of fairway out past the bunkers and before the water, leaving a long iron approach into a deep, long green protected by water on the left and slopes, bunkers and rough on the right.

Hole 5: The par five fifth plays downhill. There is a small lake guarding the large deep green that slopes back to front, which in effect acts as an excellent backstop for long hitters flighting in something low and fast.

Eagles are quite possible here. Easy

hole? Yeah sure. Of course our flight took the scenic route and dumped balls into the water!

Hole 7: The seventh is a par four requiring perhaps just a long iron off the tees but it has a sting in the tail. A deep bunker nudges right up to the front edge of the green. Thick rough grows on the steep sided bits around the bunker and short of the back-tofront sloping green. If the pin is located just a couple of steps from the front edge, landing something close will take some real magic.

Hole 9: The closing hole of the first

nine is a par four that is fenced in by the driving range netting on the left and a lateral water hazard on the right.

The tee box is elevated. The fairway is down in a valley of sorts and the green is again raised up on a plateau – not a flat-topped plateau, unfortunately, as there are at least two distinct tiers.

Some difficult pin placements can be conjured up.

Hole 10: The par five 10th runs parallel and in the opposite direction to the ninth, on the opposite bank of the long lake between them. Again there is an elevated tee box and green and a fairway in the 'valley' below. The green

It's that time of the year again!

The 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open is just around the corner, promising Malaysian fans and viewers around the world exciting, nerve-wracking and satisfying episodes of golf.

I'm very fortunate to have played the West Course a couples of times and one important element keeps me coming back – the level of difficulty. This tract always sends me home whimpering, leaving me thinking that I'm not a good golfer and making we want to give up golf and take up squash instead. With all the elements put together, there's no doubt that KLGCC has the best concoction to become one of the most popular and difficult golf courses among professionals as well as amateurs.

Being an average hitter, there are certain holes which are not reachable for me because of the length, as well as the uphill elevation. Steroid-induced muscles plus a sound technique are very much needed to power your way through this course. Water features that adorn the layout can pose huge dangers and there is minimal room

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for error if one hopes to play well – so ladies, please bring your A-game if you wish to score well at the West. Otherwise, back to the driving range!

The most difficult hole for me is No 5, a par-five of 409 metres from the reds. Short, isn't it? Think again, as the hole goes up to an elevated two-tier green that moves from right to left. Play short and you'll end up in the treacherous greenside bunkers that can turn your score from a well-earned bogey to a shameful triple bogey. A par feels like a birdie here.

The drama goes on until the very end of the game. By the time you reach Hole 18, you start to count your score and hope for a par

so you can go home feeling good. But the par-five, 476-metre finisher doesn't let you off the hook easily. Use all your golf skills, mental strength and willpower to manoeuvre your way to the green, while trying to avoid the bunkers that pepper the fairway. Again, I would be content with a bogey here.

One must give the West Course the respect it deserves, which means performing the ritual that a real golfer does – come way before your tee time, hit some balls at the range, and practice your chipping and putting.

Most important thing of all, make sure you have enough golf balls to last 18 holes!

Hole 5, Par 5

©Kuala Lumpur GCC

©Loo Keng Yip/ParGolf

A FAIRER PERSPECTIVE IDA FAHANY

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is reachable in two for some. Look for good scoring here especially since the green has been 'tamed' somewhat – prior to the major rebuild in 2008, the green sloped so strongly from back to front that putting from the back almost always resulted in the ball rolling off the green!

Hole 13, Par 4

Hole 13: Unlucky 13th? Perhaps not but it is a really stiff challenge that plays very steeply uphill. Any faded drives down into the valley and trees on the right is instant bogey or double-bogey territory.

Hole 16: This is a long driver's dream.

One-on is quite possible though risk and reward considerations normally see pros use an iron off the tee followed by a wedge approach.

Hole 17: Deceptively devious, this is a short par four but there is a rocky stream that runs diagonally from right to left splitting the fairway. Laying up

©Kuala Lumpur GCC

Hole 12: The approach to this long par four is rather tricky. There is a stream that runs across the fairway just before the green which is also protected by deep bunkers. A forward pin placement would be rather challenging.

one's drive on the right half of the fairway would be the choice of players who favour a ‘target-golf’ approach to the green as it is protected by the stream, rocks and water at the back, right and front. You'd have to have decent levels of distance control.

Choosing the left half of the fairway by driving over the stream opens up the possibility of a bump-and-run approach to the pin. The left fairway option is a more difficult tee-shot but results in a far easier second shot.

©Kuala Lumpur GCC

Hole 10, Par 5

CARD OF THE COURSE HOLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

BLACK 367 406 460 128 474 384 353 186 369

BLUE WHITE RED 351 308 316 376 391 357 418 447 383 110 118 103 457 428 409 355 361 332 311 343 294 155 172 131 328 351 287

OUT 3,127 2,991 2,797 2,604 HOLE 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

BLACK 493 207 438 420 327 182 291 307 580

BLUE WHITE RED 472 433 385 158 185 130 410 390 355 378 334 304 291 309 273 142 165 116 269 260 241 296 266 252 514 565 476

PAR INDEX 4 9 4 1 5 17 3 13 5 5 4 3 4 11 3 15 4 7 36 PAR INDEX 5 12 3 10 4 4 4 2 4 8 3 18 4 14 4 16 5 6

3,245 3,049 2,788 2,532

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TOTAL 6,372 6,040 5,585 5,136 ALL DISTANCES IN METRES

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IN

KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Address: No. 10, Jalan 1/70D, Off Jalan Bukit Kiara, 60000 Kuala Lumpur

Designer: Nelson & Haworth, redesigned

by Ted Parslow between 2007 and 2010

Tel: 603-2011 9188

Year Opened: 1991

Fax: 603-2011 9288 Website: www.klgcc.com GPS: 3.138574N | 101.640133E Holes: 36 Yardage: East Course – Black 6,071m / Blue 5,743m / White 5,380m / Red 4,929m

WHAT IT’LL COST YOU Green Fees: East Course – Weekdays RM424 / Weekends – RM636 West Course – Weekdays RM477 / Weekends – RM689

West Course – Black 6,397m / Blue 6,051m / White 5,606m / Red 5,184m

Buggy: RM91.10

Grass: Fairways, tees and rough – Seashore Paspalum / Greens – Sea Isle Supreme

Contact the club for latest rates and promotions

Caddie: RM53

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WEST COURSE, KUALA LUMPUR GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

PROFESSIONAL OPINION

ARIE IRAWAN

ON HOME GROUND

©ParGolf

“The West Course is a challenging but fair layout with a good mix of long, short and midlength holes. It tests every part of the game.”

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precise with your approach. There’s a hump on the back right of the green, so pins cut there are really tricky.”

Although he has yet to make the cut in the national Open, Arie is confident of doing well this time around, especially with the MMO marking his first Asian Tour event as a full tour member. This confidence is justified by the fact that he is in great form coming into the 2015 season, having won his maiden professional title in the PGM Tour’s season-ending

Maybank Players’ Championship. He earned his Asian Tour card for 2015 through the Asian Development Tour.

“I’m striking the ball well right now and that’s what you need to do to score on the West Course. Danny (Chia) is hitting the ball well too, so I think he will do well. We just need the putts to drop,” said Arie.

On his home course and with his game firing on all cylinders, don’t be surprised if Arie pulls off a surprise come tournament week.

Arie at the par-four 2nd hole, which is his favourite

©ParGolf

For Arie Irawan, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) is very much his home course – after all he did learn the game here and in fact was the club champion twice in his mid-teens.

But the fast-rising Malaysian professional still holds KLGCC’s West Course in awe, noting that it is a layout that tests every aspect of your game.

“The West Course is a challenging but fair layout with a good mix of long, short and mid-length holes. It tests every part of the game – you don’t just hit driver off the tees, sometimes it’s a fairway wood or even an iron.

It is a great test of length, accuracy and course management,” said Arie, who will tee-off in the Maybank Malaysian Open at the West Course for the fourth consecutive year this February 5-8.

“Looking at past winners of the MMO, every part of your game firing to win here – from your tee shots and irons to chipping and putting. When Lee Westwood won last year, he was hitting his shots close to the pin – that’s especially important on the West Course as the paspalum greens are tricky. You think the putt will break one way but that may not necessarily be so as the grain is hard to read,” he added.

The strapping 24-year-old names the par four second hole as his favourite, explaining: “I just feel very comfortable hitting the tee shot here as the fairway is very wide! The fun comes on the second shot – if the pin is in front, it’s a 9-iron or pitching wedge for me, but if the pin is cut to the back, it can be as much as a 7-iron which really challenges your accuracy with water on the left and trouble on the right.

“The green is long, 47 yards to be exact, and narrow as well, so you really have to be ParGolf FEBRUARY 2015

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bunker mentality mike wilson

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

Golf’s Toothless Tiger?

Founded in 1996 “to enable the world’s leading tours to discuss common ground and global issues in professional golf”, the International Federation of PGA Tours faces a clear case for reform

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ike many of world sport’s ruling and regulatory bodies, the International Federation of PGA Tours (IFPT) systematically fails to achieve not only what it was established to achieve but also to do what it says on the label.

Even what is arguably the greatest single success of the IFPT, the World Golf Championships (WGC) events, have lost their lustre, top players routinely missing what should be must-play events, three of the four steadfastly staying in the USA save the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Is the IFPT a truly democratic and altruistic organisation? Here are some interesting questions that must be posed.

First, what on earth is the PGA Tour doing launching a development circuit in the People’s Republic of China? The PGA Tour China looks like a Trojan Horse, fully endorsed by the China Golf Association (CGA) – all of 30 years old this year – a governing body that is in but has no business whatsoever being in the IFPT. Furthermore, would an application for membership by, for example the Malaysian Golf Association, founded in 1929, be so sympathetically received?

Second, why are just 10 of the 70-man field at the CIMB Classic, staged in Kuala Lumpur which, last time I checked, was

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in Asia, drawn from the ‘home’ jurisdiction of the Asian Tour? Surely parity – 50% from the Asian Tour, 50% from the PGA Tour – would be more like it?

Third, that same week as the CIMB Classic, the European Tour – which, let’s not forget signed the EurAsia accord with the Asian Tour in 2009 – was staging an exclusive event in Asia, in China strangely enough.

Then there is the bizarre and deeply damaging case of the Volvo China Open.

Volvo were trailblazers back in 1995 with the Asian Tour in league with a nascent and at-that-time naïve CGA, with the European Tour – quite legitimately – co-sanctioning an event with the potential to become Asia’s Major in 2004.

So why did the European Tour agree to the unceremonious ditching of the Asian Tour as a co-sanctioning partner in favour of OneAsia in 2009? A press conference was held on the opening day to announce OneAsia as the legitimate Asia-Pacific partner of the event, despite the tour having no status in the IFPT. Is it little wonder that brands like Volvo, Barclays and Ballantine’s cut-andrun from hitherto vibrant, viable events?

Finally, there’s the case of the Sunshine Tour, a founder-member of the IFPT yet always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Despite a mooted WGC event some years back, the African-based circuit gets the same sort of treatment that the continent is subjected to; at best disrespect, at worst having its bones picked clean by predators.

At least the PGA Tour has – to date at least – kept out of its fellow founder member’s turf. That’s more than can be said for the European Tour, no fewer than eight of its early season events staged in

South Africa – but without a hint of reciprocation when the world’s second most valuable tour hits home soil from March onwards.

Reciprocation from Europe to its Asian counterpart is also thin on the ground, a few places in the supposedly co-sanctioned Omega European Masters masquerading as adequate payback for no fewer than nine events worth US$36 million at which the European Tour has either exclusive or joint rights.

Congratulations to the Asian Tour for marching into the unclaimed territory that is the Middle East with the inaugural Dubai Open, but censure for whoever agreed to a miserly US$500,000 prize fund. With wealthy Asian golfers travelling west to the Gulf region in everincreasing numbers, surely more petrodollars could have been spared to create an authentic US$1.5 to US$2 million tour championship?

The problem with the IFPT is that the dices are loaded in favour of those at the top of golf’s food chain and at the expense of those further down the evolutionary ladder. That’s the problem, but what about the solution?

Given that the IFPT is unlikely to be reconstituted, let alone abolished and re-formed any time soon, here are a few options worthy of consideration.

One, give the ‘host’ tour a minimum of 30% of playing places in tournament’s taking place on their patch; second, pay the ‘home’ tour an enhanced sanction fee, say 30% again. Third, insist on a minimum two-for-one cross-sanctioning agreement in the spirit of the EurAsia accord, four-for-one with the PGA Tour.

And fourth and finally, in step with the age-old Scottish saying ‘Who pays the piper calls the tune’, could the formation of a ‘Sponsor’s Commission’ bring about a counterbalance to the inequality inherent in the IFPT? Or is the self-interest of sponsors part of the problem rather than the solution?

It would be interesting to find out. PG

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KELLY TAN

Kelly’s Castle

BY STANLEY SAW

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©ParGolf

Why Batu Pahat – and Malaysia – will always be home for the country’s top lady golfer, Kelly Tan

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©ParGolf

Where it all began – Kelly smashes a drive down the fairway at Bukit Banang GCC

©ParGolf

Enjoying a feast at Swee Kee Restaurant

clad in a T-shirt and torn jeans. Showing us around her family home – which is adorned with countless trophies from her amateur days – she ruffles through the drawers in her room looking frantically for baby photos of herself, jokingly noting that there are very few photos of her as a baby because she was found at the tong sampah (rubbish dump).

Kelly then proceeds to take us to the family music room and reveals her new passion, playing the drums, with a mean performance of Bon Jovi's ‘It's My Life’. A big fan of music, she loves all genres from R&B and current hits, right down to the oldies.

Riding high on the music, we then hop into her Mazda 6 and hit the town, cruising along small roads and tight turns as she shows us the town that she grew up in. She proceeds to reveal that her fondest memory of her youth was playing

all kinds of sports and excelled in most.

Taking us to her old school, the Ai Chun Chinese School, she reveals that she volunteers on occasions to help with the school volleyball team. Indeed, Kelly has transformed into an icon for all juniors.

Lunch with Kelly is like lunch with any food-loving Malaysian as her family treats us to an eating hotspot in Batu Pahat, the Swee Kee restaurant, famed for its herbal soups and fish head curry.

She loves all kinds of food, local and foreign, and we exchange notes on the best places to eat.

We then teed up for nine holes at Bukit Banang Golf & Country Club, where Kelly first learnt to play golf at age 10 – first through her father who is an avid golfer and then her first coach, ‘Uncle Tay’, whom she quickly credits for providing her with the fundamentals.

©ParGolf

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he drive down south to Batu Pahat was peaceful yet captivating. The town is rich in history and is today an industrial and textile hub – but still, one would never guess that it gave birth to one of the nation's most successful golfers.

When I first met Kelly Tan about two years back at a ParGolf Awards dinner, I asked her what her plans were and she boldly told me without an ounce of hesitation that she was headed for LPGA Qualifying School to try and get her tour card. Impressed by her high confidence, I tracked her career and was amazed that she not only made it in her first attempt but had a decent rookie year, earning enough to keep her card for 2015.

Arriving at the Tan residence, the young lady with the infectious smile and ‘girl next door’ looks stood at the doorway

“It's my life...”

Kelly does a Bon Jovi on the drums

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©ParGolf

KELLY TAN The club has proudly dedicated a section on the notice board for her, dubbed ‘Kelly’s Corner’, tracking her achievements and progress on tour.

Kelly's natural swing and confident stride exudes strong instinct and character. The third girl in the family of five children, she feels that being the middle child provided her with the independence to be herself and find her own way in the world. Asked who she admired and hoped to emulate on tour, she reveals that she does not aspire to be anyone but herself. ”I believe that being responsible to and believing in yourself are the best things you can do because out on tour, it is not all hugs, sweet smiles and butterfly kisses. You have to trust in your own innate abilities if you want to make it because nobody is going to make it happen for you.”

Sitting in a trendy cafe after golf, Kelly tells us that what she enjoys most about being home is that she can let her hair down and be herself. Many of her school friends are studying or working

abroad, so her favourite past time when she's back in town is to spend time with her family and pet dog at home.

The thing that saddens Kelly most is the fact that she will be missing out on her Chinese New Year reunion dinners due to a gruelling schedule, as long as she is on the LPGA Tour.

However, she quickly counters that these are sacrifices that need to be made in order to succeed on tour.

People search for everyday heroes that inspire them and I believe that Malaysia's golfing sweetheart, Kelly Tan, is an inspiration and a testament that great things do emerge from small beginnings. What makes her successful is not only that winning smile and the ability to sell T-shirts.

What she has achieved is the independence that many have yet to find, and the gusto to move forward and make her dreams happen.

Despite all that, Kelly still heads back to Batu Pahat each year to reconnect with herself. In the end, home is truly where her heart is. PG

BATU PAHAT FAST FACTS • Batu Pahat is a town located at 1°51N, 102°56E on the northwest coast of the state of Johor, within a district of the same name.

• Distance from Kuala Lumpur is around 240km to the north, while Johor Bahru, the capital of Johor, is located about 130km away.

• Batu Pahat is the second largest town in Johor and 16th largest urban area in Malaysia in terms of population with a count of more than 300,000.

• Known as Northern Johor’s Shopping Paradise due to recent proliferation of shopping malls and hypermarkets.

• Batu Pahat means ‘chiselled rock’ in Malay, with popular folklore tracing the origins to the 15th century when the invading Siamese troops were seen chiselling rocks in a fishing village, in hope of getting fresh water during their retreat from the forces of the Melaka sultanate.

• The present town was founded by Dato Bentara Luar, Mohamed Salleh Perang, on the orders of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar, in 1893.

• The Chinese community in Batu Pahat are mainly descendants of people from southern Fujian and Guangdong. Hokkien and Teochew are the predominant dialects.

• Batu Pahat is Johor's second largest manufacturing centre, with textiles,

electronics, food, timber, porcelain and plastics comprising the bulk of the

industries. It produces roughly half of the export textiles of the country.

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• Batu Pahat was formerly known as Bandar Penggaram, which means town of salt- makers, as it was well known for its salted fish.

With mum, dad and sisters Amy (left) and Cindy (and JayJay the family pet)

“It seems like as long as I'm on the LPGA Tour I'll have to miss Chinese New Year at home, just like any Chinese player on tour. I guess it's not that tough for me because I'll still get my Ang Pow!”

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Home on the range? At Bukit Banang's eighth green with her family house in the background

Q&A WITH KELLY TAN

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Is it tough not being able to spend Chinese New Year at home for the second year in a row?

It seems like as long as I'm on the LPGA Tour I'll have to miss Chinese New Year at home, just like any Chinese player on tour. I guess it's not that tough for me because I'll still get my Ang Pow! (laughs) It's always nice to spend Chinese New Year at home and get together with family and friends. And my parents usually throw a party for all our friends and relatives with lots of makan plus karaoke, darts and gambling!

What do you like about Batu Pahat? And how do you spend your time when you are home?

I base myself in KL most of the time when I’m back in Malaysia because of the golf facilities. But I enjoy my time home in Batu Pahat with friends and family because it's a very slow-paced lifestyle – lots of chilling at home, playing with my dog and musical instruments. And hanging out with my friends at cafés or at my house – we love chit-chatting and gossiping about what's new!

What do you remember most about your school days in Batu Pahat?

Sports! I was into all sorts of sports, you name it, and I loved all the extracurricular activities in school too. And there was also this ‘mee soup’ fight with a friend that I'll never forget!

Do you get recognised when you walk around in Batu Pahat?

Hmmm ... no, not really – except of course by my friends and people who are from the golfing or sports arena.

You grew up playing golf at Bukit Banang Golf & Country Club. Who did you learn the game from?

The credit goes to daddy. I remember he was a good player once but I don't know what happened! (laughs) He taught me the game initially and then he was smart enough to pass me on to someone more professional – the coach at the club then, Uncle Tay, taught me all the fundamentals.

What are your hobbies?

I love music. I can play a bit of guitar and piano, so now I'm actually learning to play the drums just to make it a set!

FACT FILE Full Name Birthdate Birthplace Height Hobbies Family

What kind of music do you listen to?

I listen to all kinds of music like top hits, R&B, oldies and jazz, depending on what I'm doing. I don't really have a favourite singer or band.

Current favourite song?

I feel like I'm in love with any Chinese song right now! Maybe it’s because I'm back home – when I'm in the US, I don’t listen to Chinese songs.

All-time favourite movie?

I'm not a movie person but if I have to name one, it will be 'The Greatest Game Ever Played'. I've watched it over and over again – it's an amazing, motivating movie.

All-time favourite actor?

Charlie Chaplin!

Kelly Tan Guat Chen October 26, 1993 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia 5ft 5in Music Father – Tan Sen Thong; Mother – Chan Ley Hoon; Sisters – Elly (27), Amy (22), Cindy (16); Brother – Robin (17)

IN THE BAG Driver Fairways Hybrids Irons Wedges Putter Ball

Callaway Big Bertha (9°) with Tour AD shaft Callaway Big Bertha #3 and #5 with Tour AD shafts Callaway X Hot 2 #3 and #4 with Fubuki shafts Callaway Apex Forged with Steel Fibre i95 shafts Callaway 50° and 56° with NS Pro 950 shafts Odyssey Metal X Milled 330M Titleist Pro V1

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LUNAR NEW YEAR SPECIAL

GOT YOUR

©Warren Little/Getty Images

Goat?

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Out gallops the noble horse and in prances the humble goat to reign over 2015

BY VIVIEN GNANANANTHAM

I

f you’ve ever found yourself wondering where the expression “get your goat” originated from, well it looks like you’ll have to keep wondering because there isn’t a clear consensus as it seems to be a case of the age-old ‘po-tay-to, po-tah-to’ debate.

The Yanks claim that it’s an early 20th century American phrase related to horseracing where the common practice was to place goats with the highly-strung purebreds to keep them calm and all the more race-ready. Come race day though, shameless opponents would then steal the goat, ie ‘get someone’s goat’, in the expectations that the horse would be distraught by the absence of its dear bearded friend, then place a bet on it to lose.

The Brits on the other hand refer to ye olde English belief that keeping a goat in the barn would have a calming effect on cows for more milk production.

When enemies vamoose with the goat, this would then render their cows lessto non-productive.

Whether English or American, the common thread seems to revolve around the idea that goats were great soothers and if stolen, would upset their animal friends enough for some unfavourable reactions.

So to be diplomatic, let’s take the goat as a metaphor for ‘a state of peacefulness’ – got your goat and

you’re calm, but stolen and you’re annoyed perhaps to the point of getting pissed off!

That said, we’d all probably be better off holding on to our goats this year as according to one of Asia’s renowned feng shui, bazi and face-reading consultant Dato’ Joey Yap, 2015 being the Year of the Wood Goat is likely to be “an influential and fruitful one for individuals wishing to discover more about what the year holds for them”.

Starting its reign this February 19 when the Lunar New Year is ushered in and ending on February 7, 2016, the goat (or its cousin the sheep and ram) ranks eighth in the Shēngxiào – literally “birth likeness”, better known as the ‘Chinese zodiac’ in English.

Incidentally, the Chinese consider the number ‘8’ auspicious as it symbolises prosperity.

Among the earliest animals domesticated by humans with DNA evidence suggesting 10,000 years BP as their domestication date, there are over 300 documented distinct breeds of goat today. Historically, Neolithic farmers across the world herded these animals as an easy source of milk and meat, with their dung used as fuel, their bones, hair, and sinew for clothing, building materials and tools, while their hide was fashioned into water and wine containers as well as parchment.

Intensely inquisitive and highly intelligent, goats will explore anything new or unfamiliar and contrary to common perception, will not actually eat inedible material, but instead chew on and taste just about anything vaguely reminiscent of plant matter to decide whether or not good to eat. They are also very well-coordinated that they are able to keep their balance even in

the most precarious of places, also making them the only ruminant able to climb trees.

Why, even the Royal & Ancient game pays homage to these adorable creatures albeit in a somewhat derogatory term, ie “goat track”, which refers to a golf course that’s in poor condition.

MEHHH-BE A PET? Originating from the Cameroon Valley in West Africa, pygmy goats are a breed of miniature domestic goats that are primarily kept as pets and not as utility animals.

Sporting good-natured personalities and friendliness, these little cuties are quite hardy and can adapt to most climates. Its average lifespan is eight to 18 years, weighs between 24 and 34kg (bucks between 27 and 39kg) with heights ranging from 41 to 58cm.

Currently reigning as probably the most adorable animal online, Benjamin, the orphan pygmy goat from Yorkshire, England, pranced his way into an internet sensation after a BBC Look North video of him being raised by a family due to his mother not being able to wean him was posted on their Facebook page last December. At press time, the video has garnered 28 million views from 42 countries with 14,951,593 of those views on Facebook alone and 259,610 ‘shares’!

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COURTESY OF DATO’ JOEY YAP, HERE’S A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT THE YEAR OF THE GOAT HOLDS IN STORE FOR THE 12 ZODIACS THIS YEAR. GOAT

1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 Intellectual and creative energy will be fired up, igniting a new sense of confidence and independence to take on new challenges – especially if your career is based in the creative/arts field. If you’re not the creative type, you will still benefit from an increased learning capacity which will support any training or educational tasks. If you're planning to take up a course, now is the time. While newfound energy and passion to excel gives a new boost of life and conviction, stress will take its toll if you push too hard as we’re only human. Consider making some healthy lifestyle changes by working out regularly, eating right, resting more and finding time to relax and enjoy life.

DOG

1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 The Dog will be blessed with the innate ability to seek wealth and prosperity. In addition to the ability to make money, there are indications that the women in your life or in senior positions will be more than happy to lend a hand in setting plans into motion or putting them back on track. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for new opportunities but always remember to be diplomatic, poised and gracious when pursuing them. Numerous challenges loom, so the best game plan would be to rise above it while keeping yourself grounded. Being calm and rational will help you weather your worst challenges, also focus on career and family obligations.

OX

1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 While it’s grand to have high ambitions, sometimes you need to look at what is right in front of you and set goals that can be achieved in the short term, and you’ll attain success easily this way. It’s especially true this year as there are signs that the head is constantly up in the clouds, chasing lofty goals while forgetting about more tangible ones closer to the ground. Be aware of your affairs and always have a back-up plan. You’ll also need to work a little harder than your peers to achieve your goals. Whether you’re currently well-off or otherwise, money will easily drift away, so watch your finances, and develop a budget and savings plan.

DRAGON

1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 The Dragon is poised to have an exciting year if you seize the opportunities granted. When you feel overwhelmed by these choices, a noble person will lighten your load. Positive influences mean that great things will take place in terms of career – either taken to new heights or kick-started again. While you can expect immense career progress, you’ll need to commit fully in order to achieve the desired results.

Though you’ll be surrounded by opportunities, not all guarantee success, so seek sound advice and the right information before making a decision. Take the bull by its horns and prove dedication to the challenges offered – you’ll always have the support and luck to fly high this year.

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MONKEY

1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 The Monkey will be swinging from one good opportunity to another. There are positive indications for career progression and personal happiness. Not only will there be opportunities for a job promotion, but you’re also likely to become involved in new business projects that will be financially rewarding in the long run. Central to all this will be the natural ability to hold court with newfound friends and potential love interests. Despite the exuberance for life and newfound luck, the dark tendency to lose yourself in the moment can cause bouts of depression and insecurity in life, which you’ll overcome if you keep a level head, and be conscious of yourself and plans.

PIG

1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 There’s positive indication of career advancement.

If employed by an organisation, it’s likely that efforts will finally be recognised by the top senior management with opportunities for a promotion and salary increment. If you’re an entrepreneur, it’s likely that exploring new markets could spell a profit increase. Think outside of the box and reel in the progress desired. It’s also the right time to evaluate friendships – some so-called “friends” are becoming envious with your success. Always be strong when dealing with petty gossip, jealousy and drama. 2015 has a lot to offer provided a level head is kept and if you’re ready to face any challenges.

TIGER

1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 The Tiger is poised to experience an outstanding year.

Not only can you look forward to career success and personal happiness, but any problems faced will be solved in the blink of an eye. You’ll have plenty to celebrate about whether it’s a graduation, making a lifelong commitment to a partner, welcoming a new addition to the family or a promotion. With so much cause for celebration, do remember to thank the people who’ve helped you achieve those goals.

Improve on interpersonal skills, and learn to mind words and actions. Together with the support of friends and advisors, you’ll have every reason to be positive this year, so make the most of it.

SNAKE

1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 The year is rich with opportunities to grow as a person and to improve your skills, social position and career prospects. The Snake will also have the support from a variety of sources to guide and boost your growth. This will in turn have a profound impact on good fortune and personal development, improving your ability to perform in new arenas and absorb new information, particularly beneficial for those working in the education and research industries, or engaged in long-term study. You will be given the chance to showcase your skills and make progress towards wider goals. Together with the love and support of good friends, you’ll have everything needed for a promising and fulfilling year.

ROOSTER

1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 Time to consider reversing the trend that life has always taken; instead of constantly chasing wealth and success, spend more time with the people that matter most – family and friends. Money cannot buy happiness or the love and respect of family and friends. There will be some undesirable obstacles but there will also be a rainbow at the end of every rainstorm. Take a step back from the craziness of life and look within yourself – realise that for all the skills and money one can have, what matters most is a good heart and soul. With some self-discipline and determination, anything is possible this year. Just remember where the heart truly lies and know that home is always there when needed.

RAT

1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 Time to reach out to others and seek the support rightfully deserved, allowing the help obtained and the opportunity to expand influence or take on more responsibilities. When efforts are noticed by the right people, it will be rewarded in monthly paycheques. Although it’s fun to constantly chase after wealth and success, make an effort to also spend some quality time with your spouse/partner; doing so will keep the flame alive or re-ignite those that have fizzled out. That is why this is likely to be a year of growth and renewal – for yourself and relationships. Continue to develop a sense of selfworth at work and develop connections with the people that truly matter.

RABBIT

1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 Make the most out of the support and friendship offered; noble people that surround you throughout the year will contribute to the level of your success, so it’s prudent to express gratitude. Maintain an allegiance with the people around you as the relationships developed may prove beneficial for career development, financial success and personal happiness. The Rabbit is likely to have a great year financially as there are indications of substantial financial gains in the form of bonuses, increments or profit returns from investments; but also be extra careful as you may experience minor accidents. It’s a year of friendships, laughter and success as long as you’re vigilant and think positively, and have kindness in your heart.

HORSE

1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 Focus on loving and learning to take care of yourself. It’s vital to create work-life balance that includes proper rest, eating healthily and taking the time to treat yourself right. You shouldn’t neglect work responsibilities totally as there are some exciting opportunities in store. As a sense of balance between ‘work’ and ‘life’ continues to be developed, you’ll always have someone to rely on in sickness and in health. The Horse is likely to enjoy some positive career gains and earn some considerable wealth in the process.

Remember the love, respect and appreciation that surround you and it won’t be hard to stay upbeat and healthy for the rest of the year.

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LUNAR NEW YEAR SPECIAL

Check out these ‘kids’ that have pranced around the world’s greens!

DICK BURTON Birthdate October 11, 1907 (died January 30, 1974) Birthplace Darwen, Lancashire, England

©Michael Cohen/Getty Images

Born Richard Burton, the former loom weaver has nine professional wins to his name including a Major at the 1939 Open Championship, and will always be remembered as the man who held the Claret Jug for the longest time spanning seven years from his win at St Andrews’ Old Course until the tournament was once again played post-World War II in 1946. While he also played for Great Britain in the 1935, 1937 and 1949 Ryder Cup editions, winning two of his five matches, within a few weeks of securing his one Major, Burton was serving in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and in the spring of 1946, wrote to the Royal & Ancient saying, “Dear sirs, please find enclosed my fee of five guineas for this year’s Open. I will bring the trophy back when I come.” After losing battle with a long illness, Burton died in a Surrey hospital aged 66.

BETTY JAMESON Birthdate May 9, 1919 (died February 7, 2009) Birthplace Norman, Oklahoma, USA

BILLY CASPER Birthdate June 24, 1931 Birthplace San Diego, California, USA Born William Earl Casper Jr, ‘Buffalo Bill’ turned pro in 1954 and has 69 professional wins in his career with 51 on the PGA Tour alone (placing him seventh on the all-time list), including three Majors at the 1959 and 1966 US Opens and the 1970 Masters. The two-time PGA Tour Money winner (1966, 1968) and two-time PGA Player of the Year (1966, 1970) also represented the US in eight Ryder Cups from 1961 to 1975, while in 1979 was non-playing captain. Between 1964 and 1970, he won 27 tournaments on tour – two more than Jack Nicklaus and six more than Arnold Palmer and Gary Player combined. Casper won at least one event for 16 straight seasons from 1956 to 1971, marking the third-longest streak and trailing only Palmer and Nicklaus who each won in 17 straight years. He earned nine wins on the Champions Tour from 1982 to 1989, including two senior Majors and after retirement in 2005, opened a golf course design and management company called Billy Casper Golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 and in 2010 received the PGA of America’s Distinguished Service Award.

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Born Elizabeth May Jameson, she was one of the 13 founders of the LPGA in 1950 and counts 17 professional wins to her name, including three Majors. She won the 1942 Women’s Western Open, a Major at the time, as an amateur before turning pro in 1945 and captured the title again in 1954 with her second Major delivered at the 1947 US Women’s Open where her 295 total marked the first time a female golfer scored lower than 300 in a 72-hole tournament. In 1952, Jameson donated a trophy named in honour of Glenna Collett Vare – The Vare Trophy, which to this date annually honours the golfer with the lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour. While she was one of the six inaugural inductees when the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame was created in 1967, the LPGA recognised 1951 as Jameson’s official induction year into the Hall, also into the World Golf Hall of Fame. An avid artist, she hung up her spikes in 1970 and retired to Delray Beach in Florida where in 2004, August 14 was proclaimed ‘Betty Jameson Day’. She passed away aged 89.

GREG NORMAN Birthdate February 10, 1955 Birthplace Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia Born Gregory John Norman and nicknamed ‘The Great White Shark’, or simply ‘The Shark’, he turned professional in 1976 and has 90 professional wins, including two Majors – the Open Championship in 1986 and 1993, and spent 331 weeks as World No 1 in the 1980s and 1990s. He was also the first person in tour history to surpass US$10 million in career earnings. Norman was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001 and has numerous awards and accolades to his name. An entrepreneur with a variety of business interests including golf course design, real estate development, management and investment and wine estates, the Shark’s personal wealth is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of US dollars. In April 2014, Fox Sports announced that its lead commentary team on the USGA’s 2015 championships would be Norman and Joe Buck. He is currently recovering after almost losing his left hand in a chainsaw accident in September last year while cutting back mandrakes at his Florida home.

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DONNA ANDREWS Birthdate April 12, 1967 Birthplace Lynchburg, Virginia, USA Andrews turned pro in 1989 and began her rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 1990. She has seven professional wins with six of those captured between 1993 and 1998, including one Major – the 1994 Nabisco Dinah Shore. She also represented the US in the 1994 and 1998 Solheim Cups and was captain of the 2007 US Junior Solheim Team. While she made it into the tour’s top-10 on the money list ranked ninth in 1993, then fifth the next year, her best finish was third in 1998. Andrews became a golf instructor at Pine Needles Resort near Pinehurst, North Carolina in 2003 and married her husband James Tepatti in July 2005. She retired the same year and was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. She is co-owner of Andrews & James Real Estate and enjoys spending time at home with her dogs and horses.

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GRAEME MCDOWELL Birthdate July 30, 1979 Birthplace Portrush, Northern Ireland

KIMBERLY KIM Birthdate August 23, 1991 Birthplace Hilo, Hawaii, USA Nicknamed Kim Squared, K Squared or Kim Kim, the half-Korean, half-American teen prodigy started playing golf at the age of eight and in 2006 became the youngest player to win the US Women’s Amateur at 14 years, 11 months and 21 days. She turned pro in July 2010 after finishing tied 14th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament and earned full status for the tour in 2011 on her first attempt. Kim also represented the US in two Curtis Cups – in 2008 and 2010, where the team emerged winners both times. She joined the Symetra Tour in 2012 and enjoys hiking, swimming, basketball and watching comedies.

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Nicknamed G-Mac, McDowell has 13 professional wins to his name (10 on the European Tour, two on the PGA Tour and one on the Asian Tour), including a Major at the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach in California where he ended a 40-year drought for the Europeans at the tournament since Tony Jacklin’s win in 1970, also becoming the first Northern Irishman to accomplish the feat. He has also represented Ireland at the World Cup and Europe in four Ryder Cups – 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014 (emerging winners in the last three). A devoted Manchester United fan, he even skipped the annual par-three contest in the build-up to the 2011 Masters just so he could watch a UEFA Champions League clash between the Devils and Chelsea. The 2010 European Tour Golfer of the Year was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in her 2011 New Year’s list as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE); in June the same year, he received an honorary doctorate (DSc) from the University of Ulster, both conferred for his services to golf.

RYO ISHIKAWA Birthdate September 17, 1991 Birthplace Matsubushi, Saitama, Japan Ishikawa, fondly nicknamed ‘Hanikami Oji’ (which literally means ‘Bashful Prince’) for his shy smile and polite, soft-spoken demeanour, started playing golf at the age of six, and became the youngest winner ever of a men's regular tournament on the Japan Golf Tour by winning the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup at age 15 years and 8 months in May 2007 (as an amateur). Turning pro in 2008, the 5’9” golfer became the youngest ever player to reach the top-100 of the Official World Golf Rankings that same year. In 2011, Ishikawa pledged to donate all of his season earnings to help the survivors of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan’s Pacific coast, and also donated US$1,200 for every birdie he made. To date, the 24-year-old – who got hitched to his childhood sweetheart in 2012 – has amassed a total of 12 professional wins, the latest being the Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup last June.

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Famous Celebrity Goats

The Years of the Goat have produced an interesting mix of famous folk James Rodríguez

1991

1955

1919

Edward Christopher ‘Ed’ Sheeran Feb 18, English singer & songwriter

William ‘Bill’ Henry Gates III Oct 28, American entrepreneur/co-founder & CEO of Microsoft

María Eva Duarte de ‘Evita’ Perón May 7 – July 26, 1952, First Lady of Argentina (1946 to 1952)

Iman Mohamed Abdul Majid July 25, Somalian model & entrepreneur

Nathaniel Adams Coles, aka Nat King Cole Mar 17 – Feb 15, 1965, American singer & jazz pianist

James David Rodríguez Rubio July 12, Colombian footballer (Real Madrid)

1979 Zhang Ziyi Feb 9, Chinese actress & model Valentino Rossi Feb 16, Italian multiple MotoGP champion

1967 Julia Fiona Roberts Oct 28, American actress & producer Vin Diesel July 18, American actor & filmmaker

Robert De Niro

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Bill Gates

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Valentino Rossi

Julia Roberts

1943 Sir Michael Philip ‘Mick’ Jagger July 26, English musician, singer & songwriter Robert De Niro Aug 17, American actor & film producer

1931

1907 Katharine Houghton Hepburn May 2 – June 29, 2003, American actress Oscar Niemeyer Dec 15 – Dec 5, 2012, Brazilian architect & pioneer of modern architecture

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev Mar 2, Final President of the Soviet Union Rita Dolores Moreno Dec 11, Puerto Rican actress & singer

Rita Moreno

Nat King Cole

Katharine Hepburn

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

Gimmick Or Innovation?

The quest for perfection in golf has led to some interesting and occasionally quirky inventions

T

he goal is straightforward, ie to complete each hole using as few strokes as possible. The ways we employ in trying to attain this simple goal is anything but straightforward.

Each person plays golf differently from anyone else. It is quite literally a case of ‘more than one can shake a stick at’!

Occasionally something or someone really unique pops up. If that person is also a wellknown professional who uses a particular style, method or piece of equipment, regular punters are very likely to adopt it. And when they win with it, even gimmicks can often become so pervasive that the game is changed forever.

Golf is aspirational on many levels and the automotive marketing mantra, “What wins on the track on Sunday, sells in the showroom on Monday”, is also in play here.

Major manufacturers provide prototypes and the latest equipment to professionals. Winning tournaments with them usually translates to an innovation eagerly snapped up in the stores.

Remember KJ Choi winning with his oversized putter grip? It wasn’t long before everyone and their mothers were fitting what looked like a rolling pin to the grip end of their putters! Remember Bernhard Langer finally sorting out his problems on the greens with his long putter? In short order, many of us equipped ourselves with putters taller than the average Malaysian caddie!

Remember how driver heads started to grow in size with each new generation until the PGA and R&A were forced to step in and impose the 460cc limit? Next thing we knew, whilst our flightmates still insisted on pin-drop silence as they teed up, they then also proceeded to gleefully drum their giant oversized driver faces into the ball creating that characteristic harsh metallic ‘clang’ which startled everyone and everything within earshot! But then pros started to win with them and 460cc drivers are pretty much standard issue today. Designers have now tuned the sound levels down somewhat but it is amusing to note that for a while there, the state-of-the-art in golf equipment had also made the game far more noisy!

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Major equipment manufacturers are not behind every paradigm-shifting innovation.

The golf tee is one such example. In fact, it would be close to impossible to realise the full potential of your latest, greatest, loudest 460cc driver without a tee! The wooden golf tee (Patent No. 638920), on which all modern tees are based, was invented in 1899 by an amateur golfer, George Grant, who didn’t like the standard practice back then of teeing off with the ball perched on a small mound of sand.

Jump forward a hundred years and 460cc drivers must have looked pretty strange and felt like swinging a watermelon on the end of a broomstick to those raised on tiny persimmon woods, and perhaps, even the tiny tee must have seemed to be a pretty large gimmick when it first appeared.

The baseball cap is everyone’s default golf headgear today but I wonder if traditionalists took exception to Tiger Woods wearing one and thus popularised them back in the 1990s.

The ‘overlapping’ aka Vardon grip must have appeared rather odd to most golfers of his era who more often than not used a ‘baseball’ aka 10-finger grip. Six-time British Open champion Harry Vardon popularised and lent his name to the grip but it was Johnny Laidlay, an amateur who invented it.

Meanwhile two-time PGA Tour winner, Scott Piercy is probably one of very few present day pros, and amateurs, still using the 10-finger grip.

Gimmick or innovation? It is said that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery but some very successful stuff didn’t make it into popular golfing practice. Despite becoming household names and even winning several Majors between them Jim Furyk’s sinuous swing path, Annika Sörenstam looking up before impact and the Camilo Villegas ‘Spiderman’ greens reading technique remain unique to their owner/inventors.

But there is always a lot more to look forward to. Perhaps Ryder Cup Team USA’s Keegan Bradley rocking back and forth on his heels like a high jump athlete before addressing the ball may be the next great innovation ... then again, maybe not.

Drive long and prosper! PG

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CONTEST

WIN THE BRAND NEW TAYLORMADE R15 AND AEROBURNER DRIVERS! Looking for more ‘oomph’ off the tees? TaylorMade’s new R15 and Aeroburner drivers are just what the doctor ordered – and they could be yours for FREE! All you need to do is answer three questions, complete the slogan as creatively as possible and send in your entries pronto – and you could be one of the winners!

Don’t wait! Closing date for entries is March 10, 2015.

main prizes (X3)

one (1) TaylorMade R15 Driver or TaylorMade Aeroburner Driver each Consolation Prizes (x10)

One (1) dozen Project (a) golf balls + one (1) TaylorMade cap each TAYLORMADE CONTEST OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM Full Name ...........................................................................................

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

COMPLETE THE SLOGAN IN NOT MORE THAN 20 WORDS. I love using TaylorMade equipment because .......................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................

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

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

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

Mail entries to: TAYLORMADE CONTEST

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS CORRECTLY.

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

(tick only one answer)

1. The R15 driver boasts a new adjustability feature known as the ____.  Front Track System  Side Track System  Back Track System  Lower Track System 2. What is the Asian specs stock shaft for the TaylorMade R15 standard driver?  Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution Tour Spec  Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution Tour Spec  TM1-215 by Mitsubishi Rayon  TM1-115 by Mitsubishi Rayon 3. The R15 also incorporates proven TaylorMade technologies like Inverted Cone Technology, Thick Thin Casting and Moveable Weight. True or False?  True  False

Closing Date: March 10, 2015 (Tuesday) 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 Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Late entries will not be entertained.

• Employees of Write Track Publishing & Communications, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Malaysia 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 will be posted on the ParGolf Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ParGolfMagazine.

• Winners are required to personally collect their prizes from Write Track Publishing & Communications Sdn Bhd. • The allocation of drivers to the main prize winners will be decided by lot upon collection.

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IN THE BAG

www.srixon.com

Srixon Z-Star Golf Balls

STRONG & SOFT Since its launch in 2009, Srixon’s Z-Star golf ball franchise has been accumulating numerous wins on the professional tours and in elite amateur events with its wind-conquering and long-hitting performance.

Now, the Z-Star takes another step forward with the introduction of the 2015 Z-Star and Z-Star XV models, featuring newly-developed Speed Dimples that deliver a more powerful trajectory while reducing aerodynamic resistance. A softer urethane cover and new Spin Skin coating increase the contact with the clubface on approach shots to achieve a softer feel and outstanding spin stability.

High initial velocity, high launch and low spin create a powerful trajectory The 324 Speed Dimples feature more uniform surface area for lower aerodynamic resistance. Each individual dimple has been sized more uniformly while maintaining the dimple ratio, resulting in even more airflow around the ball during flight for lower aerodynamic resistance. This achieves a powerful trajectory that extends further for more distance.

A super-soft Energetic Gradient Growth (E.G.G.2) largediameter core with newly-developed additives results in even more contrast between outer hardness and inner softness than the previous model, permitting high launch angles and low spin while maintaining soft feel.

The four-piece Z-Star XV applies a newly-developed, highresistance ionomer ultra-thin mid-layer for increased mid-layer hardness, further improving the contrast between outer hardness and inner softness for high launch angles and low spin.

Newly-developed coating and urethane cover deliver softer feel and stable spin The newly-developed Spin Skin coating, which is 21% softer than the previous model, combines with the 7% softer ultra-thin, super-soft neo-urethane cover to achieve a 25% increase in contact with the clubface compared to the previous model – resulting in a softer feel and stable spin performance.

SRP: RM192

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WHAT THE PLAYERS SAY “The ball goes where I aim it, on a low, powerful trajectory.”

“It’s got a soft feel and imparts solid spin.”

“It gives a strong, powerful trajectory on driver and iron shots, and plenty of distance.”

“It's long hitting and is not put off by the wind.”

KEEGAN BRADLEY

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA

GRAEME MCDOWELL

KOUMEI ODA

MODEL Construction Cover

Urethane cover 3-piece ball

Urethane cover 4-piece ball

High-durability 0.5mm ultra-thin, super-soft neo-urethane High-resistance ultra-thin ionomer

Neo high-resistance ultra-thin ionomer

Core

Super-soft E.G.G.2 large-diameter core

Neo E.G.G.2 large-diameter 2-layer core

Strong-trajectory 324 Speed Dimples

Coating

Spin Skin

Colours

White, Tour Yellow

Ball numbers

LEE BO-MEE

SRIXON Z-STAR XV

Mid-layer Dimples

“E en in high winds, “Even it delivers a powerful trajectory without floating.”

SRIXON Z-STAR

1 to 4

AUSSIE PHENOM LEE JOINS SRIXON STAFF Australian teen sensation Minjee Lee has signed on with Srixon and will play Srixon, XXIO and Cleveland equipment as she competes on the 2015 LPGA Tour.

Still only 18, Lee turned professional in September 2014 after dominating the amateur game. She was the no. 1 ranked lady amateur golfer in the world from February 2014 until she joined the paid ranks, winning a host of titles including the Australian Women’s Amateur (2013 and 2014), US Girls Junior (2012) and World Amateur Team Championship (2014).

“It’s strong hitting into the wind, with a good trajectory.”

RYO ISHIKAWA

Lee already has one professional title to her name in the Australian LPGA’s Oates Victorian Open, which she won in 2014 while still an amateur. She had strong finishes in three Majors in 2014 (Kraft Nabisco – T24, US Women’s Open – T22, Evian Championship – T16) and earned her LPGA card for 2015 by finishing as co-medallist in qualifying school.

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IN THE BAG

www.titleist.com

2015 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x Golf Balls

TOTAL PERFORMANCE How do you make the best even better?

That’s been the challenge for the Titleist R&D team for each new generation of Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls.

The 2015 Pro V1 and Pro V1x models are thus the result of a continuous process rooted in rigorous research and development, technological advancements, comprehensive player testing and validation, and precision manufacturing – and this is reflected in the performance of the new models from tee to green.

In addition to exceptional distance with consistent flight, the new models deliver even more short game control and softer feel from a new, patented urethane elastomer cover formulation, and long-lasting durability. Comparatively to the 2013 model, the new Pro V1 has a softer feel, slightly more long game spin and a penetrating trajectory for a shallower angle of descent for more roll. The new Pro V1x offers a slightly firmer feel, lower long game spin and launches higher with a steeper angle of descent.

Since the new models were introduced on the PGA Tour in October, more than 100 players have put them in play around the world, including Jordan Spieth, who played the new Pro V1x in back-to-back runaway victories at the Australian Open and Hero World Challenge, winning those events by a

combined 16 strokes. Bubba Watson, Padraig Harrington and Charley Hoffman also used the new 2015 Pro V1x to win soon after the new models were introduced on tour.

In addition to tour professionals, more than 4,000 PGA professionals participated in the R&D testing process while more than 45,000 amateur golfers of all skill levels around the world received prototypes and reported their feedback through Team Titleist.

SOFTER COVER FOR ENHANCED CONTROL AND FEEL The 2015 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls feature a new, patented thermoset urethane elastomer cover that delivers more short game spin and control, and softer feel – while maintaining exceptional distance and flight characteristics, and best-in-class durability. The softer, reformulated cover system improves feel, sound and short game scoring control.

The thermoset urethane cover formulation is created by a chemical reaction that takes place during the sophisticated casting process. Liquid materials specifically formulated by Titleist R&D are combined and react to form the solid cover. This urethane is termed ‘thermoset’, meaning that the cover, once formed, will not re-melt.

The new urethane cover, combined with the improved paint system that debuted on the 2013 models, keeps Pro V1 and Pro V1x whiter and brighter longer throughout the course of play. The cover and paint system also contributes to more consistent aerodynamics.

CHOOSING BETWEEN PRO V1 AND PRO V1x Both Pro V1 and Pro V1x deliver extraordinary distance, superb scoring performance for all golfers and long-lasting durability, yet differ in feel, long game spin and flight.

Pro V1 has a softer feel, slightly more long game spin and a more penetrating trajectory for a shallower angle of descent for more roll than Pro V1x. This three-piece ball has a very soft compression ZG process core, ionomeric casing layer, softer thermoset urethane elastomer cover, and spherically-tiled 352 tetrahedral dimple design.

Pro V1x has a slightly firmer feel and lower long game spin and launches higher with a steeper angle of descent than Pro V1.

It has a four-piece construction consisting of a ZG process dual core, ionomeric casing layer, softer thermoset urethane elastomer cover and spherically-tiled 328 tetrahedral dimple design.

SRP: RM224

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WHAT THE PLAYERS SAY Jordan Spieth: “The 2015 Pro V1x is very much an improvement for me.

The softer cover allows me to have more spin control and softer feel around the greens, without jeopardizing any distance or spin with the long clubs. The New Pro V1x feels really nice, like it’s sticking to the clubface more, which I like.

It allows my short irons and wedges to spin a little more which is always nice, to be able to fly it closer to the hole and have it drop and stop.”

Bubba Watson: “I first tried the new ball two weeks prior to going to China. I loved it and put it in play right away. It has all the great qualities of the previous generation Pro V1x with improved feel around the greens, which is exceptional. It even goes a little further for me off the tee.”

Hunter Mahan: “The new ball feels great. It has the performance and flight characteristics I’m looking for with all my full shots, and I’ve picked up more spin on my 30-40 yard pitch shots.

Overall, I’m getting better performance into and around the greens, and still have the flight, trajectory and control I need on full shots.”

Bill Haas: “The first time I tried the new Pro V1x I immediately noticed a softer feel with my irons and wedges. The softer feel provides me slightly more spin around the greens and gives me added confidence that I can get the ball to stop the way I need it to.

I still get the long game performance I need as well with the proper amount of spin and control.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Charley Hoffman: “I put the new Pro V1x in play immediately after my first day of testing. It has all the great characteristics of the 2013 model off the driver and irons with a slightly softer feel around the greens. When I won at Mayakoba, the new ball stood up to all the tests. It performed great in the rain on Saturday and unbelievable in the wind on Sunday.”

Marc Leishman: “The new ball still has the firm, solid feel and penetrating flight off the tee, but is noticeably softer and spins more with half shots and chip shots.

I feel like I’m getting the best of both worlds – long off the tee and workable around the greens.”

Ian Poulter: “The new Pro V1x gives me a softer feel and better performance around the greens. I’m able to execute all the shots and the ball feels great. I also picked up some ball speed with the driver during testing, so I’m getting a little more out of it off the tee.”

• In October 2000, the original Pro V1 prototype first appeared on the PGA Tour at the Invensys Classic in Las Vegas. Forty-seven players put the ball in play that week, marking one of the largest pluralistic shifts of equipment at one event in history.

• In March 2001, just four months after hitting the retail shelves, the Pro V1 became the best-selling golf ball in the market. The Pro V1 and Pro V1x (which launched in 2003) have been the most played golf balls at every level of competitive golf and the best-selling models around the world ever since.

• The Titleist Golf Ball R&D team is made up of chemists, physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers and technicians, as well as PGA professionals and turf management specialists.

• Titleist owns the industry’s largest portfolio of golf ball intellectual property with more than 1,000 patents. There are more than 100 patents in the technologies and manufacturing processes for the 2015 Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

• Every Titleist golf ball is manufactured to exacting standards in Titleist owned and operated facilities – there are about 90 process and product quality checks for Pro V1 and about 120 for the dual-core Pro V1x.

• The 2015 models mark the eighth generation for the Pro V1 and seventh generation for the Pro V1x

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IN THE BAG

www.cobragolf.com

Cobra Fly-Z+ Driver

ABSOLUTELY FLIPPED OUT Cobra’s new Fly-Z+ Driver takes adjustability to another level with the all-new FlipZone weight technology – a moveable weight system engineered to provide two different flight paths in one club that enables maximum distance for any swing and any golfer.

The FlipZone is Cobra’s first front-to-back CG adjustable technology that features a 15-gram weight on the sole, which can be set toward the front or back of the head. The front CG position provides a mid-launch angle with ultra-low spin and a penetrating ball flight with more roll for maximum distance, while the back CG position delivers a mid-launch angle with 400 RPMs of additional spin, resulting in a higher ball flight for more distance with more carry.

The Fly-Z+ driver also features Cobra’s new Speed Channel Technology, which is an engineered trench around the perimeter of the face that works to minimise thickness for increased ball speeds across the face. Forged E9 Zone Face technology removes weight from key areas behind the face and hosel to increase the size and speed of the sweet zone for more distance on off-centre hits.

Advanced multi-material construction and next generation TOP (Thin. Optimized. Personalized) Technology advances with a new Titanium 6-4 body and carbon fibre crown and sole pieces to maximise discretionary weight. The discretionary weight from the face, hosel, crown and body is strategically positioned low in the head for more distance and forgiveness.

The Fly-Z+ driver continues to utilise Cobra’s proven MyFly8 and SmartPad, allowing golfers to select from multiple loft/trajectory settings to tune their game.

Loft Settings: 8.5° - 11.5° Head Colours: Black, white, blue, orange (Green version available in March) SRP: Asian Specs (UST Attas 6 shaft) – RM2,169 / Global Specs (Matrix VLCT ST shaft) – RM1,749

“I’m really excited about the new Fly-Z+ driver. In our early prototype testing I saw the positive effects the two settings could have on ball flight. For me, the front CG setting yielded the ball flight I want to see on the course. The adjustable loft setting Cobra introduced last year was a huge advantage to my game, but now adding this new Zone Weighting to fine-tune ball flight is really game-changing. ” RICKIE FOWLER

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Cobra Fly-Z Driver

FAST & FORGIVING

Engineered to deliver more distance and increased forgiveness, the Cobra Fly-Z Driver has a low, back CG Zone Weighting that delivers low spin, midhigh launch and fast ball speeds across the face.

The E9 Zone Face structure and Crown Zone Weighting combine to create a large amount of discretionary weight in the all-titanium driver. The weight saved is strategically positioned low and back in the head where the back zone weight is located (Note: the Fly-Z driver in its fixed, back CG position yields approximately 1 degree of increased launch angle and approximately 300 RPMs of additional spin than the Fly-Z+ driver in the back FlipZone position, and is more stable on off-centre hits).

The MyFly8 technology allows golfers to choose from eight adjustable loft/ trajectory settings (9.0° to 12.0°) to maximise distance and manage trajectory, while SmartPad delivers a square face at address regardless of loft setting.

The Fly-Z technology was also reconfigured for women so that CG, lofts and performance is optimised for slower swing speeds.

Loft Settings: Men – 9.0° to 12.0° / Women – 10.5° to 13.5° Head Colours: Men – black, white, blue, orange (green version available in March) / Women – raspberry, ultramarine SRP: Asian Specs (Fujikura Speeder shaft) – RM1,569 / Global Specs (Matrix VLCT SP shaft) – RM1,449 / Women's (Matrix VLCT SP shaft) – RM1,449

Cobra Fly-Z XL Driver

EASY DISTANCE Designed for higher-handicappers, the Fly-Z XL driver is engineered to generate higher, draw-biased ball flights which deliver easy distance.

The 460cc, all-titanium head features a slightly lower profile face combined with an offset hosel to deliver the trajectory often needed by seniors, women and beginners. The Fly-Z XL driver, being the only offset driver in the marketplace, delivers up to 17.5 yards of draw bias (Note: Robot testing revealed that even vs. Fly Z in its draw position, the XL driver offers 10.5 additional yards of draw bias).

The Speed Channel Face with Forged E9 Face Weighting, Crown Zone technology along with an all-titanium head, saves weight and helps deliver a back CG position for more forgiveness and draw bias. A high MOI sole geometry combined with an offset design makes the Fly-Z XL easier to hit straight by correcting slices, increasing stability and maintaining distance.

A women’s version is also available with slightly higher launch conditions and softer shaft flexes.

Loft: 10.5° Head Colours: Men – black / Women – raspberry SRP: Asian Specs (Fujikura Cobra shaft) – RM1,199 / Women's (Matrix VLCT SP shaft) – RM1,179

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IN THE BAG

www.odysseygolf.com

Odyssey Works Versa Putters

FEEL MEETS ROLL

The #1 Putter in Golf’s new high performance technology platform, Odyssey Works, features the new Fusion RX insert, which takes the bestselling, best feeling, most trusted insert (that’s won more Majors than any insert ever) and adds extreme roll.

The new Fusion RX Insert couples the White Hot insert backer with an ultra-thin stainless steel mesh, along with Odyssey’s patented Metal-X roll pattern – that combination delivers extreme roll and feel from an insert with no compromises.

“We took a thin mesh of stainless steel and adhered it to the surface. What that does – the stainless steel with the oval pattern – is give you the friction you’re looking for to put that better roll on it. But it is also thin enough that it flexes with the impact so you get the feel, sound and resiliency of the White Hot insert,” said Austie Rollinson, principal designer for Odyssey.

“So it’s the best of both worlds. You get the great roll with the mesh and the great feel with the White Hot insert,” he added.

According to Odyssey’s internal testing, Fusion RX produces 93% faster roll than the White Hot insert – this reduces skidding and gets the ball into a pure roll faster.

Tour-proven high contrast alignment highlights the proper face angle from address to impact for alignment throughout your putting stroke. The silver and black contrast allows the golfer’s eyes to key in on linear designs on the putter to accentuate the face angle and improve concentration.

MODELS & HEADSHAPES 2-Ball Fang: The most accurate 2-Ball of all-time. Stability brings accuracy via the high MOI, low centre of gravity (CG) design with the perimeter-weighted fangs.

V-Line: With Big-T alignment that delivers the best of both worlds from the revolutionary Versa and Versa 90 alignment.

Arm Lock (#1 Wide head shape): Uses the putter as an extension of your arm to promote a smooth, reliable stroke.

Tank (#1 Wide, #7, Rosie, 2-Ball Fang head shapes): Counterbalance weight, heavier heads and heavier shafts to quiet the hands during the stroke. Added weight raises MOI to give more stability through impact and engages the big muscles to promote a more pendulum stroke that helps keep the wrists from breaking down. All Tank models feature SuperStroke Grip in 35” and 38”.

“In the Odyssey Works line, what we tried to do was incorporate most of our tour-proven, industryproven technologies into one line.”

AUSTIE ROLLINSON, PRINCIPAL DESIGNER, ODYSSEY

SRP: RM1,000 to RM1,100

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www.callawaygolf.com

Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Ball

FEEL + DISTANCE

Callaway’s new Chrome Soft golf ball has the softest core with low compression and a Tour Urethane cover, meaning golfers don’t have to choose between feel and distance.

The ball’s SoftFast Core is designed to reduce spin and retain energy off the driver to maximise ball speed and “The The new Callaway distance. With a low 65 compression, golfers can compress the ball on iron shots for incredibly soft feel Chrome Soft is longer, and responsiveness around the green. it is way softer and The Soft Duraspin Cover – Callaway’s softest and spins much better most durable – also helps deliver excellent control into around the greens ... the green by gripping the clubface. Callaway’s patented HEX Aerodynamics make the ball even longer by that’s the truth. reducing drag and increasing lift.

Deal with it.”

PHIL MICKELSON

FEATURES & BENEFITS Low spin off the tee for more distance: Low spin off the driver for maximum ball speed and distance. The SoftFast Core is the key to long, straight distance off the tee, while optimised HEX Aerodynamics makes Chrome Soft even longer by reducing drag and increasing lift.

Low compression for soft feel: The low 65 compression lets you compress the ball on iron shots for incredibly soft feel, especially around the greens. Now all golfers can compress the ball like a Tour player.

Excellent control: A high level of control for aggressive shots into the green comes from soft feel and the Tour Urethane Cover.

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IN THE BAG

Note: Black version available in 460cc Global specs only

www.taylormadegolf.com

TaylorMade R15 Driver

TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL Hailed as the most technologically-advanced driver ever from TaylorMade, the new R15 takes adjustability to a whole new level with the innovative Front Track System.

The Front Track System utilises two sliding split weights (weighing 12.5g each) that can be moved individually or in unison.

Both weights moved to the heel promote maximum draw, while both at the toe will create maximum fade – or you can split them for maximum stability. Located near the leading edge, the system also performs like a Speed Pocket to increase ball speed, reduce spin and increase the size of the sweet spot.

The clubhead has a Center of Gravity (CG) location that is lower and more forward to promote higher launch and

lower spin. The R15 also incorporates proven TaylorMade technologies like Inverted Cone Technology, Thick Thin Casting and Moveable Weight.

The R15 also features loft sleeve adjustability with a 4° range for greater loft adjustability, giving golfers even more flexibility in dialing in their optimum launch conditions.

The sculpted pear-shape clubhead has a larger footprint and a new satin white finish (also available in black).

The stock shaft for Asian specifications is the TM1-115 by Mitsubishi Rayon and the standard grip is the TM360 red cap. Several aftermarket shafts and grips are available for customisation.

“Everything we have learned on low-forward CG, sliding weights, Speed Pocket, and adjustability have gone into the R15, making this our most technologically advanced driver ever.”

BENOIT VINCENT, VICE PRESIDENT, REsEARCh & DEVELOPMEnT, TAYLORMADE-ADIDAS GOLF

430cc and TP Options For traditionalists who prefer a more compact clubhead, the R15 also comes in a 430cc version.

There are also Tour Preferred (TP) models available for both heads, fitted with Fujikura Speeder Evolution Tour Spec shafts.

Lofts: R15 460 – 10°, 11°, 12° R15 430 – 9°, 10°, 11°

SRP: Asian Specs (TM1-115 by Mitsubishi Rayon shaft) – RM2,190 / Global Specs (Fujikura Speeder Evolution shaft) – RM1,990 / TP Version – RM2,390

Maximum Draw Bias

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Maximum Fade Bias

Maximum Stability & Forgiveness

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www.taylormadegolf.com

TaylorMade R15 Fairways & Rescues

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE

The TaylorMade R15 range also includes fairways and hybrids, with the fairways featuring the Front Track System with a single sliding weight.

The R15 fairway is the first-ever fairway wood with a sliding weight (25g) for shot shape adjustability and is TaylorMade’s most adjustable fairway to date. The singleweight Front Track System allows golfers to create draw, fade or neutral bias to varying degrees and performs like a Speed Pocket, reducing spin and increasing the size of the sweet spot.

A 4° range loft sleeve creates more loft adjustability and enhances the golfer’s ability to dial in optimal launch conditions.

The hybrids meanwhile have a new, tour-inspired shape with a smaller footprint that enables better playability from more lies. The standard setting promotes neutral ball flight, while a 3° range loft sleeve allows golfers to optimise launch conditions.

Both the fairway and hybrid standard versions come with the TM5-115 Mitsubishi Rayon shaft and TM360 red cap grip.

The TP version for the fairway is fitted with the Speeder Evolution 757 Tour Spec shaft, while the hybrid TP has as its stock shaft the Speeder Evolution 869 Tour Spec. Both come with the new Lamkin UTx grip.

Lofts: R15 Fairway – #3 (15°), #5 (19°) / R15 Hybrid – #3 (19°), #4 (21°), #5 (24°) SRP: R15 Fairway: Asian Specs – RM1,390 / Global Specs – RM1,290 / TP Version – RM1,490 R15 Rescue: Asian Specs – RM1,190 / Global Specs – RM1,090 / TP Version – RM1,290

“Bringing the front track system to the 3-wood allows us to get the best of all worlds, a system that creates more flexibility and speed while allowing us to effect shot shape.

The shape of the rescue is very striking at address and will speak to the better player, while the performance of the club will speak to anyone who hits it.”

BRIAN BAZZEL, SENIOR DIRECTOR, METALWOOD PRODUCT CREATION, TAYLORMADE-ADIDAS GOLF

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IN THE BAG

www.ping.com

Ping 2015 Products

PING’S NEW BAG OF TRICKS Set to hit stores here late this month is the Ping 2015 range of products, which includes the G30 LS Tec (Low-Spin Technology) driver, Glide wedges and Cadence TR putters.

“Engineering performance without sacrifice means as we achieve more distance, for example, there’s no trade-off in forgiveness, accuracy or feel,” said John A. Solheim, Ping chairman and CEO. “We’re excited to offer this game-changing technology that will lead to great shot-making and lower scores for golfers of all abilities.”

Cadence TR Putters: Engineered to fit a golfer’s stroke tempo and feel preference, Cadence TR models advance putter fitting by using differentweight face inserts. Traditional-weight models feature an aluminium insert (blue in colour) and typically fit golfers with mid-to-faster tempos, while the heavy versions (black) add mass with a stainless steel insert to match slower-tempo strokes. Both face inserts feature the next generation of True Roll (TR) Technology grooves that provide forgiveness by normalizing ball speeds across the face. Eight models, including four new designs (Anser W, B65, Tomcat C, Rustler) and a counter-balanced option (Anser 2 CB), are available.

Glide Wedges: Engineered from the hands down (grip to sole) to optimise versatility and control, with three versatile sole designs that vary in width – standard, wide, and thin – enabling players to be fit for their angle of attack and common turf conditions. In lofts 47 through 54, loft-optimised Gorge grooves have a 16º sidewall to maximise groove volume for improved performance on full shots. A 24º sidewall and tighter radius in lofts 56 through 60 optimise spin on chips and pitches. The chrome-plated 431 stainless steel head repels moisture to create more friction for improved spin and consistency in wet conditions and lies in the rough.

G30 LS Tec (Low-Spin Technology) Driver: Ping’s third G30 driver model combines lower spin with a high MOI. A sole weight positions the CG extremely low and back (slightly forward of the standard G30 driver) to generate low, stable spin with a high MOI for exceptional flight control and distance on off-centre hits. Turbulator Technology on the crown reduces aerodynamic drag on the downswing to help increase clubhead speed, and the thin T9S titanium face increases ball velocity for more distance. Trajectory Tuning+ Technology allows players to add or subtract up to 1 degree of loft.

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“Engineering performance without sacrifice means as we achieve more distance, for example, there’s no trade-off in forgiveness, accuracy or feel.”

JOhn A. sOLhEIM, PInG ChAIRMAn & CEO

ParGolf FEBRUARY 2015

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january 12, 2015

IN WINNING THE SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN, ANDY SULLIVAN WAS #1 IN PUTTS PER GIR AT 1.58 WITH HIS SCOTTSDALE TR ANSER 2 PUTTER.

S55

G30

i25

Anser

WATSON’S 3RD VICTORY OF THE CALENDAR YEAR MADE HIM THE HIGHESTRANKED AMERICAN PLAYER AT #3 IN THE WORLD.

FedExCup CHAMPION BILLY HORSCHEL AND HIS G30 DRIVER RETURN TO ACTION

LEE WESTWOOD AND HIS KETSCH PUTTER WON THE THAILAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP FOR A SECOND TIME.

PING DEMO/FITTING DAYS SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY 2015 FEBRUARY

DAY

VENUE

TIME

10/Feb/15

Tue

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

4.30pm to 7.30pm

12/Feb/15

Thu

Mahkota Golf & Country Club Driving Range - Kuantan (Custom Fitting with latest nFLIGHT Fitting System)

5.00pm to 8.00pm

17/Feb/15

Tue

Klang Executive Club Driving Range (Custom Fitting with latest nFLIGHT Fitting System)

5.00pm to 8.00pm

Sole Distributor:

24/Feb/15

Tue

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

5.00pm to 8.00pm

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.

26/Feb/15

Thu

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) (Custom Fitting with latest nFlight Fitting System) (PLEASE CALL FOR APPOINTMENT)

10.00am to 5.00pm

WINSTON’S SDN BHD (15202-W)

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FEB’15 DAILY EXCEPT - Sat, Sun, & Public Holiday

1/27/15 11:58 AM

SPECIAL

> NIKE GOLF

Vaporise the competition Give your game the boost it demands with Nike’s new Vapor range – but get ready to lose a few friends though, ‘cos Vapor will leave them biting the dust!

VAPOR FLEX DRIVER

The Vapor Flex, Nike’s pinnacle driver, features the same three key technologies found in the Vapor Pro and Vapor Speed drivers – Nike’s FlyBeams stiffen the cavity back of the club, a re-engineered Compression Channel accentuates the spring-like effect across the face to return energy to the golf ball and FlexLoft 2 allows the golf athlete the functionality of five lofts and three face angles within 15 different settings.

All of these technologies were developed to drive more energy to the golf ball for more distance, no matter the swing.

But Nike didn’t stop there with the Vapor Flex driver. While the Vapor Pro and Vapor Speed drivers each provide specific launch and spin characteristics, Nike Golf engineers believe there’s one more important step to ensure golfers achieve their optimal launch conditions. With that goal in mind, the engineers created the FlexFlight adjustability system.

FlexFlight features an RZN tube with a 15-gram weight on one end, called the FlightPod, located in the cavity of the club. By flipping the FlightPod, golfers can actively move the centre of gravity (CG) of the driver to further optimise their launch conditions.

With FlexFlight, golfers can manipulate the CG from low and forward to low and back by adjusting the pod in quarter turns with the same wrench used to operate the FlexLoft 2. Utilising the FlexFlight system impacts launch angle, spin rate, forgiveness (increased in the ‘mid’ setting) and workability (enhanced in the ‘low’ setting).

The FlexFlight system is simple and easy to use. Using the same FlexLoft wrench, a simple quarter turn rotation and audible click will lock or unlock the FlightPod. When unlocked, the FlightPod can be removed, reversed and locked back into the cavity.

Loft Range: 8.5° - 12.5° Shaft: Diamana S+ 60G (Blue Board) in R, S, X flex

VAPOR SPEED DRIVER

Nike’s Vapor Speed driver has the largest and most stable chassis of the new Vapor drivers. Black on the crown with the distinctive volt in the cavity back and Compression Channel, the driver promotes a higher launch angle with lower spin.

The Vapor Speed driver blends three key technologies: Nike’s new FlyBeam-reinforced Covert Cavity Back design, a re-engineered Compression Channel and FlexLoft 2. All of these are vital to maximise distance and consistency within each golfer’s desired flight window.

FlexLoft 2 allows the golfer the functionality of five lofts and three face angles within 15 different settings.

The new, improved system is five grams (30%) lighter without compromising function. The redistribution of mass creates more stability, better launch conditions and faster swing speeds.

Another benefit of FlexLoft 2 is its forward and backward compatibility. Golfers with previous generations of Covert can use shafts with the original adaptor in the new head or vice versa.

Loft Range: 8.5° – 12.5° Shaft: Fubuki Z 50G Series in R, S, X flex 76

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VAPOR HYBRIDS

Nike Golf’s visually bold and functionally refined Vapor design is now extended to hybrid clubs in the new Vapor Flex and Vapor Speed Hybrids, each highlighted by an eye-catching flash of volt in the cavity back and Compression Channel.

The new Vapor Flex hybrids feature FlexLoft 2, a lower centre of gravity, and lower, straighter leading edges based upon athlete feedback. A FlyBeam-reinforced Covert Cavity Back directs impact energy to the re-engineered Compression Channel for increased ball speed across the face.

Nike’s engineering team reshaped the Vapor Flex hybrid chassis to allow for more consistent impact and improved launch conditions.

By adjusting the FlexLoft 2 mechanism in the Vapor Flex hybrids, golfers can tune loft and face angle to optimise distance and shot shape during the fitting process.

The Vapor Speed hybrids feature a unique design dubbed ‘Linear Progression’ – the longer hybrids feature a larger body and shallower face and progress to a sleek body and deep face on the short hybrids. This progression allows for more forgiveness and speed on long hybrids, while yielding shot-making accuracy and workability on shorter hybrids.

To achieve increased speed and optimal launch conditions across the face, all Vapor hybrids feature Nike’s FlyBeam reinforced cavity back with a re-engineered Compression Channel. The combination stiffens the Covert Cavity in the back of the club, while accentuating the spring-like effect across the face.

VAPOR SPEED HYBRIDS Lofts: 2H (17°), 3H (20°), 4H (23°), 5H (26°) Shaft: Fubuki Z 70 VAPOR FLEX HYBRIDS Lofts: 3H (17°-21°), 4H (21°-25°) Shaft: Diamana S+ 80

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Nick’s Knacks NICK GOH

News and views from the wide, wide world of golf equipment by ParGolf contributor/tester Nick Goh

What’s Your Distance?

How far you hit your clubs depends on a whole lot of things

I

recently overheard this conversation at the driving range: A: My friend is really strong; he can hit his 6-iron 160 metres. I have to use my 4-iron to hit so far.

B: Waaa ... must be very strong. My 6-iron can only go 130 meters.

A: My 6 iron is around 145 meters. You have to use your hips to push when you hit the ball, then you get the power ...

So A tried to teach B how to get more distance with his irons. While A appears to be a slightly better player, based on the conversation and observing his shots, I would say he was playing off a handicap of 18 to 20 – unless he has an exceptional short game!

I often see beginners teaching other beginners and giving them all the wrong information. There is nothing wrong with the intention of helping fellow golfers but inaccurate advice can cause more harm.

These chaps (A and B) obviously do not realise that there is no standard measure for shaft length, shaft flex and loft. A Cleveland CG16 6-iron with regular graphite stock shaft will behave quite differently from an Adams CB3 6-iron with a regular steel stock shaft (I have both of these clubs). And that is because their specifications are very different – for example, the loft of my CG16 6-iron is 27 degrees whereas my CB3 is 29 degrees. The shaft length of the CG16 is about one-fourth of an inch

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longer and both flexes are very different too.

Two degrees may not be a lot but add a lighter graphite shaft and the difference in distance is about 8-10 metres with a similar swing – so just stating the iron number means very little. Of course, the ability to generate faster clubhead speed is vital in gaining distance but the specifications of the club makes a lot of difference as well.

So if you want to ask your playing partner about the distance of a particular target, it would be more appropriate to ask “what distance are you playing to?” rather than “what club are you using?”

The second point to note is the physical build and ability of the golfer. All of us are built differently although sometimes we may have similar physical appearances. One golfer may have a higher swing speed simply because he may be more flexible or can make a bigger shoulder turn and faster downswing. Then, of course, as one ages the speed decreases whether we realise it or not. There are tons of other factors that create the differences but the point to note is that no two golfers are the same.

Having them both hit the same club does not always produce the same result.

The third point is that, more often than not, players exaggerate their distances! I knew a chap from the driving range saying that he has lost his swing a little but he used to get about 250 metres

on average with his drives. I commented that he must have won lots of longest drive prizes but he said “No-lah.” A few days later we played a round at his home club and, lo and behold, his drives were less than 200 metres and his irons, which he claimed to be quite long, were not. He could not get on the greens in regulation for any par four.

The point I’m trying to make is know the distance of your clubs, be realistic and play to your ability. Don’t try to do what a professional golfer does as most can’t. Playing to your ability will not only help you lower your scores but leave you less stressed after a game!

Always remember that what you can do at the driving range is very different from what you achieve on the course. At the range, your lie will always be flat and because of the way the mat bounces all of your irons even when you behind the ball, your gauge of distance would not be accurate. On the course you will likely be faced with all sorts of lies, so the distance that you get with your clubs will be different. Playing regularly at a particular course will give you a good gauge of your distance.

Check out your golf set’s specifications (you can normally find it on the manufacturer’s website), understand your swing, know your distance and play to your ability. I am sure you will find golf to be a much more enjoyable game.

Happy golfing! PG

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ESSENTIALS

LIGHTWEIGHT STAND BAG TITLEIST

With a four-way divided top-cuff design, Titleist’s Lightweight Stand Bag (TB4SX4) creates improved access for removal and replacement of clubs, plus it has every pocket covered for your game. This stand bag model provides a hassle-free carry for the serious walker, and it fits easily in motorized golf carts.

Features: Top-cuff with integrated handle • 4-way club dividers, boxed full-length, 3 ways • full-wrap, padded mesh top-cuff and dividers • 4-point, easily adjustable, double-strap assembly • dry grip bottom • velcro umbrella loop • matching zippered rainhood • velcro glove ‘spot’ • pockets – eg full, side saddle apparel; velour-lined, zippered accessory; side saddle ball; additional zippered accessory • tripod rubber feet on legs SRP: RM700

LUNAR CONTROL 3 NIKE GOLF

To create the new Lunar Control 3, Nike designers incorporated feedback from World No 1 Rory McIlroy, and developed the ultimate lightweight performance golf shoe that is more stable and comfortable while maintaining lightweight control.

An extra spike in the medial forefoot and secondary traction elements provide better traction, prevent slipping and retain the control needed to generate power and speed.

The Lunar Control 3 also features a wider base for increased stability, while a carbon fibre midfoot shank delivers lower, lighter and more stable control.

Like its predecessors, the upper (microfiber synthetic) of the shoe ulitises Nike Flywire technology for adaptive lateral support while using more robust cables to help secure the foot effectively. In the midsole, the shoe features a lighter and softer full-length Nike Lunarlon foam to deliver lightweight, responsive cushioning.

Availability: January 1, 2015 – Black/Pure Platinum, White/Pure Platinum • March 1, 2015 – White/Volt • May 1, 2015 – White/Lyon Blue/Pure Platinum/Bright Crimson SRP: RM659

SPORTY CASUAL CREST COLANTOTTE

Joining the Colantotte family of medical devices is the chic and tastefully-designed Colantotte Necklace Crest, crafted from carefully selected materials and hand-finished by highly skilled specialists.

The Crest has eight pieces of 160mT (1600G) rare-earth permanent magnets embedded in Colantotte’s unique Alternating North-South Polarity Orientation (ANSPO) that increases penetration of the magnetic field. This spreads magnetic force in three dimensions and allows you to exercise extensively, thus improving blood circulation and relieving stiffness in the region where you wear the necklace. Available in three sizes for both men and women at MST Golf outlets.

SRP: RM350

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pass me the soap melvin poi The locker room yak on all things golf and non-golf

Bigger Than The Sport

©Nicky Loh/Getty Images

A

t one point in time it was said that Tiger Woods became bigger than golf itself. People said that his popularity transcended the sport.

Practically the entire civilized world, fans and non-golf fans alike, had heard of his name when Tiger Woods ruled the world. His sporting heroics inspired people of all races, creeds and ages to become golfers. Like a golfing messiah, he evangelized to the far reaches of the earth and converted the non-believers.

But for all his immense fame, any discourse about Woods has always centred on his game – his prodigious length (back then), his prolific winning ability, his gifted putting and his relentless quest to surpass Jack’s record.

As good a golfer as he was, Tiger didn’t really transcend sports news itself. He wasn’t front news material – not for his views on politics or for his activities outside of a golf course (not until the Year of the Hydrant, that is).

A transcender (that’s transcender, not transgender) of his sport is one who attracts rock star crowds long after his ability to manipulate the little round ball has waned; someone who regularly fills the front and back pages of newspapers. Someone who achieves great things outside of his sport.

Someone like David Beckham.

As a footballer, he was one of England’s finest. Coupled with his Vogue model looks and physique, Beckham was able to carve huge and unique endorsement deals for himself during his footballing career. His marketing control over his image rights and his whopping Adidas boots deal whilst at Manchester United were stuff

©Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Transcending one’s sporting profession doesn’t necessarily mean being the best or the biggest

that footballers just hadn’t done before.

Post retirement, the money train still shows no sign of slowing with Beckham’s gold finger firmly inserted in just about every lucrative pie there is.

Not just a pretty face, the retired star has also made substantial contributions in time, effort and money for charitable foundations like UNICEF and Elton John’s AIDS Foundation. Beckham commands my utmost respect because he has used his fame and influence wisely to do good and be a role model to the young and old alike.

As celebrated and acclaimed as they are though, neither Beckham nor Woods can hold a candle in transcendence to Italian cyclist Gino Bartali, who to me achieved incomparable greatness inside his sport as well as away from it.

Bartali was a three-time winner of the Giro d’Italia. He also won the Tour de France twice 10 years apart, before and after World War II – which in itself was, well, pretty darn spectacular. But there would be more.

During WWII, the German army began rounding up all the Jews who were hiding in Italy and sending them to almost certain death in concentration camps. At tremendous risk to his life,

Bartali rode up and down the country under the guise of training but in fact carried counterfeit identity papers in the frame of his bicycle; papers which would ultimately offer safe passage for the Jews in Italy. Bartali also hid his Jewish friend and his family – despite knowing the Germans were killing everybody who hid Jews.

Thanks to the efforts of Bartali and his like, it was estimated that more than 80% of refugee and Italian Jews in Italy survived WWII. Bartali’s heroics went largely unrecognized for a long time because he told no one including his family and it took a lot of detective work by historians to piece together his clandestine wartime activities. When people found out and told him, ”Gino, you're a hero”, he would reply: ”No, I want to be remembered for my sporting achievements. Real heroes are others, those who have suffered in their soul, in their hearts, for their loved ones. I'm just a cyclist.”

Gino Bartali’s cycling achievements were phenomenal but that paired with his humanitarian and self-sacrificing actions outside the sporting arena make him one of the most extraordinary athletes that ever lived. PG

The inspiring story of Gino Bartali is told in Road To Valor, a book by Aili and Andres McConnon, published in 2012. The synopsis in Amazon.com describes it as “the breathtaking account of one man’s unsung heroism and his resilience in the face of adversity” and “an epic tale of courage, comeback and redemption; it is the untold story of one of the greatest athletes of the twentieth century.”

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LATEST MODEL

YDR4Pas

YDR6Pas YDR Series Model YDREi G29Ei / YDRAi EFI G29Ai

PRE-OWNED YAMAHA BUGGIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE

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HL Golf & Turf Equipment Sdn Bhd 23, Jalan PJS 7/19, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Tel : (603) 5637 1811 Fax : (603) 5637 3811 E-mail : info@hlgolf.com.my Johor Bahru Office No:4, Jalan Bistari 2, Taman Industri Jaya, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor.

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TROJAN BATTERIES T105 - 6V, T875 - 8V, T1275 - 12V

KENDA BRAND GOLF CAR TIRES

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Tel : (65) 6749 0588 Fax : (65) 6745 2749 E-mail : golfturf@hlcorp.com.sg Authorised Dealers Indonesia

PT.Kokoh Bangun Persada Jl. Raya Sentul Sirkuit No. 35 RT. 003/001 Leuwinutug Citeureup - Kab. Bogor 16810 Jawa Barat - Indonesia Tel : (62) 21-8795 1686 E-mail : mail@kbpersada.com

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RAISE YOUR GAME

PLAY YOUR BEST GOLF NOW! WITH ANDREW MYLES

INSTINCTIVE FEEL Here’s how to achieve accuracy in distance control

FAULT: POOR DISTANCE CONTROL IN THE CHIPPING GAME With many mid to high handicap players struggling to hit greens, the role of chipping and pitching is pivotal to their ability to score well. In order for players to give themselves a higher chance of holing subsequent putts, the need to improve the distance control of their chip shots is crucial.

FIX: INSTINCTIVE FEEL We all have an in-built, instinctive sense of touch and feel. To help understand this concept I would like you to try this exercise on the practice area or driving range.

DRILL: THROW BALLS IN A BASKET Pick a ball from the basket and stand about one metre away from the basket, then throw the ball into the basket. Repeat this three times, moving a little further away each time. Notice how easy it is for you to judge the correct length, speed and direction of arm swing to throw the ball in the basket? You could be throwing anything really – keys, paper, pen – it really doesn’t matter. But notice how you can achieve such accuracy in distance control without practice? Amazing, really. So how does this feel work and how can we apply it to our chipping?

FORMULA FOR FEEL Target awareness + object weight + tension-free trust

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TARGET AWARENESS

OBJECT WEIGHT

When we are throwing something we become task orientated and focus on our intended target. The brain first needs to register the distance to your intended target (preferably your landing spot in chipping) and its orientation in relation to your body. Because we have to look at the ball during our chipping motion, it is therefore crucial for you to decide on your landing spot and then retain a good visual picture of the distance between the ball and the landing spot.

Once our body knows the distance to the target, it now needs to know the weight of the object that we are throwing. Normally when we are holding the object in the fingers of our hand, we “weigh” the object before throwing. In chipping, it requires us to have a light enough grip pressure to feel the clubhead weight. Once the brain has the distance to the landing spot AND the object weight, it will automatically and consistently calculate the required length and speed of swing to move the object to that target.

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TENSION-FREE TRUST Our brain will rarely miscalculate the required swing length as long as the first two components of information are correct. So, if you have been consistent in the first two aspects, then all you have to do is stay tension-free and let the swing go, without any manipulation or hesitation. If you trust your own feel, you are going to be amazed by the results!

Based at the JNG Golf Academy at Tropicana Golf & Country Club since 2011, AA British PGA professional Andrew Myles came to Malaysia in 2003 to take up a coaching post in Sabah. He became state coach within a year and coached a number of juniors who went on to represent the country. Andrew moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2009 to help start the Mizuno Golf Academy and is the first Mizuno-Certified Instructor outside of Japan. He is also a top 50 US Kids Golf coach and a certified instructor for the AimPoint Green-Reading System, as well as a qualified and experienced clubfitter. For more information, log on to www. jnggolf.com or email andrew@jnggolf.com

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RAISE YOUR GAME

GOLF FORELADIES WITH KURIKO TSUKIYAMA

SOLVING THE SLOPES How to deal with uphill and downhill lies

Continuing from the last ‘Trouble Shots’ article, I'd like to talk a little bit about downhill and uphill lies. These shots are tricky as making good contact is difficult. With these two situations, the tendency is to hit the ball heavy.

These uphill/downhill lies are extra hard because we don't really get to practice them, but here are the basics: Uphill Lies With the uphill shots, the tendency is to leave more weight on your back foot (right foot for right-handers) at address. The trick here is to get your weight more on your left side and feel like you're leaning into the slope. You can ignore the common tip about getting your shoulders parallel to the ground here.

I've found that ladies have a harder time getting onto the front foot through the swing, so it's best to start on the left side. We want to put the ball back in our stance (under the right eye) and aim for an easy, three-quarter punch shot.

That's it! By getting your centre of gravity ahead of the ball and striking down on it, you can guarantee clean contact which is our main priority when hitting trouble shots.

The ball will tend to fly higher and shorter than usual because of the uphill nature of the lie adding loft to the club, so take extra club.

The ball will also want to turn left more than usual, so take aim at the right side of your target and fire away!

With an uphill lie, the trick is to get your weight more on your left side and feel like you're leaning into the slope.

Ladies tend to have a harder time getting onto the front foot through the swing.

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With a downhill lie, it is important to get the angle of our shoulders as close to parallel to the slope as possible.

Downhill Lies With a downhill shot, we don't really want to ‘lean’ into the hill. What we need to be careful of is the angle of our shoulders. It is important to get the angle of our shoulders as close to parallel to the slope as possible. At address, we want to feel as if our spine is perpendicular to the ground – this will promote a better angle of attack and clean contact.

Due to the downhill lie, the club will be delofted – so take less club and expect a low shot that rolls out more than normal.

The ball will tend to move a little left to right from a downhill lie, so aim slightly left of your target.

Place the ball slightly more to the right in the stance than usual and swing normally, letting your weight shift onto your left foot. The slope and gravity will pull you forward –don't fight it and take a step forward if you can't keep your balance. Play it right and you should be hitting shots that roll on forever!

Iron It Out Remember, ladies, your iron is your friend!

We can leave the woods in the bag when faced with these difficult lies.

The main priority is to get good, crisp contact – and with these pointers, that should be no problem! Don't let the slopes

and hills lead to bogeys and doubles any more.

Happy golfing!

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 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 with the Tonik Asia Group of Malaysia.

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

Chinese or Diabetic: Which Is Worse?

Knowing what’s good for your health isn’t enough; follow-through is key – just like in golf

N

ot everyone will live or golf forever. No one yet has gotten out of this human experience alive – to my knowledge anyway. Having said that, I’d like to tell you about a recent patient who just happens to be circling the drain.

This person showed up in my office with a year of treatment under her belt – not chiropractic treatment, but physiotherapy to her knees. Her history and imaging disclosed the following: she had a scoliosis (a spine that was quite bent), virtually all of her discs were dehydrating (drying), her lower back had prolapsing discs (bulging), her neck had possibly the worst forward head posture with a straight neck that I’d ever seen (in close to four decades).

To make this picture complete, she’d had a stroke (death of part of her brain).

To her credit she was negative for drift of both upper and lower extremities (an examination that discloses who I can help versus who I cannot) although she

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was 70-plus years of age.

This lady was in pain everywhere, particularly in her shoulders. She’d brought along recent blood and urine test results. Two things stood out on it – the first was a very high sedimentation rate (measurement of red blood cells and other solid particles that settle in blood over an hour).

This non-specific test suggested she was very inflamed and had a lot of pain.

For this finding I suggested she take fish oil (the standard dose is 1,000mg/ day). I suggested much more.

The final straw was that her blood and urine showed diabetes and she had a five-year history of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. She seemed unfazed when I told her that most diabetics take two to three times as long as non-diabetics to respond.

Then I began my treatment. I knew

she’d know the correct foods to eat and what to avoid. Man, was I wrong.

I asked her what she’d eaten for breakfast. “Bee hoon” was her answer (through her nephew who’d diligently appeared alongside of her). I lost it.

“Bee hoon means rice noodles,” I said.

“She can eat all the vegetables that she wants, but she’s not to have rice ever again.”

Quick as a bunny her nephew validated that she was Chinese. I retorted, “She’ll always be Chinese and it’ll never kill her to be Chinese. It will kill her to be a worse and worse diabetic, and consuming rice will make her worse and worse.”

There are a lot of things that will never harm us – like our ethnicity, or golf. Unfortunately, there are some things that will finish us faster if that’s our wish. Rice quickly stimulates an insulin response (a sugar, fat and protein transport hormone), something that all diabetics want to avoid as their bodies tend to be insulin resistant.

Have a great game but know that if you have an ethnicity, no one is ever going to take it from you nor will it ever harm you as long as you know what to eat and what to avoid. PG

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MISSION HILLS HAIKOU

Ultimate WHOLE-IN-ONE

If ever there is a place that one can escape to and play golf on different courses each day of the week – with hot spring soaks and massages in between – Mission Hills Haikou would be it

BY PETE WONG

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I

had landed in Haikou Meilan International Airport on an assignment not just to cover a golf event but also to check out the venue for the event, Mission Hills Haikou. The airport is just a small building complex, so clearing customs was a breeze without many retail distractions, not like I was in the mood for shopping anyway.

The driver sent by the resort to pick me up was struggling in English so much that I finally ended his agony by telling him that I could speak Chinese, much to his relief. The ride from the airport to the resort takes about 20 minutes passing downtown traffic on a

sunny afternoon. I noticed that the city is less congested compared with Beijing or Guangzhou and life is relatively slower paced. After all, there are only eight million people on the island, which is about 40 times larger than Singapore.

Haikou is the capital city and gateway to Hainan Island, China’s smallest province. Hainan was once part of Guangdong province until 1988 when the government decided it should compete on its own as a Special Economic Zone with the hope that it will also grow as a major tourist destination. What followed was rapid infrastructural developments, including

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the building of two airports and a highspeed rail link connecting Haikou in the north with Sanya in the south. The rail link reduced commuting time to less than two hours over a distance of 300km (roughly the distance between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore).

While China would like Hainan to be the “Hawaii of the East”, the island sees more mainland tourist arrivals than international tourists and English is still a challenge for most of the frontline staff in the hospitality sector. But all that is supposed to change when more foreign players come on board. Already there are more than 20 five-star resorts on the island, with another 40 being

One of the many mineral springs

developed, including Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance hotels. Hainan also recently acquired duty-free status, so mainland tourists who used to shop for luxury goods in Hong Kong can now visit the island instead without the trouble of getting travel permits.

THE RESORT I have always said to my friends in jest that the Chinese are incapable of building anything small and Mission Hills Haikou is a case in point. Dubbed the second largest golf complex in the world, after Mission Hills Shenzhen, the integrated resort is sprawled across 80km2 of land, or roughly one-third the

©Mission Hills China ©Mission Hills China

©Mission Hills China

One of the resort's luxurious spa rooms

size of Kuala Lumpur. Built upon what was formerly barren land and ancient lava rocks, Mission Hills Haikou is another feather in the cap for the Mission Hills Group after its success in Shenzhen and Dongguan.

Prestigious events such as the Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am and the World Ladies Championship are held regularly at the resort with the attendance of sports legends and entertainment celebrities from around the world. The events also attract journalists both from China and abroad.

Mission Hills Haikou is designed to be the ultimate destination for global travellers for rest and relaxation with a ParGolf FEBRUARY 2015

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MISSION HILLS HAIKOU

Spa Villa

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©Mission Hills China

Spa reception

Rejuvenate and reconnect at one of the therapeutic hot and cold mineral springs

Nearby Attra ctions n Feng Xiaogang Movie Town, located a few minutes from the resort, is a fairly new attraction. Named after a famous director, the “town” is actually a film set based on seven themes: 1942 Street; Nanyang Street; Old Beijing Street; Church Square; a forest landscape area; an Avenue of Stars; and four state-of-the-art movie studios. You can spend half a day there taking pictures with old buildings in the background or hop into one of the cafes to relax. Movie Town is jointly set up by Mission Hills Group, Huayi Brothers Media Corporation and Feng Xiaogang. n Mission Hills Lan Kwai Fong was not quite ready yet when I visited but should be in full swing by this year.

Modelled after Hong Kong’s entertainment district with the same name, Mission Hills Lan Kwai Fong is expected to liven up Haikou’s nightlife and will feature four key zones: Fashion Avenue, Lan Kwai Fong Entertainment Zone, China Grove and Quarry Lake. In the pipeline are plans for open-air retail shops offering both local and luxury brands, daily water symphony shows at the lake and F&B outlets – all with a touch of local ethnic culture.

Spread across 240,000m2, this new attraction is the collaborative effort between Mission Hills Group and Lan Kwai Fong Group.

©Mission Hills China

mint or vanilla.

There is also a Lava Lagoon dubbed ‘Hainan’s only aquatic theme park’ comprising a huge outdoor pool with a pseudo beach. Beside it are volleyball courts, a stage for live events and a ‘Lazy River’ for folks who just want to chill out.

At the recreation centre is another indoor pool for chilly days, a large gym, foot reflexology clinic and kids’ play room.

Hotel rooms are large and tastefully furnished with rooms on the higher floors facing the Blackstone Course offering the best views. Because the resort is huge, you can get a good workout just walking from one end to the other but along the way is an arcade with several retail outlets and a display of palm prints of famous celebrities who have stayed at the resort.

©Mission Hills China

little bit of something for everybody.

Golfers will be kept busy trying out the 10 golf courses, families and children have the mineral pools, kids’ club and spa centre to keep them occupied.

Corporate types can have their meetings and events on the other side of the resort which has large ballrooms and seminar rooms.

For wellness, the resort offers volcanic mineral springs with centuries-old bathing rituals and healing therapies from five continents. In 2012, Mission Hills Haikou was officially accredited by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest mineral springs and spa resort.

There is a total of 168 therapeutic hot and cold mineral springs available for public or private bathing experiences and each pool is infused with rejuvenating minerals such as green tea,

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THE SPA I made a quick visit to the spa and was equally impressed. At the spa entrance, I looked up and saw these massive bamboo structures which I found out later were styled after tulou or ancient communal houses found in Fujian province and recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The spa complex occupies 20,000m2 comprising 29 spa villas, a library, a spa cafe, a hair and nail department, a spa shop, a hydrotherapy zone and a spa garden. On the spa menu are treatments ranging from a quick 20-minute head and shoulder massage (RMB180/RM100) to a three-hour-long detoxing ‘Energy Escape’ package (RMB2,140/RM1,210). They even have treatments for kids!

©Mission Hills China

©Mission Hills China

Feng Xiaogang Movie Town

Lava Bar & Grill Buffet

DINING OPTIONS For dining options, there are several restaurants within the resort but by far the most popular among visitors is the Japanese restaurant Ukiyo.

The restaurant can get crowded during the buffet breakfast, especially on weekends and holiday season when locals come to visit and the place can turn into a battlefield. However, you can avoid the crowd by simply having an earlier breakfast.

The clubhouse restaurant, Silver Moon, not only offers various dishes from different parts of China but also the more familiar Malaysian, Singaporean and Thai dishes.

If you really need to get out of the resort for some evening seafood, enquire about the resort’s free shuttle

bus service to downtown. At night, it might be faster to hire a taxi but do agree on the fare before you hop on – the concierge should be able to help you out if you cannot speak Chinese.

There are plenty of upscale seafood restaurants along Xixiu Beach (Xixiu Haitan) catering to visitors. PG

WHAT IT’LL COST YOU Rooms per night at Mission Hills Haikou range from RMB1,280 (RM724) for a deluxe room to RMB38,800 (RM22,000) for a presidential suite.

MISSION HILLS HAIKOU No 1 Mission Hills Boulevard Haikou, Hainan, China Tel: +86 898 6868 3888 www.missionhillschina.com

FAST FACTS GOLF COURSES AT THE RESORT At Mission Hills Haikou, you are spoilt for choice with 10 Schmit-Curley-designed courses to choose from: Blackstone, Sandbelt Trails, The Vintage, Stepping Stone, Lava Fields, Meadow Links, Stone Quarry, Double Pin, The Preserve and Shadow Dunes.

The courses are built upon black volcanic rocks and the terrain is naturally rugged, making you feel as though you are playing on the moon.

If you are just spending the weekend there, you may only have time to play on three courses at most, so plan accordingly. Three of the courses are within walking distance, while the rest can be reached via the shuttle buses which run every 20 minutes.

Getting There From Kuala Lumpur, fly to one of the major cities in China like Guangzhou, Macau, Nanning or Guilin to take a connecting flight to Haikou Meilan Airport. From Singapore, there are several airlines like Hainan Airlines, China Southern or Jetstar Asia, that fly directly to Haikou.

If you are adventurous, you may want to consider going to Haikou by train from Guangzhou. There is no bridge yet linking the island to the mainland, so the trains are loaded onto ferries to make the sea crossing.

When To Go The average temperature throughout the year range between 23°C and 26°C. The island is much warmer compared with tropical countries at the same latitude, such as in South America and Mexico but it is

cooler than southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore.

The dry season, from January to May, is also the low-travel season, so the city and the beaches are less crowded and hotel rates are lower. The wet season is from June to December when there are more rainy days, while the typhoon season is between August and October. November to March are probably the best months to visit when the weather is mild and comfortable.

The coldest months are January and February when temperatures can drop to 16°C and the hottest months are July and August with temperatures soaring to 29°C. It is also foggy during the cold months, especially in Haikou and along the coastal areas causing poor visibility, so you may want to avoid outdoor activities during these months.

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THE GOLF SCENE

Els Club Teluk Datai named Best International Golf Course And the awards keep rolling in for The Els Club Teluk Datai. Ernie Els’ masterpiece creation on Langkawi Island added another industry accolade to its growing collection when it was named the ‘Best International Golf Course’ at the International Property Awards in Dubai last December.

The International Property Awards are voted on by a panel of industry experts comprising architects, hospitality professionals, journalists and resort developers. The ‘Best International Golf Course’ award is the latest in a string of recent achievements by The Els Club Teluk Datai, which opened for play in early 2014.

Among these were the ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ and ‘Best New Golf Course in Asia’ honours at the inaugural World Golf Awards in November.

The Els Club Teluk Datai is managed and operated by Troon Golf, the global leader in upscale golf management, and is owned by Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH), an investment arm of the Malaysian government charged with developing worldclass tourism destinations in the country.

Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin, managing director of DRH, said: “Earlier this year we were thrilled to receive the award for Best Golf Course in Malaysia and Best Golf Course in Asia Pacific at the Asia Pacific Property Awards. It is an incredible honour to now receive the award for Best International Golf Course at the International Property Awards.

“We are delighted that so many property industry professionals share our views on what a spectacular property The Els Club Teluk Datai truly is. Langkawi is

The Els Club Teluk Datai

arguably one of the true Asian treasure troves of island destinations, and to now boast a golf course that is receiving as much

“This is another proud moment for us. To have this coveted award to add to our trophy cabinet, alongside those already received, is fantastic and affirms our belief that the Els Club Teluk Datai is truly exceptional.”

DAVID TOWNEND, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, ELS CLUB MALAYSIA

critical acclaim as our award-winning hotel, The Datai Langkawi, makes us all very proud,” he added.

David Townend, senior vice president of Els Club Malaysia, noted that the award is recognition of the hard work that went into the design and construction of the course.

“This is another proud moment for us.

To have this coveted award to add to our trophy cabinet, alongside those already received, is fantastic and affirms our belief that The Els Club Teluk Datai is truly exceptional.”

The Els Club Malaysia also includes the 27-hole Els Club Desaru Coast and the 18-hole Els Club Desaru Valley in Johor, which are slated to open for play in 2016. For more information, visit www.elsclubmalaysia.com.

MST Golf Superstore opens in Kota Kinabalu

Golfers in Kota Kinabalu can now get their shopping fix at the new MST Golf Superstore at the Oceanus Waterfront Mall in the heart of the Sabah capital.

Opened on December 15, 2014, the sprawling retail outlet is the first MST Golf Superstore in East Malaysia and offers the 92

latest equipment, accessories and apparel from leading brands. Business hours are from 10am to 10pm daily.

MST Golf is the largest golf retail chain in South East Asia with 45 stores in three countries namely Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The company’s tagline,

‘Everything Golf’, reflects its comprehensive range of services which includes retail, custom-fitting, golf academies, event management, golf travel and a loyalty card programme with over 45,000 members.

For more information, visit www.mstgolf.com.

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Kota Permai is Malaysia’s best at World Golf Awards

Saidi Bundan, Tourism Malaysia’s director of industry development, with Saha Kamaruddin, Kota Permai’s senior club manager

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club chalked up another accolade when it was named Malaysia’s Best Golf Course during the inaugural World Golf Awards last November.

The World Golf Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations. It forms part of the World Travel Awards, currently celebrating its 21st anniversary as the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’. The worldwide voting process ran from June to October 2014, with votes cast by professionals working within the golf travel and tourism industry.

Gamuda Land Clubs Group general manager Tang Meng Loon said: “It is a tremendous honour to receive this award as a whole as it recognises the top-notch

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club

“With the title of ‘Malaysia’s Best Golf Course’, I hope Kota Permai will continue its successful ways while my heartiest congratulations goes to its management and staff.”

NG EU SHEN, PRESIDENT, MALAYSIA GOLF TOURISM ASSOCIATION

quality of golfing available at our course, something that we can be proud of. The continuous support from our directors and gargantuan effort by the management, staff, along with the support of our members,

contributed to this success.”

Malaysia was also named as Asia’s Best Golf Destination during the awards, held at the Conrad Algarve Hotel, Portugal, on November 15. The Els Club Teluk Datai meanwhile was voted as ‘Best New Golf Course in the World’.

Malaysia Golf Tourism Association (MGTA) president Ng Eu Shen said, “Kota Permai Golf & Country Club has long been recognised as one of the best maintained golf clubs in the region. I’m very pleased this recognition has now been brought to the attention at the World Golf Awards. With the title of ‘Malaysia’s Best Golf Course’, I hope Kota Permai will continue its successful ways while my heartiest congratulations goes to its management and staff.”

Lifelong deal for Malaysian Ladies Golf Association

The Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (MALGA) has signed a partnership agreement with Lifelong Prosperity Berhad (LPB) for special golfing rates at the LPB Golf Club (formerly Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf Club).

“We are keen to support the female golfing community and we hope that MALGA members will fully utilise the cheaper rates afforded to them,” says LPB’s

operations director, Dr Ronnie Yeo. LPB has also adopted two junior MALGA members, 15-year-old Siti Zulaikha and 10-year-old Grace Chin, whereby both the girls received one-year term memberships from LPB. Dato Rabe’ahtul Abbas, executive director of MALGA, noted that she hopes the collaboration will help increase MALGA’s membership numbers.

“LPB has started the ball rolling and we hope for a snowball effect from other clubs,” said Rabe’ahtul. “We selected Siti, who has been performing consistently for the last four years, and Grace has had some excellent results on the local amateur circuit in 2014.”

Transview Golf Academy will also support the two juniors with free usage of their academy’s driving range at the club, along with apparel through MALGA. ParGolf FEBRUARY 2015

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THE GOLF SCENE

Rave reviews for Laguna Phuket revamp The Laguna Phuket Golf Club on Phuket Island, Thailand, reopened for play in early January after a comprehensive revamp and upgrading exercise under the direction of architect Paul Jansen.

The new-look layout was unveiled during a glitzy weekend ‘Grand Re-launch’ attended by more than 120 guests and media including Indian professional star Shiv Kapur, who hailed the course as ‘exceptional’. The golf course first opened for play in 1992 and forms part of the sprawling Laguna Phuket Resort, which is set in an idyllic 400-hectare setting on Bang Tao Beach and includes six hotels – Banyan Tree, Angsana, Dusit Thani, Outrigger Beach Resort, Holiday Club, and Outrigger Resort & Villas.

The managing director of Laguna Phuket Hotels, Ravi Chandran, said the upgrading of the course over the past 18 months had brought it to an international standard consistent with the quality of the facilities in the Laguna Phuket resort complex.

“Our recent investment shows how serious we are about golf and our hotel guests,” he said. “It is good for kids, nonprofessional and serious golfers. After hosting the Thailand Open in 2009, we now hope to host more professional events and in the last quarter of this year we will hold the inaugural Laguna Phuket Amateur Golf Tournament.

“Golf visitors to Phuket can now base themselves at Laguna Phuket and experience a great integrated hotel resort and golf experience.”

The golf director of Laguna Phuket, Paul Wilson, said that the re-launch was the first gourmet golf-themed event held in Phuket.

“The golf tournament on Sunday enabled us to showcase the golf course as well as the 94

“The mark of a great course is when you stand on the tee and have to think strategically.

This is such a thinking man’s course, a feature that has been lost in some modern designs.”

SHIV KAPUR, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER

wonderful variety of food, beverage and spa experiences available in the resort.”

Jansen said he had sought to create interest and memorability in the redesign while being environmentally conscious throughout the reconstruction process.

“We used Zoysia grass on the fairways, which is the lowest maintenance warm season grass available, reduced the amount of grass [through woodchip and mulch areas

on the side of fairways], decreased the number of sprinklers from 1,400 to less than 800, recycled trees in building steps and benches and accentuated water features.

Everything was done in-house by the Laguna Phuket maintenance staff. The course reflects its surroundings very well and I believe will stand the test of time.”

Although playing just 6,719 yards from the back tees, Kapur described Laguna Phuket as a championship layout.

“The mark of a great course is when you stand on the tee and have to think strategically. This is such a thinking man’s course, a feature that has been lost in some modern designs. The main challenge in Majors is around the green, which is very apparent here,” he explained.

“Shorter courses can be tougher than long courses – Hong Kong Golf Club and Delhi Golf Club are examples. This course is better than many of the new championship courses built in the past five to 10 years,” added Kapur, who has played in two Majors, the 2013 British Open and 2014 US Open where he finished 23rd.

For more information, visit www.lagunaphuketgolf.com.

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Chia In Charge

Arie Irawan capped a rollercoaster 2014 season with his first professional title in the RM350,000 PGM Maybank Players’ Championship, edging veteran Airil Rizman by two shots at Impian Golf & Country Club last December.

Arie opened with a superb 64 and secured a wire-to-wire triumph in the 2014 PGM Tour’s season-ender with subsequent rounds of 70, 71 and 69 for a 14-under-par 274 total. Airil meanwhile closed with a 65 to secure second place and the 2014 PGM Tour Order of Merit title.

“It feels surreal to stand here and speak about having won this tournament,” said Arie.

“It is the biggest event on the PGM Tour and I am absolutely happy to have managed to pull it off. It is not easy to win on this tour as there are maybe 15 to 20 players in each field who stand a good chance of winning.

“I started today with a four-stroke lead and knew that if I played positive and also aggressively, I could do it. I came close a few times before today but did not manage to go all the way and I think in some ways that helped teach me to focus on the right things,” added the 24-year-old, who picked up a cheque for RM60,000.

Airil, meanwhile, claimed the Order of Merit title with yet another solid performance. He won in his home state of Perlis in June and raked up a number of top-10s, with the runner-up cheque of RM40,000 taking his season haul to RM218,921 – some RM35,000 ahead of R. Nachimuthu, who had led for a long period of time following his two victories earlier in the season.

“I could not ask for more,” said Airil. “To win the Order of Merit is very nice and I am honoured and hope to continue with this next season.”

Danny Chia carried his late season form from 2014 into this year with a runaway victory in the PGM Tour’s season-opener, the PGM Panasonic Open Malaysia – Tournament of Champions, played at Templer Park Country Club on January 7-10.

©PGM Tour

©PGM Tour

Ecstasy for Arie

©PGM Tour

MALAYSIAN PROFESSIONAL NEWS

Opening with a 71, the veteran Malaysian seized control of the RM250,000 tournament with a scintillating second round of eight-under-par 64 and never looked back. He finished with a total of 16-under-par 272 for an eight-shot win over Singaporean stalwart Mardan Mamat.

“I’ve been striking the ball well since the second half of last season and this whole week I was in that same frame of mind,” said the 43-year-old Chia, who took home RM45,000.

“It is always nice to win the first event of the season because it gives you momentum going forward,” added Chia, who recently regained his position as the top Malaysian in the world golf rankings.

Kenneth De Silva and amateur star Gavin Green tied for third on six-under 282.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS PGM PANASONIC OPEN MALAYSIA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS January 7-10 / Templer Park Country Club, Selangor / RM250,000 272 – Danny Chia (MAS) 71-64-67-70; 280 – Mardan Mamat (SIN) 69-68-72-71; 282 – Kenneth De Silva (MAS) 72-69-72-69, Gavin Green (MAS) (A) 71-70-69-72; 283 – Kwanchai Tannin (THA) 70-69-73-71 PGM MAYBANK PLAYERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP December 10-13, 2014 / Impian Golf & Country Club, Selangor / RM350,000 274 – Arie Irawan 64-70-71-69; 276 – Airil Rizman 69-70-72-65; 277 – Ben Leong 72-6968-68; 279 – Mohamad Azman Basharudin 72-68-72-67, R. Nachimuthu 67-72-70-70

2014 PGM TOUR FINAL ORDER OF MERIT Rank Player

Earnings (RM) Events Played

Rank Player

Earnings (RM) Events Played

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

218,921.83 185,129.19 145,549.33 124,666.36 121,416.80 114,081.58 113,803.08 112,421.58 109,510.67 92,542.92

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

78,130.73 76,591.25 65,625.94 65,075.50 62,831.36 58,616.84 53,599.87 53,158.70 53,043.36 50,845.03

Airil Rizman Zahari R. Nachimuthu Arie Irawan Shaaban Hussin Sukree Othman M. Rizal Amin Kemarol Baharin Khor Kheng Hwai Ben Leong Danny Chia

24 24 15 21 22 23 20 20 12 12

Shaifubari Muda Nicholas Fung Hans Jamil S. Siva Chandhran Wilson Choo Iylia Jamil Lam Yu Shuen Lim Eng Seng Kenneth De Silva S. Murthy

24 13 20 21 21 20 23 16 21 25

Airil Rizman (R) won the 2014 PGM Tour Order of Merit

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POTSHOTS

©Stanley Chou/Getty Images

OBAMA GOLF PUTS A KINK IN WEDDING

ALLENBY’S HAWAIIAN MISADVENTURE After missing the cut at the Sony Open last month in Honolulu, Hawaii, all Aussie veteran Robert Allenby wanted to do was hit a bar and knock back a few drinks.

Well, he got a lot more than what he bargained for when he entered Amuse Wine Bar with his caddie and a friend – Allenby was kidnapped, beaten and robbed, before being dumped in a gutter near a park!

The 43-year-old’s left eye was bruised and swollen shut, with cuts on his nose and forehead. Still recovering from the harrowing experience, the four-time winner on the PGA Tour said, “You think that this happens in the movies, not real life,” deducing that he may have been drugged before he was taken from the bar as he has no recollection of what had happened. “I'm just happy to be alive.”

A homeless woman who spotted Allenby after he was dumped from a car came to his aid, along with a military veteran who paid for a taxi to get him back to his hotel.

Wedding date? Check. Guest list? Check. Venue? Err .. hang on just a second. Now that’s something that’ll get any bride in instant panic mode.

For Natalie Heimel and her now-husband Edward Mallue, Jr, their wedding plans took a nose dive the night before their wedding, scheduled for December 28.

The couple, who had planned to tie the knot on the 16th green at Hawaii's Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, were told by the White House advance team that they would have to get hitched elsewhere to accommodate President Obama’s game.

After the initial shock, the newly-weds said that the change of plans turned out to be no big deal; they got married on a lush lawn right above their original location. “It's actually even got a better view, so it was really a blessing in disguise,” said Heimel.

Twenty minutes after exchanging their vows, the couple received a phone call from President Obama himself: “Congratulations on your wedding. I feel terrible. Nobody told us...”

Michelle Wie has been a very busy gal – last season she won her first Major at the US Women’s Open, after earning her third career victory at the LPGA Lotte Championship in her native Hawaii. She then picked up the inaugural Rolex Annika Major Award, along with the March of Dimes Sportswoman of the Year Award.

And if you track Wie on Twitter, you’d know that she’s been busy with magazine cover shoots and working her butt off at the gym, keeping in super shape in preparation for the season. And that’s not all – the 25-year-old Stanford grad also just wrapped up a first-ever gig as a TV actress!

It appears that the Big Wiesy will have a cameo role in CBS drama ‘Hawaii Five-0’, facilitated by the show’s star Daniel Dae Kim (formerly of ‘Lost’ fame). Wie and Kim are both Honolulu natives and close friends, and it’s very likely that she will be playing herself in an episode of the hit TV show.

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©Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

WIE THE ACTRESS?

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEBRUARY - MARCH 2015 MALAYSIAN AMATEUR EVENTS Feb 28

MALGA Chinese New Year Golf

Sungai Long Golf & Country Club, Selangor

Mar 5 – 8

Perlis Amateur Open (Men & Ladies)

Putra Golf & Country Club

PROFESSIONAL GOLF OF MALAYSIA (PGM) TOUR Feb 2 – 4

PGM Development Circuit – Qualifying School

Harvard Golf & Country Club, Kedah

RM15,000

Feb 11 – 14

PGM LADA Langkawi Championship (ADT)

Gunung Raya Golf Resort, Kedah

RM200,000

Feb 25 – 28

PGM Nilai Springs Closed Championship

Nilai Springs Golf & Country Club, Negeri Sembilan

RM180,000

Mar 4 – 7

PGM Kelantan Closed Championship

Kelantan Golf & Country Club

RM180,000

Mar 11 – 14

PGM Terengganu Championship (ADT)

Resorts World Kijal

RM200,000

Mar 18 – 21

PGM CCM Rahman Putra Championship

Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia, Selangor

RM200,000

ASIAN TOUR Feb 5 – 8

Maybank Malaysian Open

Kuala Lumpur GCC

US$3,000,000

Feb 12 – 15

Thailand Classic

Black Mountain GC, Hua Hin

US$2,000,000

Feb 19 – 22

Hero Indian Open

Delhi GC, New Delhi

US$1,500,000

Mar 19 – 22

Sail Open

India (venue TBA)

TBA

Templer Park CC, Malaysia

-

ONEASIA TOUR Feb 10 – 13

Qualifying School KL – Final Stage

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR Feb 11 – 14

PGM LADA Langkawi Championship

Gunung Raya Golf Resort, Malaysia

RM200,000

Mar 11 – 14

PGM Terengganu Championship

Resorts World Kijal, Malaysia

RM200,000

Mar 18 – 21

PGM CCM Rahman Putra Championship

Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia

RM200,000

Feb 5 – 8

Farmers Insurance Open

Torrey Pines, San Diego, California, USA

US$6,300,000

Feb 12 – 15

AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

Pebble Beach GL, Pebble Beach, California, USA

US$6,800,000

Feb 19 – 22

Northern Trust Open

Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, California, USA

US$6,700,000

Feb 26 – Mar 1

The Honda Classic

PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

US$6,100,000

Mar 5 – 8

Puerto Rico Open

Trump International GC, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

US$3,000,000

Mar 5 – 8

WGC-Cadillac Championship

Trump National Doral, Miami, Florida, USA

US$9,250,000

Mar 12 – 15

Valspar Championship

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead), Miami, Florida, USA

US$5,900,000

Mar 19 – 22

Arnold Palmer Invitational

Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida, USA

US$6,200,000

Mar 26 – 29

Valero Texas Open

JW Marriott TPC San Antonio, Texas, USA

US$6,200,000

PGA TOUR

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

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LPGA TOUR Feb 2 – 8

Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic

Ocean Club, Paradise Island, Bahamas

US$1,300,000

Feb 16 – 22

ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open

Royal Melbourne GC, Victoria, Australia

US$1,200,000

Feb 23 – Mar 1

Honda LPGA Thailand

Siam Country Club Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand

US$1,500,000

Mar 5 – 8

HSBC Women’s Champions

Sentosa GC, Singapore

US$1,400,000

Mar 19 – 22

LPGA Founders Cup

Wildfire GC, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

US$1,500,000

Mar 26 – 29

Kia Classic

Park Hyatt Aviara GC, Carlsbad, California, USA

US$1,700,000

EUROPEAN TOUR Feb 5 – 8

Maybank Malaysian Open

Kuala Lumpur GCC, Malaysia

US$3,000,000

Feb 12 – 15

Thailand Classic

Black Mountain GC, Hua Hin, Thailand

US$2,000,000

Feb 19 – 22

Hero Indian Open

Delhi GC, New Delhi

US$1,500,000

Feb 26 – Mar 1

Joburg Open

Royal Johannesburg & Kensington GC, South Africa

ZAR14,500,000

Mar 5 – 8

WGC-Cadillac Championship

Trump National Doral, Miami, Florida, USA

US$9,250,000

Mar 5 – 8

Africa Open

East London GC, Eastern Cape, South Africa

ZAR14,500,000

Mar 12 – 15

Tshwane Open

Pretoria CC, Waterkloof, South Africa

ZAR14,500,000

Mar 19 – 22

Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI

Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra, Madeira, Portugal

€600,000

Mar 26 – 29

Trophee Hassan II

Golf du Palais Royal, Agadir, Morocco

€1,500,000

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR Feb 12 – 15

RACV Ladies Masters

Royal Pines, Gold Coast, Australia

€250,000

Feb 19 – 22

ISPS Handa Australian Women’s Open

Royal Melbourne GC

US$1,200,000

Feb 27 – Mar 1

ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open

Clearwater GC

€200,000

Mar 12 – 15

World Ladies Championship

Mission Hills, Hainan, China

US$500,000

Mar 26 – 29

Lalla Meryem Cup

Golf De L’Ocean, Agadir, Morocco

€450,000 Emirates GC

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THAILAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

ENGLISH ECSTASY Asian specialist Lee Westwood wins again at Amata Spring

©Asian Tour

BY KP WARAN

F

or Englishman Lee Westwood, Asia has always been a happy hunting ground. And he showed his Asian prowess again in the Thailand Golf Championship last December, taking his tally of titles in this region to an impressive 12.

The win at Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi on December 14 was a sweet one for Westwood, who had

won the inaugural edition in 2011. The golf fans who had gathered at the venue saw Westwood stage a fabulous final round fightback to triumph by one shot with an eight-under-par 280 total over four days.

There were expectations among the fans for a playoff as Marcus Fraser of Australia and Germany’s Martin Kaymer had a chance on the last hole to force a playoff. Fraser, who was leading

“This is my last event of the year and it’s nice to finish with a win and go into Christmas and start the new year with confidence.”

LEE WESTWOOD

BRITISH OPEN BONUS Thailand Golf Championship – one of 14 Open Championship Qualifying Series events in nine countries, offering places in the world’s oldest Major for those not already exempt.

this year after finishing in fifth place on fourunder-par. He won the Hong Kong Open last October to earn his European Tour card for this season.

Fraser led the chase for the four qualifying places on offer at Amata Spring Country Club with a steady performance. The 36-year-old settled for second place, narrowly missing a birdie at the 18th to force a play-off with winner Lee Westwood. Fraser will make his return to St Andrews this July, 10 years after his Major debut there in 2005. It will be his fifth appearance at The Open with his best finish to date being joint 35th at Royal Liverpool in 2006.

American Moore, who was playing on a sponsor’s invitation, had a dream week at Amata Spring and will make his first appearance at The Open this year. The 29-yearold former Walker Cup player finished joint sixth on three-under-par alongside Lahiri and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand. Moore rolled in a 20-foot putt on the 18th to secure his place in The Open before embracing his wife Claire, who caddied for him in Thailand and is expecting the couple’s first child.

©Asian Tour

It was a British Open bonus for Marcus Fraser, Scott Hend, Jonathan Moore and Anirban Lahiri, who qualified for the 144th Open at St Andrews after the final round of the

(L to R) Marcus Fraser, Scott Hend, Jonathan Moore and Anirban Lahiri

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Fraser’s compatriot Hend also played in The Open at St Andrews in 2005 and will make his second appearance

Lahiri closed with a 73 to clinch the final place in The Open. The five-time Asian Tour winner earned his most recent victory at the Venetian Macau Open last October and will make a third start at this year's Open championship.

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to work on and I’ll be doing that over the next six weeks before the season starts again. Asia is a fantastic place to come and play golf. It’s been a good last day of school,” said Westwood, who has won 41 professional titles. He was ranked as World No 1 on two occasions, in October 2010 for 17 weeks and in April 2011 for five weeks.

Malaysia’s Danny Chia had a superb final day score of 67 to finish joint 18th. Having shot 77, 74 and 72 over the first three days, he came charging on the last day with eight birdies against three bogeys for a 290 total. ©Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images

The US$1 million Thailand Golf Championship was established with the objective of building the highest profile professional sports event in Thailand and inviting the best players around the world to compete at the country’s finest golf courses. The event forms part of the Open Championship Qualifying Series, which saw Fraser, Hend, Lahiri and Moore earn the four places in the game’s oldest Major (see sidebar).

Designed by golf course architect Lee Schmidt from Schmidt-Curley Design, Amata Spring is acknowledged as one of Asia’s top championship courses with its challenging design and tricky greens. The signature hole, the par three 17th, is one of the most unique holes in Asia, featuring an island green which is only accessible by boat. PG Marcus Fraser

Martin Kaymer

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson donated all his prize money from the Thailand Golf Championship to the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation.

©Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images

BENEVOLENT BUBBA

©Asian Tour

the tournament after three days, bogeyed the 18th while Kaymer, who needed a birdie to send the tournament into overtime, only managed a par and both players finished joint second.

Tommy Fleetwood of England finished fourth on 283, a shot clear of long-hitting Australian Scott Hend.

Asia’s best finishers were Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and India’s Anirban Lahiri in joint sixth place on 285 with American Jonathan Moore. 2013 champion and crowd favourite Sergio Garcia finished ninth on 286.

Westwood, who started the final round two shots behind Fraser, opened the final day with two successive bogeys but showed his mettle with a stunning comeback where he fired four straight birdies starting from the parfour sixth hole. He then carded birdies on holes 11, 14 and 15 to seal his second Thailand Golf Championship win by one shot.

“When I won the Thailand Golf Championship in 2011, I had a pretty big lead. But this win is obviously very special as it was a very tight day out there and I didn’t get off to the best of starts and I had lots of work to do.

“This is my last event of the year and it’s nice to finish with a win and go into Christmas and start the new year with confidence. I know what I’ve got

Watson, who has forged a strong friendship with three-time Asian Tour No 1 Thongchai over the years, finished joint 29th at Amata Spring to pick up a cheque for US$9,250.

“On Sunday, Bubba expressed to me his willingness to donate all his prize money won at the Thailand Golf Championship amounting to US$9,250 to the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation,” said Thongchai.

“At the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation, our mission is always to give back to society. Anything relates to golf, I’m willing to help the younger generation to get (L to R) Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Thongchai Jaidee better opportunities in life. So far, and Bubba Watson in traditional Thai costumes we have helped raise kids, give them scholarships, golf lessons and accommodation,” added the Thai icon.

Watson’s manager, Jens Beck, wrote a letter to Thongchai, saying that the American World No 4 was keen to support children in need.

“Bubba wanted to show a sign of respect and gratitude to Thailand. As you may know he has a passion for helping kids in need. He believes that the best way to help is to help Thongchai in his efforts to support kids and junior golf,” said Beck.

RESULTS (TOP 10 AND TIES) 280 281 283 284 285

286 287

Lee Westwood (ENG) Martin Kaymer (GER) Marcus Fraser (AUS) Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) Scott Hend (AUS) Thongchai Jaidee (THA) Jonathan Moore (USA) Anirban Lahiri (IND) Sergio Garcia (ESP) Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) Paul Peterson (USA) Terry Pilkadaris (AUS)

70-71-72-67 71-72-70-68 69-72-70-70 71-69-73-70 70-74-71-69 72-71-74-68 71-71-72-71 71-73-68-73 71-75-71-69 76-72-71-68 71-72-75-69 77-69-72-69

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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.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

With new tournaments beefing up the Asian Tour Schedule even further, the 2015 season promises a whole lot of gripping golf

B

arely has the dust settled from a thriller in 2014, the Asian Tour will launch its new 2015 season during the first week of February – and there is no better place or event than the Maybank Malaysian Open to act as the seasonopener.

As the first tournament in the region to receive the co-sanction seal from the Asian Tour and European Tour in 1999, Malaysia’s national championship has certainly become one of the pillars of the Asian Tour Schedule over the past decade and a half.

Maybank’s long-term commitment towards the game at the highest level in Asia – it is celebrating its milestone 10th year as title-sponsor – has been exemplary that the Malaysian Open now stands proudly as the richest national Open in Asia with a lucrative prize fund of US$3 million.

Asia’s top stars will make a beeline to Kuala Lumpur to chase for a slice of the prize pot and with Asian Tour members delivering 10 victories over the past 16 editions against their European Tour counterparts, hopes will be running high on the likes of new Asian Tour No 1 David Lipsky, and Anirban Lahiri, the Asian Tour’s Players’ Player of the Year, to stamp their mark in Malaysia.

©Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Anirban Lahiri

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The opening stretch of the new Asian Tour season will be fast and furious, with the co-sanction programme extending to Black Mountain Golf & Country Club in Hua David Lipsky s Hin, Thailand for the inaugural age m I etty Thailand Classic. s/G ulo opo r a The latest US$2 million uht Mo ean tournament on the schedule ©D will also take its proud place as the richest golf tournament in Thailand where home heroes Thongchai Jaidee, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thaworn Wiratchant, all Asian Tour Order of Merit champions, are tipped to sparkle benefits of being involved with the in front of their fans.

Asian Tour and European Tour.

From the holiday resort of Hua Hin, Apart from global television the Asian Tour and European Tour exposure, the coming together of the bandwagon then head to the subbest players from both continents has continent where history will be made proven to be a top attraction for many with the Hero Indian Open, which is sponsors and partners of the game. offering a US$1.5 million prize fund, For players, the likes of Thongchai, being co-sanctioned for the first time in Kiradech, Jeev Milkha Singh, Noh its storied history.

Seung-yul and Atwal have all used With names like Payne Stewart, the co-sanction platform to launch Peter Thomson and Stewart Ginn their international careers and the adorning the Indian Open trophy, along opening stretch of tournaments in with Indian winners such as Jyoti February will be eagerly anticipated Randhawa, Arjun Atwal and Ali Sher, by many as they seek to get a head the prestige of having one’s name start in 2015. alongside these greats will be a strong Amongst the highlights of the first driving force. half of the Asian Tour season includes The three-week run of new tournaments in Mauritius for the co-sanctioned tournaments certainly €1 million AfrAsia Bank Mauritius reinforces the close cooperation and Open in May, which is tri-sanctioned strong ties between the Asian Tour and with the European Tour and Sunshine European Tour, and all credit must go Tour, while the Vascory Classic at to Ken Schofield, the former European Templer Park will also make its debut Tour executive director who had the in August with the Asian Tour joining vision for Europe to travel beyond its forces with the Japan Golf Tour for the boundaries to grow the game with US$750,000 tournament. partners such as the Asian Tour.

With the Asian Tour working closely Schofield continues to serve this great with federation partners such as the game where he is now a board member European Tour, Sunshine Tour, Japan of the Asian Tour.

Golf Tour and PGA Tour, opportunities Through the co-sanction programme, for Asian Tour members to make their over 80 tournaments across the region, mark will be plentiful in the 2015 including the Omega European Masters season. PG in Switzerland, have enjoyed the

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AROUND ASIA

Anirban Lahiri has been voted as the Asian Tour’s 2014 Players’ Player of the Year for his incredible season in which he won two titles and finished second on the Order of Merit.

The talented Indian won his first title outside of India at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters in April before going on to claim his second win of the year at the Venetian Macau Open in October, taking his overall tally of Asian Tour titles to five.

Lahiri contended for the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown before losing out to American David Lipsky, who mathematically sealed the deal in the penultimate event of the 2014 season, the Thailand Golf Championship.

“I feel honoured and privileged to be chosen by my friends and competitors for this award. The previous recipients of this award include legends of Asian golf like Jeev (Milkha Singh) and Thongchai (Jaidee) and it’s inspiring to be counted among them,” said Lahiri, who also notched six other top-10 results.

“It’s very special when your peers confer an honour upon you. I feel deeply honoured by the faith they have shown in me. 2014 was truly a special year for me and I hope to kick on and continue to play positively in 2015 both in Asia and Europe,” added the 27-year-old, who was also a key figure at the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRBHICOM where he helped the Asian team secure a dramatic 10-10 tie against a strong

“I feel honoured and privileged to be chosen by my friends and competitors for this award. The previous recipients of this award include legends of Asian golf like Jeev (Milkha Singh) and Thongchai (Jaidee) and it’s inspiring to be counted among them.”

ANIRBAN LAHIRI

European side.

“There were many great moments for me in 2014. The two wins in Indonesia and Macau were very special, especially the final putt in the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters.

Getting my card in Europe at Qualifying School was a big relief having to make a comeback down the last few holes,” he explained.

“But the best moments of the year have to be the EurAsia Cup. Making the final putt to win our match in the foursomes,

partnering Siddikur, was my most memorable moment of 2014. It gave us the boost to play our hearts out in the Sunday singles,” said Lahiri, who contributed two points in the match-play event.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Cameron Smith was named ’Rookie of the Year’ for 2014.

The 21-year-old did not miss a single cut in 2014 and claimed seven top-10 finishes, including a tied-fifth result at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia which was co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour.

2014 ASIAN TOUR FINAL ORDER OF MERIT

©Asian Tour

David Lipsky (R) receiving the Order Of Merit trophy from Asian Tour chairman Kyi Hla Han

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©Asian Tour

Lahiri is Asian Tour’s 2014 Player of the Year

TOP 20 Rank Player 1 David Lipsky (USA) 2 Anirban Lahiri (IND) 3 Prom Meesawat (THA) 4 Scott Hend (AUS) 5 Cameron Smith (AUS) 6 Angelo Que (PHI) 7 Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 8 Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 9 Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 10 Rashid Khan (IND) 11 S.S.P Chowrasia (IND) 12 Mardan Mamat (SIN) 13 Steve Lewton (ENG) 14 Jason Knutzon (USA) 15 Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 16 Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR) 17 Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 18 Chapchai Nirat (THA) 19 Rahil Gangjee (IND) 20 Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) MALAYSIANS 46 Danny Chia 49 Nicholas Fung 101 Arie Irawan 139 Iain Steel 170 Ben Leong 174 Sukree Othman

Events Played 13 17 18 12 9 16 20 11 16 16 17 21 6 8 10 16 17 19 19 7

Earnings (US$) 713,901 602,833 532,471 428,820 427,476 383,330 296,852 255,285 253,163 243,249 235,085 219,972 215,005 209,121 205,427 191,670 187,589 183,131 179,440 178,295

15 15 5 6 2 4

80,855 79,739 18,048 5,992 1,534 968

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April date for fifth CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters

OneAsia Qualifying School to tee off at Templer Park

The 2015 OneAsia Qualifying School will take place at Templer Park Country Club near Kuala Lumpur from February 10-13.

The Asian qualifying event is preceded by one in the United States, which took place in late January at the Eisenhower Course of Industry Hills Golf Club in California. The winners of both qualifying

schools are guaranteed starts at all OneAsia’s tournaments this year, while those who finish second and third will likely get starts in most events. Positions are then accorded alternatively between the US and Asian Q-Schools.

“We are delighted OneAsia will head to the acclaimed Templer Park,” said Sang Y.

Anirban Lahiri

viewers once again.”

The 2014 tournament was won in spectacular style by Anirban Lahiri of India when he holed an eagle putt on the last hole to defeat Baek Seuk-hyun of Korea and Australian Cameron Smith.

©ParGolf

Indonesian golfers comprising 20 professionals from the PGTI and four of Indonesia’s top amateurs.

The chairman of PGTI, Johannes Dermawan, thanked CIMB Niaga for their continued support of the tournament.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have such an active and supportive partner in CIMB Niaga,” he said. “Our partnership has enabled the tournament to grow, attracting some of the biggest names in world golf to play alongside our own golfers from Indonesia.

“CIMB Niaga’s youth programme has also been hugely successful in developing the sport and it is wonderful to have a sponsor who is so committed to the junior game.”

Asian Tour chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “Since its launch, the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters has developed into a truly top-class international golf tournament that the country can be proud of. Our players are looking forward to returning this year and entertaining golf fans and television

©Asian Tour

The fifth edition of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters will return to the Royale Jakarta Golf Club this April 23-26.

With PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk (CIMB Niaga) returning as title-sponsor, the event will offer total prizemoney of US$750,000 and will once again be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Tour of Indonesia (PGTI).

President director of CIMB Niaga, Arwin Rasyid, said: “We’ve had some fantastic winners in the past – Lee Westwood, Bernd Wiesberger, and Anirban Lahiri in April this year. We’re all eagerly looking forward to seeing who will come out on top at the 2015 tournament.

“As one of the leading banks here in Indonesia, we are committed to growing our ties with the local community through our youth development and amateur league programmes in the country. The CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters has been a fantastic opportunity for the bank to give back to the community in the past three years.”

The 160-player field will include 24

Chun, OneAsia›s chairman and commissioner. “This year promises to be another fine year and to be able to start at Templer Park is ideal.”

OneAsia was founded in 2009 by the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia.

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AROUND ASIA

Dubai delight for Atwal

©Francois Nel/Getty Images

India’s Arjun Atwal ended a frustrating four-year title drought with a well-deserved victory in the inaugural Dubai Open, edging Korean teenager Wang Jeung-hun by one shot.

Atwal, a former Asian Tour No 1, trailed by one shot heading into the par five 18th hole at the Els Club Dubai but nailed a closing birdie, while a nervous Wang posted a six following a wayward second shot which ended in a bush.

The 41-year-old Indian star, one of four third round leaders at the final tournament of the 2014 Asian Tour season, finished with a winning total of 16-under-par 272. Scotsman Simon Yates took third place two shots adrift of Wang.

“This one feels really special,” beamed Atwal, whose last victory came at the 2010 Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour. “I think the last time I won on the Asian Tour was in 2008 (Maybank Malaysian Open).

“I’ve gone through some really tough times the last few years with injuries and losing my card on the PGA Tour and all

Arjun Atwal

that stuff. It was at a point where I almost wanted to quit. Thanks to a few of my family and friends, I didn’t, and here we are.”

After opening his week with a 73, Atwal’s putting clicked that he needed only 27, 24 and 25 putts over the last three rounds – after taking 34 strokes on day one.

“I’ve gone through some really tough times the last few years with injuries and losing my card on the PGA Tour and all that stuff.

It was at a point where I almost wanted to quit. Thanks to a few of my family and friends, I didn’t, and here we are.”

ARJUN ATWAL

“I just found a little something in my putting. I adjusted to something that I used to do because the greens in Asia are a little bit slower than the ones I’m used to on the PGA Tour. Just making that adjustment got me rolling the ball a little bit better, so I made some putts,” he said.

Atwal paid tribute to Wang, who looked so much in control of the final round before dropping shots at 17 and 18. “He’s a great young player. I couldn’t believe he’s only 19. He’s old enough to be my son. It’s a tough loss for him but I’m sure he’s going to win a lot,” said Atwal.

Wang, who has not missed a single cut this season, produced a flawless outward 31 and led by three shots at one stage before his late blemishes.

“I had a lot of pressure. I just tried my best ... tried to play my game, but I couldn't do that because of the pressure,” said Wang, who three-putted at 17 and missed a par save from 10 feet at the final hole.

The Korean youngster paid dearly for a poor 3-wood second shot into the final green which ended up in a bush in the desert wasteland and failed to get up and down. “I’m still happy with my season. I hope to learn from this,” he said.

Former British Open champion Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland started the final day one off the lead but was never a factor as he signed off with a 72 for joint 15th place.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Phiphatphong Naewsuk

BOONCHU RUANGKIT CHAMPIONSHIP (ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR) January 8-11 / Rancho Charnvee Resort, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand / Baht 3 million (approx.

US$91,000) 266 – Phiphatphong Naewsuk (THA) 68-65-68-65; 267 – Namchok Tantipokhakul (THA) 67-7166-63; 269 – Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR) 68-68-68-65; 271 – Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 74-61-70-66, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 71-64-69-67, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 65-70-68-68 DUBAI OPEN (ASIAN TOUR) December 18-21, 2014 / The Els Club Dubai / US$500,000 272 – Arjun Atwal (IND) 73-65-68-66; 273 – Wang Jeung-hun (KOR) 71-67-68-67; 275 – Simon Yates (SCO) 71-67-69-68; 276 – Jake Higginbottom (AUS) 72-71-69-64, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 74-69-65-68

THAILAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP (ASIAN TOUR) December 11-14, 2014 / Amata Spring Country Club, Chonburi / US$1 million 280 – Lee Westwood (ENG) 70-71-72-67; 281 – Martin Kaymer (GER) 71-72-70-68, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 69-72-70-70; 283 – Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 71-69-73-70; 284 – Scott Hend (AUS) 70-7471-69

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©Asian Tour

HYUNDAI CHINA LADIES OPEN (CHINA LPGA / KOREAN LPGA TOUR) December 12-14, 2014 / Mission Hills Golf Club, Shenzhen / US$550,000 202 - Kim Hyo Joo 70-67-65; 204 - Chun In Gee 69-69-66; 207 - Lin Xiyu (CHN) 68-71-68, Jang Ha Na (KOR) 69-71-67; 209 - Kim Ji Hyun (KOR) 70-71-68

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STYLE LOUNGE

CONNECTING CONNE CONNEC CTING GALAXIE CTING G GALAXIES ALAXIES ALAXIES Samsung The stylish and sleek Galaxy A5 and A3 are Samsung’s slimmest smartphones to date, featuring refined full metal unibody designs that are 6.7mm and 6.9mm thin respectively – available in catchy hues such as Pearl White, Midnight Black, Platinum Silver and Champagne Gold.

The phones also come with the advanced 5MP front-facing camera with the innovative Wide Selfie mode – click, then quickly and easily share the photos/videos on your favourite social media channels with the device’s fast network speed of LTE Category 4 standard.

The Galaxy A Series is equipped with the Super AMOLED display and Adaptive Display technology to deliver clearer images with deep contrast and better viewing angles for more vivid, colourful content in virtually any environment.

GAME OF LOVE Kenzo Launched last August, Kenzo’s Jeu D'Amour was developed by perfumers Daphné Bugey (who also worked on the original Amour scent) and Christophe Raynaud from Firmenich. Classified as a floral fruity fragrance, it expands Kenzo's Amour fragrance collection, originally introduced with Kenzo Amour.

Packaged in the newly designed straight-lined twisted glass bottle (as opposed to the classic rounded and curved Amour bottle), the fragrance captivates with the essence of femininity and sensuality. It explores all the facets of the game of love – Tea, Mandarin and Pomegranate set the mood, while Tuberose and Freesia sign an ultrafeminine floral heart over a sensual base of Sandalwood and Musk.

CHARMING SOLITAIRE Selberan Selberan’s latest solitaire diamond collections – Onda and Tara – combine fluid and flowing lines with the brilliance of superlative diamonds. The Onda collection features a sensual swirl of gold as a design feature. The extravagant curve sweeps up from the band, encircling the sparkling stone and drawing the eye to the Selberan diamond. A diamond earring, pendant and bangle accompany the Onda ring.

The Tara series features dramatically set solitaire pieces with teardrop-shaped claws that surround the central diamond. The Tara diamond rings feature a visual tension of an extremely tapered coronet, emphasising the rising setting that blooms open into teardrop claws which give the jewels a striking presence. The teardrop claws are also used in the pendant and ear-studs.

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SPARKLING ICON Tiffany & Co

SNEAK A PEEK LG

Tiffany T, created by Tiffany & Co’s new design director, Francesca Amfitheatrof, is an icon for a new era. It is a representation of Amfitheatrof’s view of the Big Apple – its energy, vibrancy, culture, modernity and power. Her design and vision were adapted by Tiffany’s artisans and jewellery craftsmen who took onto precious metals to create the Tiffany T collection.

Available in 18 karat gold – rose, yellow and white – and sterling silver, the Tiffany T range comprises wide cuffs and minimal bracelets that beautifully contour the wrist, multiple chains of varied lengths and elegant pendants as well as effortlessly elegant rings and earrings.

LG’s new top-freezer refrigerator features the innovative Door-in-Door. With the simple push of an easy open button, the Door-in-Door lets you access your favourite snacks, drinks and commonly used ingredients easily and quickly without having to open up the main refrigerator compartment.

It’s powered by LG’s Smart Inverter Compressor, which helps to lower energy consumption and noise levels; it also comes with a 10-year warranty.

Meanwhile, the upgraded Hygiene Fresh+ air purification system uses multi-layer filters and a proprietary fan to help sterilise and remove bacteria, viruses, mould spores and odours from the fridge’s interior.

LG’s Fresh 0 Zone is an enclosed space that prevents the smell of strongly scented foods from mingling with other items. Relatively cooler than elsewhere in the refrigerator, the Fresh 0 Zone minimises temperature fluctuations, meaning food retains its freshness for longer.

REFRESHINGLY 'KNOT'TY Bottega Veneta Knot by Bottega Veneta is the brand’s third fragrance for women, following Bottega Veneta (2011) and Bottega Veneta Eau Legere (2013). Named after a line of clutch bags by the Italian leather goods and fashion design house, Knot is an aromatic floral bouquet that brings a unique olfactive experience evoking the essence of the Italian coastline, developed by perfumer Daniela Andrier.

Also described as a bright, floral fragrance meticulously layered with sparkling citrus notes and opulent woods, the fragrance features top notes of Mandarin, Limette, Neroli and Orange Blossom, and pulsates with middle notes of White Rose, Peony and Lavender. The refreshing scent then warms down with hints of Musk and Tonka Bean.

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TIME ZONE

TRIBUTE TO PRECISION Jaeger-LeCoultre Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to the Geophysic watch, an homage to science and watchmaking precision, by unveiling two exclusive models – a steel and pink gold watch and a platinum watch, driven by an automatic movement boasting tried and tested reliability and resistance.

They feature a diameter of 38.5mm, taking account of contemporary preferences while remaining entirely true to the design of the original model with a pure, highly legible dial. Its calibre 478BWSbr movement is derived from military watches and incorporates the best watchmaking technology of that time: a stop second for precise timesetting; a glucydur balance for stability through changes in temperature and fitted with a shock absorber; a ‘swan neck’ index for micrometric adjustment; and the essential soft-iron inner case that protects this mechanism from the effects of magnetism.

ROBUST ADVENTURER Luminox The Special Edition Luminox Compass BlackOut, only available in a limited edition of 500 pieces, celebrates the brand’s 25th anniversary as the timepiece of choice for intrepid sea and land adventurers. Both the watch and detachable compass are water-resistant to 200 metres. In low or no light conditions, the continuous glow of the distinctive proprietary Luminox Light Technology (LLT) will ensure timekeeping accuracy under all circumstances, whether you are ploughing through the wilderness or exploring the wonders of the ocean.

The distinctive feature of the watch is the sunburst patterning on the dial overlaid with a compass rose graphic.

The Luminox logo and date window act as index markers for 12 and 3 o’clock respectively, while the whole look is rugged and “blacked out”.

SLEEK IMPETUS Titoni The refined and sleek Impetus VII by Titoni adds to the Impetus collection, featuring aesthetic details that set new standards in the already impressive line.

The extremely flat watch case houses a classic white dial with carefully crafted indexes set with sparkling stones and two polished roman figures at 6 and 12 o’clock. The automatic mechanical movement precisely defines the pace for the fine hour, minute and second hands as well as the date indication at 3 o’clock.

Its elegant interior is enclosed with scratch-resistant and anti-reflective flat sapphire crystal glass gracefully held by a round stainless steel two-tone watchcase with a yellow PVD coated bezel. A matching two-tone bracelet with double foldover buckle with pushers completes this timepiece.

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'

STUDDED ART Hermes The Médor watch by Hermès, first created in 1993, was inspired by one of the first objects produced by the brand: the dog collar. Dog collars were adapted to serve as hunting belts during the 1930s; from there it made its way to the waists of women to their wrists, which Médor thus adorned in the form of a bracelet. The leather strap with its iconic ‘Clous de Paris’ pyramidshaped studs was then transformed into a “secret” watch.

The Médor watch comes in several colourful versions and has fun with the passing of time by alternately concealing it under a domed cover or discreetly revealing it. Available in two sizes and graced with gold or steel pyramid studs, the watch may be gem-set along its edges or entirely paved with diamonds. It is complemented by an alligator strap that come in various hues including Raspberry, Havana, Black and Amber.

LUNAR EXPRESSION Piaget This year, Piaget celebrates the Lunar New Year with the new Altiplano model featuring a cloisonné goat enamel dial.

Anita Porchet, a world-renowned independent enamel artist, has created an exclusive cloisonné enamel dial in grey tones portraying the animal of the year.

The 38mm Altiplano ‘Art & Excellence’ from the Chinese Zodiac collection is only available in a limited edition of 38 pieces. The cloisons (partitions) compartmentalising the enamel underscore and enhance the exquisite delicacy of the motif. The result achieved is a blend of power asserted by the triumphant posture of the goat, and of peace instilled by the grey colourmelting as well as the soft background landscape.

YEAR OF THE CLASSI-GOAT Ulysse Nardin As in previous years, Ulysse Nardin has created a limited-edition watch in its Classico collection to commemorate the Year of the Goat. Limited to 88 pieces worldwide, the timepiece features an ornate dial, with a realistic depiction of a goat, executed in champlevé enamel.

The watch has a 40mm diameter case made of 18k rose gold and waterresistant to 50 metres. Its automatic movement, Calibre Un-815, has a COSC chronometer certification and a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The movement is visible through a clear sapphire caseback, affixed with screws. The timepiece comes on a dark blue leather strap with a rose-gold tang buckle.

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CARS+PARS

SEVENTH-GEN IMPRESSER HYUNDAI SONATA

The all-new seventh generation Hyundai Sonata inspires driver confidence with key improvements categorised into four areas – strength, stability, simplicity and detail. Fiftyone per cent of the car’s body is made of an advanced high strength steel (AHSS), twice as strong as an ordinary steel plate. Stability has been further enhanced, while the engine room design improves aerodynamic performance.

Its design benefits from the refinement of the Fluidic Sculpture design language to 2.0 – offering sleeker aesthetics and a ‘Premium Touch’ tactile presence. Inside the cabin, the instrument cluster has also been simplified.

The new model is 35mm longer, contributing to longer rear passenger leg rooms, while the large trunk space can fit up to

four golf bags and four Boston bags. Apart from offering a variety of premium features such as a panorama sunroof and up to six airbags, there’s also the first-in-class Audio Visual Navigator entertainment hub, available in the Elegance and Executive variants.

The all-new Hyundai Sonata is available in six colours, and retails from RM138,888 (excluding road tax and insurance).

100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds, delivering a top speed of 250 km/h. Its interior features include full grain leather as standard, and bespoke customisation extended through two new crossbanded veneers – Paldao and Walnut Burr Crossband.

Other enhancements include the new anti-glare technology that deflects light when a car approaches in the other direction, giving Ghost Series II drivers the

benefit of full-beam headlights at all times.

The model is also fitted with an improved voice control system, new hydraulic rear axle bearings that enhance ride quality and rear stability, as well as the Satellite Aided Transmission as standard – a technology that utilises GPS and mapping data to ensure the car is always in the correct gear when negotiating turns, motorway exits and roundabouts.

MARK OF PRESTIGE ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST SERIES II

The Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II boasts an updated range of innovative technological, design and engineering features. Significant recent technological updates include a contemporary re-imagining of Ghost’s front face – re-engineered and re-designed LED headlights are framed by day-time running lights, a new bonnet design as well as new paint and wheel options.

The new Ghost accelerates from 0 to

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two sen worth

A column by golf industry personalities on the state of the game in this region. This issue, outspoken Australian coach Tony Maloney shares his views on what golf needs to grow in Malaysia

Who Dropped The Ball?

Golf needs to be more accessible, especially to the younger generation, if it is to grow in Malaysia

©Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images

O

ver the past two years we have seen a massive transformation in Malaysian golf with unheralded success, but unfortunately that success is a double-edged sword.

We are having more success than ever before – but then why are the numbers of new golfers coming into the game slowing? There are plenty of coaches available teaching with the latest technology, there are plenty of driving ranges available and a whole mass of retailers selling new and old equipment.

Golf courses are being revamped all over the country and Malaysia is the preferred golf tourism destination in Asia.

The successes should be pushing golf in the right direction but the reverse is happening. The numbers of newer golfers coming into the game are dwindling, the industry as a whole seems to be shrinking and exclusivity of the game is growing.

Apathy at the club level towards developing new players is prevalent more than any club will admit, with many older members discouraging juniors from club competitions. The “I’d rather play bad and win than learn to play good and beat someone” mentality is raising its ugly head again.

Perhaps this is because we have to be seen to be good before we can be seen and the focus on winning is more important than developing the game as a whole and becoming the best you can be.

So how do we change this mind-set?

The first thing is to admit there is a problem and not live in denial. The second thing is to say what should be said and not say what people want to hear, which is a major flaw in the larger scheme of things.

The game needs to constantly be accessible to a younger group of players.

Junior programmes abound but unless those learning the game can get to the course to play, they will disappear and move to other activities. Each golf course must set aside a time for all newer golfers to get access to play.

Our neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Philippines allow children to play at a very early stage in the learning process (for free in Thailand).

Not so here. Here it is the opposite – you have to learn the game and then qualify for a right to play, which means pass a rules test and satisfy some committee member that you can play to his or her liking. This is not easy if you are eight years of age or even if you are 38! Then you can play but usually with restrictions.

Not the most enticing way to attract new golfers.

After that the juniors have to decide whether they like the game and then improve. Many months if not years would have passed and we are back to the starting line of where it should have

begun. “I want to get better” is not an often-said phrase by many young golfers these days; it is more like “do I have to?” This is because they always seem to be learning and are not ‘doing’ because they are not given enough chances to ‘do’.

So how do we overturn this disturbing trend?

Extremely simple – introduce more people to playing golf, young and old – but more so the young by giving access to playing without restrictions on skill level. Sure, they will be lousy golfers but they will get better especially those who want to get better (isn’t that the reason for public golf courses?). Get rid of the mentality that juniors and new golfers are slow. Has anyone ever played behind a group of uncles? Not the quickest players in the game!

The golf industry needs more players – if not we will be in the midst of successes and still failing to grow the game.

Who is going to be the first to pick the ball back up and counter this problem? PG

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AAA Australian PGA master professional Tony Maloney is one of the region’s most successful golf coaches, counting top Malaysian amateur Gavin Kyle Green and a string of professionals among his students. Following a successful playing career in which he won numerous titles including the Malaysian PGA Championship, Maloney came to Malaysia in the late 1990s and was responsible for pioneering numerous junior programmes. He served as head coach of the Malaysian national team from 2008 to 2009 and joined JNG Golf Academy in 2010, where he continues to head and develop the academy’s elite teaching programmes.

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YOUNG GUNS

Photo courtesy of Kota Permai GCC

Malaysia claim two titles in AmBank SportExcel International Junior Championships

Malaysian participants pose for a group photo

Siti Zulaikhaa Saari and Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser bagged two titles for Malaysia in the AmBank SportExcel International Junior Golf Championships, held at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (KPGCC) on December 16-18.

Siti Zulaikhaa came from three shots adrift to triumph in the Girls’ 15-16 category, closing with a 76 for a 330 total, two shots ahead of second round leader Dong Linyu, who closed with 81.

Zulaikah, meanwhile, took top honours in the Girls’ 11-12 category, finishing with a 78 for a 230 total and a two-stroke victory over Thailand’s Unyamanee Wongaroon.

However, it was not to be for Malaysia’s Daeng Abdul Rahman in the Boys’ 13-14 category. Despite taking a massive sevenstroke lead into the final round after carding 71 and 70, he closed with a disappointing 80 to settle for second place two shots behind Parathakorn

Bishnoi on song in Faldo Series India Indian teenage sensation Gaurika Bishnoi lists music as one of her off-course interests. It was appropriate, therefore, that the talented youngster should call the tune in the Faldo Series India Girls’ Championship.

Maintaining her recent outstanding form, the 16-year-old held off the challenge of Ridhima Dilawari to clinch top spot at the par-70 Bombay Presidency Golf Club course. With a three-day total of 11-over-par 221, Bishnoi edged Dilawari by a single stroke in a nerve-

Gaurika Bishnoi (R) receiving the Faldo Series India Girls’ Championship trophy from Manisha Jaitha, vice chairperson of the Indian Golf Union Ladies Committee

jangling finale to the 15th leg of the record-breaking 2014-15 Faldo Series Asia season.

Bishnoi’s reward is a starting spot in the ninth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, which will be hosted by English golfing legend Sir Nick Faldo at Mission Hills Shenzhen this March. She will be joined there by Under-21 winner Tvesa Malik and Under-18 champion Nishtha Madan.

The trio will be bidding to emulate their male compatriots Rashid Khan and Abhijit Chadha, both of whom have savoured success in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.

Supported by The R&A, ISPS and Mission Hills and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the 2014-15 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months and is made up of a minimum of 20 championships.

Established in 1996, the Faldo Series expanded to Asia in 2006 and today boasts more than 40 tournaments in over 30 countries. Past winners include former World No 1 ladies golfer Yani Tseng and current men’s World No 1 Rory McIlroy.

Suyasri of Thailand.

Siti Zulaikhaa was named Best Overall Girls’ player, while Leon D’Souza of Hong Kong, the Boys’ 15-16 champion, claimed the Best Overall Boys’ title. They each received a one-month golf scholarship worth RM8,000 at Hills Academy in Queensland, Australia.

The three-day event also incorporated the Grand Final of the 2014 SportExcel National Junior Circuit.

RESULTS FALDO SERIES THAILAND CHAMPIONSHIP December 22-23 / Panorama Golf and Country Club, Bangkok Boys’ Under-21: 153 – Natthasit Kiatthaweeanan 75-78 Boys’ Under-18: 150 – Pathompon Fuengsawat 75-75; 161 – Panat Bodhidatta 84-77; 166 – Nattawut Marcharoen 87-79 Boys’ Under-16: 145 – Suttinan Sinsuntites 74-71; 148 – Thongpipat Rattanayanon 74-74; 150 – Putt Sridama 76-74 Girls’ Under-21: 143 – Bunyaporn Zeng 71-72; 153 – Monica Matsubara 77-76; 159 – Boonapa Potisawang 79-80 Girls’ Under-16: 150 – Jiratporn Pongtanachalitkul 73-77; 159 – Benyapa Buranasiri 79-80; 162 – Intuon Beesofe 83-79 FALDO SERIES INDIA GIRLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP December 13-15 / Bombay Presidency Golf Club Under-21: 230 Tvesa Malik – 79-74-77; 234 – Tavleen Batra 74-78-82; 239 – Rashika Chauhan 80-81-78 Under-18: 228 – Nishtha Madan 74-79-75; 231 – Vidushi Sinha 83-72-76; 233 – Vrishali Sinha 78-76-79 Under-16: 221 – Gaurika Bishnoi 74-71-76; 222 – Ridhima Dilawari 78-73-71; 233 – Amrita Anand 82-73-78, Sifat Sagoo 80-74-79 FALDO SERIES NEPAL CHAMPIONSHIP December 10-11 / Gokarana Forest Resort Boys’ Under-21: 151 – Arun Tamang 77-74; 154 – Tanka Karki 73-81; 164 – Raju Diwakar 80-84 Boys’ Under-16: 156 - Aryaan Kumar (IND) 76-80; 160 - Prithvi Malla 79-81; 163 - Sukraj Rai 85-78 Girls’ Under-21: 178 – Aditi Ghimire 94-84; 189 – Pratima Sherpa 94-95

Note: Players are from the host nation unless otherwise indicated

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PENANG AMATEUR OPEN

Singapore Swing In Penang

Top Singapore amateur Abdul Hadi wins men’s event, Korea’s Lee best of the ladies

O

ne hundred and thirteen leading amateurs from the region converged at the Penang Golf Resort in Seberang Perai Utara for the 2014 Penang Amateur Open.

Held on December 16-18, the event incorporated the 49th edition of the men’s championship and the 44th edition of the ladies’ event. Golfers from Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand took to the fairways to pit their skills against the cream of Malaysian golf at the resort’s highly-acclaimed East Course.

The men’s event was dominated by the strong Singapore contingent, with the island republic’s top amateur

ABOUT PENANG GOLF RESORT Penang Golf Resort is a 36-hole course nestled within a township developed by Bertam Properties in Seberang Perai Utara, Penang.

Designed by Graham Marsh on a site that used to be an oil palm plantation, both the East and West Courses challenge players with sculptured fairway mounding and strategically-placed lakes and bunkers. The East Course measures 6,324 metres from the black tees and is generally considered to be the tougher of the two, while the West Course is 6,247 metres in length from the tips.

The full-facility clubhouse includes a well-stocked proshop as well as two restaurants. The resort is just a 20-minute drive from Penang Island and is a popular golfing venue on weekends.

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Abdul Hadi carding a stunning six-under-par 66 on the final day – including a spectacular double eagle at the par five 16th hole when his second shot rolled into the cup – to edge compatriot Joshua Ho by one shot. This was the 19-year-old Hadi’s fourth win on Malaysian soil in 2014, following earlier triumphs in the Melaka, Johor and Negeri Sembilan amateur opens.

First round leader Muhammad Afif Mohd Razif from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) placed third on 218.

In the ladies’ event, Korean Lee Jin Kyung of Nilai Springs Golf & Country Club overcame a strong final day Penang Golf Resort

fightback by national player Nur Durriyah Damian to take the title. Lee carded rounds of 71, 69 and 73 for a total of 213, edging Nur Durriyah by one shot. Hillferah Tan of UUM placed third on 218.

Despite numerous rain interruptions especially on the first day, the course held up well and play went smoothly, a testament to the excellent condition and drainage of the East Course.

This year’s edition offered a wide array of prizes including a sporty Mazda 3 sponsored by Bermaz Motor Trading for a hole-in-one prize, along with Callaway equipment and other products. PG

RESULTS Men’s Gross 212 Abdul Hadi (SIN) 76-70-66 213 Joshua Ho (SIN) 74-68-71 218 Muhammad Afif Mohd Razif (UUM) 73-72-73 Ladies’ Gross 213 Lee Jin Kyung (Nilai Springs GCC) 71-69-73 214 Nur Durriyah Damian (MGA) 73-71-70 218 Hillferah Tan (UUM) 76-71-71 Men’s Nett 210 William Chai Ming Shen (Bukit Jawi GR) 206 Asshwin Rao (Sungai Petani GC) 207 Akmal Azhari (Harvard GCC) Ladies’ Nett 193 Nur Syazani Amaninia (Cinta Sayang GCC) 205 Farah Adyla Yeoh (Penang GR) 208 Nurul Najihah Sakaf (Damai Laut GCC)

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CRACKER OF A FINALE

Boasting a new champion, TM Golf 2014 wraps up in style at Tropicana Golf & Country Club

A

fter nine thrilling qualifying legs across the country, the 2014 edition of TM Golf culminated with a fantastic Grand Final, adding a brand new champion to its roll of honour. An annual by-invitation-only event for TM customers, the seventh edition saw an overall turn-out of close to 900 golfers contesting for 51 coveted spots at the finale.

The tournament, played based on the Stableford Modified System 36 format, kicked off with the first leg at Resort World Kijal, Terengganu (September 13), the second and third legs over in Borneo at Kelab Golf Sarawak (October 11) and Dalit Bay Golf & Country Resort, Sabah (October 18) respectively, and the fourth leg back on the peninsular at Palm Garden Golf Club, Putrajaya (November 1).

Glenmarie Golf & Country Club played host to the fifth leg (November 2), Cinta Sayang Golf & Country Resort the sixth leg (November 8), with the seventh and eighth legs returning to Palm Garden (November 15 and 16).

Wrapping up the qualifying was the ninth and final leg, played at Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club, Johor (November 23), before making way for the much-anticipated grand final, which saw 80 golfers, comprising all leg winners, coming together at Tropicana Golf & Country Club to battle for the

(L-R) Imri Mokhtar (Executive Vice President, TM Consumer & SME), champion Sazali Nasir, runner-up Baharuddin Zait and third-placed Danny Chua

champion’s title.

And at the end of play, after tackling strategically located sand and water hazards amidst picturesque holes, an ecstatic Sazali Nasir was crowned TM Golf 2014 Grand Champion.

Coming in second was Baharuddin Zait, while third-place honours went to Danny Chua. On hand to present the prizes to the winners was Imri Mokhtar, Executive Vice President, TM Consumer & SME. All in all, over 30 prizes were given away during the prizegiving presentation-cum-lunch, including the winners’ main prizes, novelties and lucky draw prizes, along

TM Golf 2014 Grand Champion, Sazali Nasir

with a stand bag each. The special hole-in-one prize on offer during the grand final, an Infiniti Q50 Turbo, was unfortunately left unclaimed.

The 2014 TM Golf series was supported by TaylorMade-Adidas, Infiniti, Apple Vacations, Sony, Red Bull, ParGolf, Fairways and Gila Golfers. Introduced in 2007, TM’s annual corporate golf event stands as a customer retention programme and is aimed at serving as a platform for the national telecommunications giant to engage, reward and appreciate its loyal customers in addition to strengthening existing relations. PG

Imri Mokhtar (4th from left) with sponsor representatives

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Kota Permai kicks off 2015 with Champion of Champions event

Champion of Champions gross winner Eric Foo with Kota Permai general manager Tang Meng Loon

Halim wins Captain’s Trophy at Danau

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club heralded in the new year with its first event of 2015, the Champion of Champions and Plate Medal held on January 11.

A total of 120 participants took part in the strokeplay tournament, with three-handicapper Eric Foo carding a superb 73 to emerge as the gross winner by three shots from Mohd Hezri Hassan. Meanwhile, Ng Eu Cheng (13) took the nett title with a nett score of 66, edging runner-up Egyptoman Darwin by a solitary stroke.

In the Plate Medal, Dzahaman Abdul Rahman (7) took the gross title on countback from Tajudin Supian (3) after both golfers carded 77. Lim Ah Lek (17) topped the nett category with a score of nett 67, two shots clear of Abdul Rahim Ngah (24).

The highlight of the event was the crowning of Kota Permai’s Golfers of the Year for best overall performances in 2014 – Willie Lim was the Best Gross Golfer of 2014, while Lim Yeow Leng was the Best Nett Golfer of 2014.

Gimme 5 raises funds for special children

Danau Golf Club staged its first event of the year on January 11, with a field of more than 80 golfers taking to the fairways for the annual Captain’s Trophy event.

Scoring nett 66, 16-handicapper Abdul Halim Sapuan topped the leaderboard to take the title by one shot from Rastam (24). Rahmat Awi (20) shot nett 68 to take third place, one ahead of four golfers who scored 69 nett. Nasarudin Basir (5) emerged as the fourth-placed finisher after a countback.

Golfing group ‘Gimme 5’ held a charity game at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club on January 13 to raise funds for four homes for special children.

A total of RM88,550 was raised for Persatuan Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Terencat Akal Malaysia, Pusat Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Taman Megah, Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Klang Selangor and the Good Samaritan Home.

“I would like to thank all the members of Gimme 5 for their contributions and efforts in helping the homes, as well as 118

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, Apple Vacations, Golf Malaysia, Mr TO Tan and E’pure for their support. And a big ‘thank you’ to Transview Golf for a smooth and well-organised event,” said Gimme 5 president BS Yap. During the prize presentation dinner, most of the winners gave back their prizes to be auctioned off, raising a further RM13,550 for the homes.

Formed in 2008, Gimme 5 consists of a group of avid social golfers and currently has a membership of 36 consisting mainly of entrepreneurs.

ParGolf FEBRUARY 2015

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Coming your way this April!

THE CATEGORIES INDIVIDUAL Malaysian Professional Golfer Of The Year – Male Malaysian Professional Golfer Of The Year – Female Malaysian Amateur Golfer Of The Year – Male Malaysian Amateur Golfer Of The Year – Female Malaysian Junior Golfer Of The Year – Male Malaysian Junior Golfer Of The Year – Female Asian Golfer Of The Year – Male Asian Golfer Of The Year – Female Comeback Golfer Of The Year Breakthrough Golfer Of The Year Outstanding Performance Of The Year Young Gun Awards Merit Award For Services To Golf Lifetime Achievement Award

GOLF CLUBS Golf Club Of The Year Best Overall Golf Experience Best Maintained Golf Course Most Improved Golf Course Best New Golf Course Best Handicap Management Outstanding Contribution To Golf – Golf Clubs OTHERS Outstanding Contribution To Golf – Corporate Most Innovative Golf Equipment Note: Categories subject to change

www.malaysiangolfawards.com

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GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY KUALA LUMPUR BUKIT JALIL GCR (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8994 1600 KELAB GOLF ANGKATAN TENTERA (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 2141 1113/881 KELAB GOLF PERKHIDMATAN AWAM (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 7957 1958 KELAB GOLF TITIWANGSA PDRM (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 2693 4964 KUALA LUMPUR GCC (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 2011 9188 KELAB GOLF MAKTAB TENTERA DIRAJA (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 9058 7212 THE ROYAL SELANGOR GC (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 9206 3333 SELANGOR AMVERTON COVE GOLF & ISLAND RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 603 – 3123 3888 /6019-380 2233 BANGI GR (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 8925 3728 BUKIT BERUNTUNG GCR (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 6028 1841 BUKIT KEMUNING GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 5121 6552/7188 BUKIT UNGGUL CC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8920 2888 DANAU GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8925 8953 GLENMARIE GCC (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 7803 9090 GUTHRIE GOLF ACADEMY PITCH & PUTT COURSE (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 7846 3505 ILSAS RECREATIONAL GC (9 holes) Tel: 019 - 395 3675 KELAB DARUL EHSAN (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 4257 2333 KELAB GOLF NEGARA SUBANG (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 7876 0388 KELAB GOLF SERI SELANGOR (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 7806 1111/1666 KELAB GOLF SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 5519 1512/5510 5872 KUALA KUBU BAHRU GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6064 2887 KELAB RAHMAN PUTRA (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 6156 6870 KELAB REKREASI TENTERA UDARA (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 7847 3048 KINRARA GC (18 holes) Tel: 03 - 8076 2100 KOTA PERMAI GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 5122 3700 MONTEREZ GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 7846 5989 PALM GARDEN GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8213 6333 PERANGSANG TEMPLER GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6091 0022 PORT KLANG GR (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 3176 1323/5000 ROYAL KAMPUNG KUANTAN CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 3289 1069 SAUJANA GCC (36 holes) Tel: 603 - 7846 1466 IMPIAN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8734 4195 SERENDAH GOLF LINKS (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6081 1077/78 SSG BERINGIN GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6460 0016 SUNGAI LONG GCC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 9076 2233 SRI MORIB GC (9 holes) Tel: 603 - 3198 1418 TASIK PUTERI GCC (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 6034 4722 TEMPLER PARK CC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6091 9617/0268 THE MINES RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8943 2288 TROPICANA GCC (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 7804 8888 THE CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 603-7725 5199 PADANG GOLF UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 8946 7996 VALENCIA GC (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6156 0021 JOHOR AUSTIN HILLS COUNTRY RESORT (27 holes) Tel: 607 - 352 4300 BATU PAHAT GC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 432 9221/223 BUKIT BANANG GCC (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 428 6001/2 DAIMAN 18 JOHOR BAHRU (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 351 6813/353 3100

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GUTHRIE GCC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 752 7107 HORIZON HILLS GCC (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 232 3166/238 1666 IMPIAN EMAS GCC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 552 2202 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 COUNTRY CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 6019-775 0055 OCTVILLE GCC (CHRISTINE RESORT) (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 387 3000 ORCHARD GCR (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 897 7934/6470 PALM RESORT GCC (54 holes) Tel: 607 - 599 6222 PALM VILLA GCR (27 holes) Tel: 607 - 599 9099 PERMAS JAYA GC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 388 7010 PONDEROSA GCC (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 354 9999 PORESIA CC (36 holes) Tel: 607 - 510 2033 PULAI SPRINGS CC (36 holes) Tel: 607 - 521 2121 JOHOR CC (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 223 3322 SEGAMAT CC (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 943 5968 SEBANA GOLF & MARINE RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 826 6655 S.T. RHODES CLUB (9 holes) Tel: 607 - 926 1209 STARHILL GR (36 holes) Tel: 607 - 556 6325 TANJUNG EMAS GC (9 holes)Tel: 606 - 952 1550 TANJUNG PUTERI GCC (54 holes) Tel: 607 - 271 1888 THE LEGENDS GCR (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 652 4388 TIOMAN ISLAND GC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 419 1000 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 NEGERI SEMBILAN ERA GCR (18 holes) Tel: 019 - 255 3059 GEMAS GR (18 holes) Tel: 607 - 948 2687 THISTLE RESORT (9 holes) Tel: 606 - 662 7878 ROYAL PALM SPRINGS GC (18 holes) Tel: 606 - 661 0260 NILAI SPRINGS GCC (27 holes) Tel: 606 - 850 8888 PORT DICKSON GCC (18 holes) Tel : 606 - 647 3586/3123 ROYAL SRI MENANTI GC (18 holes) Tel: 606 - 497 9600 / 900 SEREMBAN INTERNATIONAL GC (18 holes) Tel: 606 - 677 5277 STAFFIELD CR (27 holes) Tel: 603 - 8766 6117/8 /9 1388 GOLF COURSE (9 holes) Tel: 606 – 601 3546 PERAK CLEARWATER SANCTUARY GR (27 holes) Tel: 605 - 366 7433 DAMAI LAUT GCC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 685 9330/32/33 KINTA GC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 366 7270 KUALA KANGSAR GC (9 holes) Tel: 605 - 776 2396 MERU VALLEY GCC (27 holes) Tel: 605 - 529 3300/3333 ROYAL PERAK GC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 547 3266/542 3266 TAIPING GCC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 883 7500/6060/7070 TELUK INTAN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 605 – 623 7421

PULAU PINANG MOUNTAIN VIEW GOLF RESORT (18 holes) Tel: 604 – 226 6701 PENANG GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 644 2255 BUKIT JAWI GR (36 holes) Tel: 604 - 582 0759/60/61 PENANG GR (36 holes) Tel: 604 - 578 2022 PENANG TURF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 604 – 226 6701 KEDAH BLACK FOREST GCC (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 922 2790 /822 CINTA SAYANG GCC (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 (27 holes) Tel: 604 - 458 6887 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 – 967 1153/955 1153 PERLIS PUTRA GC (18 holes) Tel: 604 - 976 9660 UUM (9 holes) Tel: 604 – 9282 684 KELANTAN DESA PAHLAWAN GC (9 holes) Tel: 609 – 7878 200 ext 2121 KELANTAN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 748 2102/774 7474 KELAB GOLF GUA MUSANG (9 holes) Tel: 609 – 9120 011/012 TERENGGANU AWANA KIJAL BGR (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 864 1188 GREEN ACRES GCR (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 616 3500 / 3600 KELAB GOLF DESA DUNGUN (18 holes) Tel/Fax: 609 - 848 1041 KUALA TERENGGANU GR (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 666 0000 KELAB GOLF & REKREASI PETRONAS (18 holes) Tel: 609 – 8040 232 PGR PUTERI GR (18 holes) Tel: 019 - 956 4760 PAHANG AWANA GENTING HIGHLANDS GCR (18 holes) Tel: 603 - 6436 9000 BERJAYA HILLS GCC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 288 8890 CAMERON HIGHLANDS GC (18 holes) Tel: 605 - 4911126 FRASER’S HILL GC (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 362 2888 / 03 - 2691 6633 KELAB GOLF BENTONG (9 holes) Tel: 609 - 222 2585 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 LIPIS VALLEY GC (9 holes) Tel:609 - 312 1963/4/5 MARAN HILL GOLF RESORT (18 holes) Tel:609 – 468 9187 ROYAL PAHANG GC (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 567 5811 SERAI DI LANJUT BGR Tel: 609 - 414 7688 SELESA HILL HOMES GR (18 holes) Tel: 609 - 233 0072, KL (603 - 4042 6931), 609 - 233 0039 (Reception)

SABAH BORNEO GR (18 holes) Tel: 087 - 861 888 DALIT BAY GCC (18 holes) Tel: 088 - 791 188 MIMPIAN JADI GC (18 holes) Tel: 088 - 787 122 MOUNT KINABALU GC Tel: 088 - 889 445 NEXUS GOLF RESORT KARAMBUNAI (18 holes) Tel: 6088 - 411 215/411 033 KELAB GOLF LABUAN (9 holes) Tel: 087-412 810 / 712 KENINGAU GC (18 holes) Tel: 087 - 331 113/336 814/336 825 KINABALU GC (9 holes) Tel: 088 - 251 615/234 904 KUDAT GC (18 holes) Tel: 088-611 002/621 337 LAHAD DATU GCC (18 holes) Tel: 089 - 867 288 SABAH GCC (18 holes) Tel: 088 - 247 533 SANDAKAN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 089 - 660 557 SHAN-SHUI GCR (18 holes) Tel: 089 - 916 888 SUTERA HARBOUR GCC (27 holes) Tel: 088 - 318 888 SIGALONG GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6016-830 3657 TAWAU GOLF CLUB (27 holes) Tel: 089 - 765 555 / 772 776 TAMBUNAN GC (18 holes) Tel: 6087-773 114/115 SARAWAK BINTULU GC (18 holes) Tel: 086 - 253 213 DAMAI GCC (18 holes) Tel: 082 - 846 088 EASTWOOD VALLEY GCC (18 holes) Tel: 6085 - 421 010 HORNBILL GOLF & JUNGLE CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 6082 - 573 980 (Sales Office) KELAB GOLF SARAWAK (36 holes) Tel: 082 - 444 791 KELAB GOLF SIBU (18 holes) Tel: 084 - 228 119 MIRI GC (18 hole) Tel: 085 - 416 786 PRISONS GC (9 holes) Tel: 082 - 613 544 SAMARAHAN CC (18 holes) Tel: 6013-8161 876 BRUNEI DARUSSALAM PANAGA GC (18 holes) Tel: 673 - 3373 142 / 372 936 PANTAI MENTIRI GC (18 holes) Tel: 673 - 2791 021 / 673-2792 014 RBA GOLF CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 673 - 234 3724 / 27 ROYAL BRUNEI GCC (18 holes) Tel: 673 - 261 1582 THE EMPIRE GC (18 holes) Tel: 673 - 241 8888 SINGAPORE CHANGI GC (9 holes) Tel: 65 - 6545 5133 JURONG CC (18 holes) Tel: 65 - 6560 5655 KEPPEL CLUB (18 holes) Tel: 65 - 6375 5567 LAGUNA NATIONAL GC (36 holes) Tel: 65 - 6542 6888 MARINA BAY GC (18 holes) Tel: 65 - 6345 7788 NATIONAL SERVICE RESORT (45 holes) Tel: 65 - 6542 8288 ORCHID CC (27 holes) Tel: 65 - 6750 2107 RAFFLES CC (36 holes) Tel: 65 - 6861 7649 SELETAR CC (36 holes) Tel: 65 - 6481 4812 SEMBAWANG CC (18 holes) Tel: 65 - 6257 0642 SENTOSA GC (36 holes) Tel: 65 - 6275 0022 SINGAPORE ISLAND CC (72 holes) Tel: 65 - 6461 7370 TANAH MERAH CC (36 holes) Tel: 65 - 6542 3040 WARREN GCC (18 holes) Tel: 65 - 6586 1211

ParGolf FEBRUARY 2015

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THE LOBBY

NILAI SPRINGS RESORT HOTEL PT4770, Nilai Springs, 71800 Putra Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Tel: +606-850 2288 Fax: +606-850 2299 A 4-star resort hotel offering 183 spacious guest rooms and suites with full amenities, five F&B outlets, a grand ballroom and 13 meeting rooms to cater to your business requirements, private functions or even for a weekend escapade.

It's the perfect destination for: • Airline transit passengers • Meetings and seminars • Teambuilding/Family Day/Telematch/Mini Amazing Race • Challenging 27 Holes Golf Course

resort hotel P U T R A

N I L A I ,

M A L A Y S I A

★★★★

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GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

Surprising Amverton

The Golfers Paradise

Home Of The Eagles

AMVERTON COVE GOLF & ISLAND RESORT

A‘FAMOSA GOLF RESORT

BUKIT UNGGUL COUNTRY CLUB

PT 673, Jalan Pulau Carey, Mukim Jugra, 4290 Pulau Carey, Selangor Tel: +6019-338 2233 / +6019-383 2233 E-mail: sales@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

Lot PT 2180, 2181 & 2182, Mukim Dengkil, 43807 Daerah Sepang, Selangor Tel: +603-8920 2888 Fax: +603-8926 7870 Website: www.bukitunggul.com Designer: Ronald Fream Description: 18 holes, 5,858m, par 71

Your Paradise On Earth

The Heart Of Golf

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

The Ideal Recreational Getaway

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

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

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Play Exciting Golf

DANAU GOLF CLUB

In Pursuit of Perfection

GLENMARIE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Pride Of Nusajaya

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

Home of Night Golfing

IMPIAN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

KELAB GOLF PERKHIDMATAN AWAM

KELAB GOLF SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH

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, 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

Serene Beauty

Tee Off With Mother Nature

Where Living & Leisure Come Together

KOTA PERMAI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 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

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

latest news and happenings in golf

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

Join us on

and

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GOLF COURSE DIRECTORY

A Golfer’s Paradise

NILAI SPRINGS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Pristine Surroundings

ORNA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Oasis For Golfing And Family Leisure In Johor

PALM RESORT 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

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

Excellent By Nature

The Family And Golfer's Paradise

Great Golf, Great Food

PALM GARDEN GOLF CLUB

IOI PALM VILLA GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT

PENANG GOLF CLUB (formerly Bukit Jambul Country Club)

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. 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

Jewel Of The North

Close To You ...

An Oasis Of Relaxation

PENANG GOLF RESORT BHD 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

PONDEROSA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

PULAI SPRINGS RESORT

No. 3, Jalan Ponderosa 1, Taman Ponderosa, 81100 Johor Bahru Tel: +607-534 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

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The Ultimate Challenge

SAUJANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Good Views Of The Surrounding Hills

SEREMBAN INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB

A New Era In Golfing

KELAB GOLF SERI SELANGOR

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

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

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

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Barbara Nicklaus receives Bob Jones Award The United States Golf Association (USGA) has selected Jack Nicklaus’ wife, Barbara, as the recipient of the 2015 Bob Jones Award.

Presented annually since 1955, the Bob Jones Award is the USGA’s highest honour and recognises an individual who demonstrates the spirit, personal character and respect for the game exhibited by Jones, winner of nine USGA championships.

Often referred to as the ‘First Lady of Golf’, Mrs Nicklaus has used her influence as the wife of the 18-time Major champion to generate attention for youth-related charitable causes and volunteerism.

“Barbara’s generosity of spirit and deep respect for the game have touched the lives of countless families throughout the world,” said USGA president Thomas O’Toole Jr. “Her dedication to support players and spouses, and advocacy for multiple causes, are worthy of

our highest honour. She has been the rock for arguably one of the game’s greatest champions, while raising a family and devoting her heart and soul into what she believes in.”

The Barbara and Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf Endowment Fund supports junior golf programmes at the local, state and national level for children who otherwise might not be introduced to the game.

Mrs Nicklaus also serves as the chairman of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, which provides charitable support for activities that advance and enhance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders.

The foundation has raised more than US$32 million since its inception in 2004.

“The USGA has been a part of our lives since Jack and I were teenagers, and we have always respected and appreciated their contributions and impact on the great game of golf. To receive this honour from them, one that bears the name of a man who had such a deep impact on our family, is one of the most meaningful recognitions I have been blessed to receive,” said Mrs Nicklaus.

Jack Nicklaus himself received the award in 1975.

The Andaman launches golf packages with Els Club Teluk Datai

The Dalat at 1200 commences clubhouse construction

The Andaman resort on Langkawi Island has introduced golfing packages with the award-winning Els Club Teluk Datai, valid until June 30.

Starting from RM1,250 nett per room per night for single occupancy (RM1,690 nett for double occupancy), the ‘A Hole In One’ package offers a 2D/1N stay with buffet breakfast plus a round of golf at Els Club Teluk Datai inclusive of return transfer. Non-golfers can opt for an 80-minute spa treatment at The Andman’s V Botanical Spa. For long-stay golfers, the ‘Par Five’ package starts at RM1,290 nett per room per night for single occupancy (RM1,690 nett for double occupancy) and requires a minimum stay of five nights. The package includes: • 6D/5N stay in a Deluxe Rainforest room with daily buffet breakfast and return airport transfers • Three rounds of golf at Els Club Teluk Datai inclusive of return transfer • One 80-minute Spa Treatment at the V Botanical Spa • One 50-minute Spa Treatment at the V Botanical Spa • 15% discount off additional spa treatments.

Built in 1996 and nestled between lush rainforest and the ocean, The Andaman is one of the top luxury resorts in the region. For more information, visit www.theandaman.com or contact the resort at +604-959-1088 / sales.andaman@luxurycollection.com.

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Artist's impression of the clubhouse

Construction of the clubhouse and academy of The Dalat at 1200 Country Club & Private Estate in Vietnam commenced last month.

The 6,500-square metre clubhouse has a spacious design with oversized traditional areas such as locker rooms and will also boast 38 short-stay rooms. Situated 1,200 metres above sea level in the highland resort town of Dà Lat, the 650-hectare project is a golf, resort and residential development by the Centurion Group Singapore.

According to a statement released by the resort, the 18-hole course is expected to open for play this year and will host a US$1 million Asian Tour event in 2016. The course is designed by Myanmar golfing legend Kyi Hla Han and is made up of nine holes from an existing layout and nine brand new holes.

“We are very much looking forward to sharing the new development of The Dalat at 1200 Country Club & Private Estate with our future members and residents. The establishment of the 18-hole championship golf course will serve as a benchmark for Dà Lat and elevate the golfing experience in Southeast Asia,” said Kay Hwa Tang, executive director of The Dalat at 1200.

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Maybank Malaysian Open Get in on the action and find out what went on behind the scenes in our review of the 54th edition of the national Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club – and we examine the inevitable question, where next?

Tasha’s American Swing One of Malaysia’s brightest young golfers, Natasha Andrea Oon recaps her recent fine run on the IMG Junior Tour in Florida – and shares her experience meeting Jessica Korda!

Delightful Danang

NEXT ROUND

The PGA Tour and Charles Schwab & Co, Inc have signed a historic 20-year extension of their multifaceted marketing partnership, making it the longest sponsorship agreement for the tour.

In conjunction with the extension, the Champions Tour will be creating a playoff system beginning with the 2016 season. Key elements of the marketing extension include the continuation of Schwab’s status as the Official Investment Firm of the PGA Tour and Champions Tour; its umbrella sponsorship of the season-long Charles Schwab Cup competition on the Champions Tour, and sponsorship of the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

“Charles Schwab has been an exceptional partner of the PGA Tour and Champions Tour since 1997,” said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. “In particular, Schwab has had a profound impact on the Champions Tour through its sponsorship of the Charles Schwab Cup and, more recently, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

“Additionally, with this long-term commitment by Schwab, we are delighted to announce that the Champions Tour will be moving toward a playoff format, which we will outline at a later date. Schwab’s interest in continuing its sponsorship for this duration truly is a testament to the dedication, accessibility and hard work of the players and everyone involved with the Champions Tour.”

©Scott Halleran/Getty Images

©Ian Walton/Getty Images

Charles Schwab signs 20-year partnership with PGA Tour

Women’s Golf With International Women’s Day set for March 8, Mike Wilson takes a look at the state of the women’s game as the LPGA makes its first Asian swing of the year.

Loo Keng Yip travels to central Vietnam’s thriving golf destination and discovers that the hype is more than well-justified.

WATCH OUT FOR PARGOLF’S MARCH 2015 ISSUE!

CONTEST RESULTS AMERICAN TOURISTER VIVOLITE CONTEST (NOVEMBER 2014 ISSUE) 1ST PRIZE (AMERICAN TOURISTER VIVOLITE SPINNER 75CM) Yeoh Keat Li, Petaling Jaya, Selangor 2ND PRIZE (AMERICAN TOURISTER VIVOLITE SPINNER 62CM) Chan Siew Pooi, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Casa de Campo to host 2016 Latin America Amateur Championship The Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog course in the Dominican Republic will be the host venue for the second Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) next January 14-17.

The announcement was made during the inaugural staging of the championship at the Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina in January.

Founded by the Masters Tournament, The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), the LAAC was established to further develop amateur golf in South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. The champion will receive an invitation to compete in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, while the winner and the runner(s)-up will be exempt into the final stages of qualifying for the British Open and US Open. The champion will also receive full exemptions into the British Amateur Championship, US Amateur Championship and any other USGA amateur championship for which he is eligible.

Designed by Pete Dye and built in the early 1970s, Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo features seven holes along the Atlantic Ocean and is routinely ranked as one of the best courses in Latin America.

The LAAC follows a model established by the Masters and The R&A when they created the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in 2009. The AAC has been a great success with winners Hideki Matsuyama and Guan Tianlang going on to make an impact in the Masters and on the PGA Tour.

3RD PRIZE (AMERICAN TOURISTER VIVOLITE SPINNER 55CM) Amal Ashraf Sulaiman, Cheras, Selangor

CONSOLATION PRIZES (AMERICAN TOURISTER TOILETRY KIT / PASSPORT HOLDER / WAIST BAG) Fletcher Tan Choon Kit, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Daniel Chieng Ngee Leong, Kuala Lumpur Kee Li Ling, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Anand Ramalingam, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur Yip Ah Ngeow, Bentong, Pahang Yap Soo Kiem, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Derrick De Han, Subang Jaya, Selangor Ahmad Nazri Hashim, Chaah, Johor Lim Jia Chuan, Bentong, Pahang Allistair Adam Nelson, Kuala Lumpur

TEE TO GRIN

I'm so close to breaking 100, all I have to do is go birdie, birdie, eagle, eagle ...

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QUICK 18

with

David Townend Senior Vice President, The Els Club Malaysia

WHO WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD HERO? Being an Australian, Greg Norman was my hero. I did my apprenticeship as a golf professional at Helensvale Golf Club on the Gold Coast, and my boss was good friends with Greg, so I had the fortune of playing with Greg a number of times and learn from him. He was without a doubt one of the most gifted players ever.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR INTRODUCTION TO GOLF. As a teenager I had my heart set on playing first-grade rugby league in Sydney. Whilst playing in a grand final match I broke my wrist in a tackle and had to wear a cast on my arm for six weeks, which meant no footy. During this time my father went out for a round of golf with some friends, so I decided to tag along and caddy. Whilst he was having a post-game drink, I took the clubs out and played with one arm. I was hooked!

WHAT DOES GOLF MEAN TO YOU? Golf has been my life, from being a tour player, developing and managing top golf clubs throughout Asia, and working for the largest international golf management company. It is my career but has never felt like work. I am blessed to have been able to have turned something I love doing into a livelihood.

WHAT HAS GOLF TAUGHT YOU? The game and the industry have taught me to be extremely respectful, treat all business dealings with complete integrity and above all, the ability to be a confident communicator.

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TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU. When I count in my head, I use Chinese instead of English!

IF YOU COULD HAVE LUNCH WITH ONE FAMOUS PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE? Sir Richard Branson – I think he epitomises what most people would like to be in life.

He's incredibly smart and successful, dresses casually, and always seems to be living life to the fullest.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DISHES YOU JUST CAN’T STAY AWAY FROM? Japanese sashimi is my favourite food, but spicy local dishes like curry laksa and Penang char kuey teow are weekly musthaves.

IF YOU WIN THE LOTTERY TOMORROW, HOW WOULD YOU SPEND THE MONEY? I would like to develop or buy a golf course and operate it only for junior golfers, with a great learning academy, plus a golf business school for older kids to learn how to operate golf courses.

NAME ONE CHILDHOOD FANTASY YOU’VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED. Going to Augusta … although not as a player. I had the fortune of looking after the youngest ever golfer to play in the tournament in 2013, Guan Tianlang, as we supported him through our club in China.

IF YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANYONE FOR A DAY, IIT WOULD BE ...

US President Barack Obama. T To see what it's like to be one of the world’s busiest leaders would be amazing.

HOW WOULD OULD YOU Y DESCRIBE YOUR MANAGEMENT STYLE? My management style is always evolving, as each day I keep an open mind, listen to others and keep learning.

I want my team to see me as a leader rather than their manager, by providing a clear picture on our goals and targets, and focus on the strategy. The delivery and implementation is up to the team as learning to become stronger comes Showing off the two World Golf Awards won through the ability to

by The Els Club Teluk make decisions and Datai with Ernie Els implement them.

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AND MEET YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? Try not to get so stressed about things when you’re in your 30s and try to find a better balance between work and personal life.

A PRANK YOU PULLED THAT STILL CRACKS YOU UP? Whilst still an apprentice professional my boss had me heat up the heads of some of his regular golfing partners’ irons prior to a round, as well as taking off some grips and putting them back on with Vaseline. After nine holes his partner had heads flying off his clubs and others spinning around in his hands at impact.

Needless to say he had to come back in to the shop mid-round to have them repaired!

NAME THREE OF YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE SONGS. ‘When Doves Cry’ (Prince), ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ (Guns N’ Roses) and ‘Burn For You’ (INXS).

LIFE MOTTOS? Work and play hard. Treat others the way you wish to be treated. Proper planning prevents poor performance. If a job is worth doing, do it right.

ALL-TIME FAVOURITE MOVIE? Caddyshack. The movie put together some of the funniest men in entertainment, on a golf course, and pretty much let them ad-lib the content.

The number of one-liners requires you to watch the movie over and over again to catch them all.

WHAT DO YOU “KNOW NOW” THAT YOU WISHED YOU “KNEW THEN”?

The more you put the well-being and interests of others ahead of your own, the greater the success and admiration you will gain.

IF YOU HAD ONE SUPERHERO ABILITY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? It would be having the “faster than a speeding bullet” speed of Superman. In addition to being able to get to our courses in Langkawi and Johor much faster, I wouldn’t have to deal with the traffic jams in KL!

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