BY BENNY TEO VISITS SINGAPORE AND TELLS ALL - SPH GOLF CLUB
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27-28 OCTOBER 2018 | THE BUSINESS TIMES WEEKEND
Martin
KAYMER
VISITS SINGAPORE AND TELLS ALL
BY BENNY TEO
BT GOLF LEAGUE CHAMPION
WINS AT BMW GOLF CUP
BY GODFREY ROBERT
STRONG SINGAPORE TEAM HEADS
FOR WORLD AMATEUR EVENT
BY JEREMY THESEIRA
F
IN TIME WITH
BY
BENNY TEO
A DAY WITH MARTIN KAYMER
A HUMBLE HERO
or someone who has been the world number
one, and reached the heights of sporting fame,
Martin Kaymer displays the sort of honesty that
one would normally only find with their best
friend. On a whirlwind trip that takes him to
Tokyo and Singapore in 48 hours for sponsor
Hugo Boss to meet and play golf with
their clients, the 33-year-old German exudes confidence and
charm in equal measure.
Both qualities belie the fact that he had only three, maximum four birdies,
just travelled around the world and that’s not enough.”
red-eyed two destinations with a full Apart from that, Kaymer had also
schedule of work. It also betrayed the come off a difficult year where he had
fact that, coming into the 2019 season, to deal with injury and admittedly, a
his world golf ranking has dropped to lack of preparation prior to the Mas-
159 and that the next year would be his ters. That led to missing the cuts at two Martin Kaymer sharing a light moment with guests of Hugo Boss.
final exemption on the PGA Tour. other Majors this year, and most pain-
Nevertheless, when Martin Kaymer fully, missing out on the Ryder Cup. Ideally, I’d like to spend some time in Back to a topic that is more light
stepped into Singapore Island Coun- “When that happens, it’s hard to do America and some time in Europe, but hearted, the Boss Golf Martin Kaymer
try Club’s Island Course on Oct 18, he anything. It was one week on, one week you can’t have everything, Collection is something that he takes
felt like a friend coming in for a quick off, and then play another four or five “I like to travel, I like to go to Asia, great pride and pleasure in. Admitting
morning nine holes instead of a super- weeks, and I need to rest as well. So I America. I think it’s the best educa- to feeling a lost initially when travel-
star strutting in, and the guests felt his didn’t give myself enough time to prac- tion. I enjoy different cultures. When I ing to fashion shows and being asked
genuine friendship when he teed up tice and prepare properly. return home to Germany, I try to take his opinions on style and colours, he
with them. “I was really never ready before a back some of the positive influences of is now relishing the process and looks
Later, during an exclusive interview tournament and already knowing this, when I travel into my life.” forward to meeting with the brand’s de-
with Swing, he talked about his career I didn’t like that feel of not being ready, But coming into the new season, it is signers to plan his collection.
and how he is preparing for the com- so now I’m going to make sure next not just fitness and short game that the “When I see something nice, a polo
ing season. year is different. The first thing is that German has to work on. His longtime shirt or a pattern or design, or material,
photos courtesy of Hugo Boss
“I bought a home in Florida so I will I need to improve my fitness, I need to caddie, Craig Connelly, has parted ways I can maybe go back and say, can you
go there in the wintertime and prac- get fitter and faster, so I can hit the ball as well. do this for my next season? For exam-
tice. I have a priority list so it’s chip- farther,” he added. “Relationships, sometimes, it be- ple, the collar with the button, I always
ping, pitching and putting because hit- The new season is also different in comes a bit flat, and it’s been like this thought it looks quite classy, It’s never
ting fairways and greens, it’s ok, the that the PGA Tour schedue had been for about 12 months already and we been done on a golf collection so I said,
short game is where I need to focus,” cramped up to finish in August with try to be aware of this and fight against ‘Maybe we can try this and see if its re-
he said. key tournaments like The Players and it, wanting to stay together and at one ceived well.’
When asked why the short game PGA Championship and Kaymer looks stage it just didn’t work out anymore “They did a sample and showed me
was so impor- forward to it. and it has nothing to do with perfor- and I was quite proud that they did
tant, he said, “I think it actually takes away pres- mance or he did something bad or we what I ask. There is pressure on them
“The short sure because now you really need to as a team didn’t do well, it was noth- also. They need to deliver and sell
game was hold- prepare, November, December, Janu- ing like that. It was a natural thing that shirts. If they don’t sell just because
ing me back ary. Those three months you need to we reached a point where we had to go Martin Kaymer had an idea, that’s not
this year. Hit- use your own ideal way because from separate ways. good.”
ting it close, February until July, it’s going to be fast. “I have some ideas on who could fit And what about his personal style?
no problem And then after that, you have seven in our team and it’s a decision that you What does he like to wear?
but taking ad- months where there are no major tour- need to take time on because it’s not “I like berry colours, not reddish,
vantage of the naments and you can relax and pre- just about golf, it’s a person you spend purple. When I won at TPC Sawgrass, I
chances; if you pare for the next year. so much personal time with so I think wore a berry coloured shirt, that one. I
hit 14, 15 greens “You can imagine, if you have a good you need to choose wisely. I have not like baby blue. And I like checks, I wear
over 18 holes run for two or three months, you could found one yet, I have two or three on them everywhere, to the bar, to a date,
and you make win tournaments, I think it’s great. my list that I have to decide on.” everywhere.”
MARKETING AND
SWING SUPERVISING EDITOR
S. Murali
EDITOR
Benny Teo
CONTRIBUTING
EDITORS PARTNERSHIP ENQUIRIES
TEAM muralis@sph.com.sg benny.teo@sphpacom.com Godfrey Robert
Spencer Robinson
Vivien Cham Business Director
9746 0379, champs@sph.com.sg
CREATIVE EDITOR WRITER Ven Sreenivasan Daphne Tay Business Director
Jacqueline Wu Jeremy Theseira Rohit Brijnath 9620 1418, taykhd@sph.com.sg
wuyej@sph.com.sg Rahul Pathak
SUB-EDITOR
Ida Karsia
2 | SWING BY SPHGOLF | 27-28 OCTOBER 2018 | THE BUSINESS TIMES WEEKEND
R PROMISING JUNIORS KNOW THAT
THEY HAVE TO STEP UP
money.
A further week later Hadi played in an
Asian Development Tour event in Malay-
sia and finished joint-fourth in a relatively
strong field.
While we soak in the happiness from
their great performances, the Singapore
Golf Association is experiencing a bitter-
sweet taste from the events.
For the amateur game in Singapore,
which hit a peak when the national team
quartet that included Foo clinched the gold
WITH FOO AND HADI TURNING PRO, SGA
HAS A BIG VACUUM TO FILL
ookie professionals
Gregory Foo and
Abdul Hadi are
doing Singapore
proud. Straight after their heroics at the recent Asia-Pacific Amateur
Championships at Sentosa’s New Tanjong course, Foo (who finished
joint-ninth) and Hadi (joint-19th) turned professionals.
And a week later on their professional de-
but at the Asian Tour’s Pakistan Masters in
Karachi, the two Singaporeans raised smiles
as they made the cut and won some prize
BY
GODFREY ROBERT
Singapore suffers because fewer and fewer
players are taking to golf, mainly because of
the time-consuming nature of the game.
But the dynamic Singapore Golf Associ-
ation is aware of the big challenges ahead
and is ready to catch the bull by its horns
with several encouraging programmes.
For the Putra Cup at the City Golf Club in
Nay Pi Taw, Myanmar, from Dec 18 to 24,
the SGA has slated James, Wee Jin, Lucius
and Joshua while Sean, Brandon and Andre
will compete in the Lion City Cup.
‘WE NOW HAVE
OUTSTANDING
GOLFERS WHO
ARE BASED
OVERSEAS.
ELITE GOLFERS
LIKE WONG QI
WEN AND JAMES
LEOW PLAY TOP
TIER COLLEGE
GOLF IN THE U.S.
AND ARE READY
TO STEP INTO
THE FIRST TEAM.
MORE AND MORE
OF OUR PLAYERS
WILL BE BASED
OVERSEAS
SEAN UPBEAT
ABOUT UPCOMING
JUNIOR EVENTS
Exciting times are ahead.
That’s how junior golfer Sean
Lee describes the next two months
when he will spend his school holi-
days on the golf courses and driving
ranges in Singapore and abroad.
Sean (above), 15, a student at An-
glo-Chinese School (Independent),
is overjoyed that the Singapore Golf
Association has slated him for “a
chockablock of events” next month
and in December.
Said Sean: “I am grateful to the
SGA for giving me so many opportu-
nities to play in events. And I have
been practising hard every day (just
medal at last year’s South-east Asian Games, over an hour Mondays to Fridays)
is feeling the loss of the two players to the IN THE NEAR and with a game on Saturday.
pro ranks. Sean hopes to step it up during
And with next year’s SEA Games loom-
FUTURE AS SGA the school holidays and says he en-
ing, the remaining amateurs must step up ENDEAVOURS TO joys practising at Laguna National’s
to the plate if Singapore wants to retain the new facility where you can hit wedg-
gold medal and also register good finishes Low Wee Jin
GUIDE MORE OF es of up to 100 metres off the grass.
in the 2019 calendar for the amateur events. OUR PLAYERS Introduced to the game at the age
So the likes of Low Wee Jin and Andre of three by his very supportive dad
Chong, who also played in the Asia-Pacif- TO PLAY Andrew, Sean, who also practises at
ic event, and James Leow (now the high- TOP-TIER Keppel, is down to play at the Singha
est-placed Singaporean at No. 128 in world Thailand Junior World Golf Champi-
rankings) have a big challenge ahead of COLLEGE OR onships at Hua Hin next week with
photos courtesy of Singapore Golf Association
them as they take up the baton. UNIVERSITY nine other Singapore juniors.
The other leading amateurs The others are Justin Kuk, Hailey
who have to step up a few GOLF.’ Loh, Shayne Lim, Daryl Low, Ng Wei
gears are Joshua Ho, a mem- — LYN SEN, SGA Jun, Jillian Kuk, Shang Yu, Jayden
ber of the SEA Games gold VICE-PRESIDENT Loh and Tatiana Ang.
medal team, Lucius Toh, The other upcoming events to
Wong Qi Wen, Donovan Lee keep the juniors engaged are: SGA
and Ryan Wong. Junior Golf Challenge (Laguna Na-
This is a Catch-22 situation tional Series, 5th leg), SGA Junior
faced by many countries. But Golf Tournament (Bintan Lagoon),
while many of the other na- 27th SICC Junior invitational Golf
tions have strength in depth, Championship and HSBC Youth Golf
Challenge 2nd Leg at Warren.
For the Santi Cup at Hua Hin, Thai-
land in December, the SGA will field
Goh Jen and Inez Ng, while Shayne
Joshua Ho Lim, Jillian Kuk and Angel Lim will
compete in the Kartini Cup.
— Godfrey Robert
THE BUSINESS TIMES WEEKEND | 27-28 OCTOBER 2018 | SWING BY SPHGOLF | 3
I HEADS FOR THE FINALS
BY
JEREMY THESEIRA
WAGC SINGAPORE QUALIFIERS 2018
TEAM SINGAPORE
THE WINNERS OF THE WORLD AMATEUR GOLFERS CHAMPIONSHIPS, SINGAPORE
QUALIFIERS, HEAD TO JOHOR TO COMPETE IN THE WORLD FINALS
t was a tough fight on the Vijay
Singh championship course at The
Els Club Desaru Coast.
On Oct 5 and 6, over 70 amateur golfers from around the island con-
vened at the Johor-based golf club for a shot at representing Singa-
pore at the WAGC (World Amateur Golfers Championship) World Fi-
nals.
Over the course of two gruelling rounds of competitive strokeplay
golf, the five winners of each division were determined and togeth-
er, would form the Singapore contingent at the World Finals, also in
Johor.
After carding a gross score of 78, Samir Bedi emerged as the Divi-
son A champion, with Teoh Hock Guan and Huang Ching Leng win-
ning Division B and C respectively after carding a gross score of 87
each.
Over in Divison D, Patrick Low won with a gross score of 94 and
Ong Siew Yong won Division E after carding a gross score of 107.
The five have since returned to Johor and are competing this week
with winners from the other 24 countries.
They will play at The Els Club Desaru Coast, Palm Resort Golf
& Country Club, Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club and Forest City
Golf Resort for the honour to become the World Amateur individual
and country champions.
Team Singapore, fully decked out in the latest apparel from
sportswear brand Under Armour and bearing the exclusive WAGC
Team Singapore logo sponsored by Ark Industries, are currently rid-
ing high in second place after three days of competition.
Eunice Seah, captain of the Team Singapore said: “Our players
are putting on a good performance despite the tough competition.
Given their familiarity with the four courses, our players are at an ad- From L to R: Samir Bedi (Div A), Teoh Hock Guan (Div B), Huang Ching Leng (Div C),
vantage against the international playing field.” Patrick Low (Div D) and Ong Siew Yong (Div E).
A WEEKEND OF GOLFING FUN AT THE RB20 GOLF CARNIVAL
On the morning of Oct 20, avid golfers
gathered at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal
for what was to be a two-day golf extrav-
aganza at Ria Bintan Golf Club celebrat-
ing its 20th anniversary.
Located on the Indonesian island of
Bintan and a mere 45 minutes travel by
ferry from Tanah Merah, Ria Bintan has
been a popular golfing getaway for local
golfers over the years.
It, therefore, comes as no surprise that
their RB20 Golf Carnival was met with an Briefing and group photo taking at the practice green before the 18-hole
overwhelming response with more than tournament on Day 2.
70 golfers attending the two-day event.
General manager John Yap, was with a 20-Hole Par 3 Challenge where all On the second day, a traditional Sys-
pleased with the turnout and said: “I am 18 holes on the Ocean Course and the first tem 36, 18-hole tournament took place
not French, however the French saying, two holes of the Forest Course were spe- on the Ocean Course with plenty of
‘Je ne sais quoi’ (“I don’t know what”), cially converted into Par 3 holes by means chances to win novelty prizes.
comes to mind. I envision that Ria Bintan of relocated white and red tee boxes. For the final lucky draw, over 70 priz-
Golf Club will reach a point where guests At each of them was a hole-in-one es were up for grabs, with return flight Overall Champion and Division
cannot describe in words the feeling of cash prize of 10 million rupiah ($907.09), tickets to Europe sponsored by Turkish A — Best Gross Winner: Jack
being here, something intangible and bringing the total cash prize of the 20- Airlines and a 3-day, 2-night stay at Club Hemsley (above, left) who walked
mysterious but happy.” Hole Par 3 challenge to a whopping 200 Med Bintan topping the list. away with two trophies and a
On the day of arrival, golfers kicked off million rupiah ($18,154.69). — Jeremy Theseira Muta Driver worth S$1,020.
4 | SWING BY SPHGOLF | 27-28 OCTOBER 2018 | THE BUSINESS TIMES WEEKEND
A STAYCATION
GRAND PARK
CITY HALL
piece of heritage
in the heart of
Singapore’s civic centre
has been transformed
and what a grand rebirth
it has seen. The world
caught a
glimpse of the Grand Park City Hall’s
extensive renovation back in May
and its resurgence as a architectural
wonder that combines heritage with
modernity.
That it belongs to a part of the nation’s coloni-
al history going back into the early 19th century
along a stretch of similar ancestral buildings on
Coleman Street, makes this change even more
poignant.
Named after George D. Coleman, the first archi-
tect in Singapore, today’s landmarks on Coleman
Street include the Masonic Hall, Philatelic Muse-
um, Peninsula Shopping Centre, Peninsula Ex-
celsior Hotel and, of course, the newly rebooted
Grand Park City Hall.
Conceptualised by world-renowned firm Hirsch
Bedner Associates, guests can expect their sens-
es to be engaged – from the curated hotel scent,
City Hall features an updated driveway and ma-
jestic bronze arch gate entrance that fronts the
main Coleman Street instead of previously at
Coleman Lane.
Colonial façade outside and vintage Peranakan
within features artwork comprising local land-
marks; the architecture and design celebrate the
modernity of a country with a counterpoint to its
rich past and multiplicity of cultures.
Singapore-based artist, illustrator and photog-
rapher Aubrey Kurlansky curated the modern art
pieces that are located in the main lobby and Ta-
blescape resto-bar on the third floor, as well as
photographs of heritage corridors and shophous-
es in the Singapore of old.
The guest rooms embody Singapore’s culture
and history with Peranakan pattern tiles on the
floor, vintage trunks and bespoke furniture piec-
BY
BENNY
TEO
dens along with in-built Jacuzzis.
Six pairs of interconnecting child-friendly
rooms are specifically designed with families in
mind, complete with colourful bean bag chairs,
an activity desk, a magnetic blackboard wall and
rolling paper for kids to express their creativity.
And blending the past with the future is a mo-
bile application that allows guests to skip the
queue and front desk following a digital check-
in and go straight to their room with their digi-
tal key.
This same application also allows them to ad-
just in-room lighting and climate control. House-
keeping services can also be requested togeth-
er with the personalised assistance of the hotel
guest services manager.
Following the completion of 186 brand new
rooms, the final phase of transformation features
through to an art collection that recounts the his- es and cornice mouldings. an additional 157 guest rooms and suites, a new
tory of the island state. Located on the top floors of the hotel, a collec- gym facility, a new swimming pool and a new
As part of the restoration work, Grand Park tion of contemporary suites offers private gar- rooftop garden event space.
TAN WINS MEXICO TRIP IN STYLE WITH 40 POINTS
BT CORP LEAGUE HERO IS travelled Tan, a TMCC and Warren member, has
AMONG THREE CHAMPIONS never been to Mexico. “I understand they have
great courses, and I hope to do Singapore and
OF BMW GOLF CUP BMW proud,” he added.
He had honed his competitive game in the Busi- Unlike Tan, ladies’ winner Chia Siang Pio has
ness Times Corporate Golf League. been to Mexico on holiday. But the freelance as-
Playing in all six legs this year for the eventu- sociate trainer, a member of SICC and Keppel, has
al champions, Proelect, in the popular league that never golfed in the country and is truly excited
attracts corporates and companies, Tan Lee Hong about the forthcoming trip.
was as best prepared as he can be for the BMW Said Ms Chia, who amassed 37 points (gross 81),
Golf Cup. “I have been playing golf for close to 13 years and
Even before the tee-off of the German car com- The three winners, Tan Lee Hong (second from this is my second attempt at the event. Last year I
pany’s National Finals at Sentosa’s New Tanjong left), Chia Siang Pio and Xie Xiong, with BMW finished third with 36 points, so I am truly pleased
course last Wednesday, the long-haired Tan was representatives, Christopher Wehner (left) and at making it this time.”
tipped by many to be the champion. Arnt Bayer (right). She played a consistent round, sprinkled with a
And he did it in style, extracting an eagle and birdie, seven pars and 10 bogeys in her round. On
two birdies in his 78 gross score that gave him a joyed when my chip-in from about 20 feet rolled her birdie, she said: “On the par-four 11th hole, I
superb 40-point total and a spot to the 29th BMW in.” hit a driver and three-wood and sank a good putt.”
Golf Cup World Final in Mexico from March 18 to Tan, 47, a businessman who hit a 290-me- Like the long-hitter Tan, averaging 250 metres,
23. tre drive on hole 5 of the same course in the BT Ms Chia believes her 180-metre average drive is
As winner of Category A (0-12 handicap), Tan League, said: “I was very keen to compete in this her strength as it puts her in good positions to
will compete with representatives from over 50 grand event. As a BMW owner, I had paid the $500 attack the pin. The 9.8 handicap index golfer is
countries in the final in the historic Spanish-speak- to enter the event. a regular face on the golf course, playing two or
ing nation that is known for its tequilla drink. “Subsequently, when two golfers from Tanah three times a week.
On his eagle on the par-five 490-metre eighth Merah Country Club who were slated to play had The pair will be joined by Xie Xiong, winner of
hole which placed him in the driver’s seat for the to withdraw, the club asked me to represent them. Category B (13-24 handicap) with 39 points for the
coveted crown, Tan said: “I hit a driver and three- I agreed and had my $500 refunded.” trip to the North American country.
wood to the fringe of the green. And I was over- He is looking forward to the trip as the much- — Godfrey Robert
THE BUSINESS TIMES WEEKEND | 27-28 OCTOBER 2018 | SWING BY SPHGOLF | 5
T JACK NICKLAUS’
BY
BENNY TEO
LEGACY AT FOREST CITY
THE FIRST OF THREE 18-HOLE COURSES AT MALAYSIA’S NEWEST
who have earlier in June, lost one of
their stalwarts of golf in the former
36-hole Raffles Country Club.
Its arrival has also rejuvated a
golfing region that now includes the
multiple award-winning Horizon
Hills Golf Club, the 45 holes of
seaside golf at The Els Club Desaru
Coast and a newly renovated
Plantation Course at Tanjong Puteri
Golf Resort.
Together, the region now has 27
golf courses.
GOLF RESORT IS A WONDERMENT TO BEHOLD
he first of three 18-hole courses
at Malaysia’s newest golf resort
is a wonderment to behold.
It is only here that
one can find Middle Eastern desert meeting equatorial
tropical marshland, meeting Chinese grandiose. And it is
just a skip and hop away from the Second Link causeway
located at Tuas.
That it is so near the island republic
makes for a viable option for golfers
R&A’s Asia Pacific operations, come
together to unveil and hit the first
drives of the first tee.
Now, almost two months into
its opening, David Wang (above),
the resort’s club manager and golf
Singapore,” he continued.
Built to the tune of RM1.8 billion,
Forest City Golf Resort offers a
luxury Golf Hotel that is manned by
over 150 local staff representing 90
per cent of the employee population,
with others arriving from China to
supplement interest in the growing
Chinese market.
The entire Forest City project
to date, has created 1,200 job
opportunities for locals which
amount to an 80 per cent localisation
rate of the total workforce through
its master developer, Country
Garden Pacificview.
General Manager Yeo said of the
new course, “It’s a ‘desert-style’
concept, surrounded by mangroves
and natural water features, making
this a one-of-a-kind golf course for
novice and professional players.”
The veteran, formerly from Spring
City Golf and Lake Resort, also said
there will be residential homes,
retail shops and travel offerings
surrounding the new resort for a
holistic leisure experience for young
and old.
fairways and tight green sites make
this a fair yet demanding challenge
for all levels of golf.
The opening hole is a prime
example of this set-up. A relatively
straight Par 4, its wide fairways lull
golfers into believing it as an easy
start to the round. But on the tee
box, they are faced with a daunting
tee shot with bunkers on either side
of a fast narrowing fairway.
From there, the approach can
be as much as 200 yards to a small
green with only a bunker to the right
as protection. A three-shot hole for
most, par is a score that is hard to
achieve and bogey is considered fair.
Country Garden Malaysia Director
of Strategy, Ng Zhu Hann, is
confident that this latest addition will
further boost Johor as a preferred
leisure destination in the region.
“Forest City Golf Resort and
the Jack Nicklaus designed Forest
City Legacy Course will attract
golfing enthusiasts from all over
the world and elevate the state of
Johor’s golfing tourism reputation
in the region as this is a world class
Built by the legendary 18-time A Fringe Villa, as it is so called, that championship course. This will
course operations manager, has
Major winner, Jack Nicklaus, and surrounds the sprawling course, will in turn draw major investments,
witnessed its phenomenal growth.
his son Jack Nicklaus II, this is the cost as much as RM1.42 million with promote the state tourism,
“In the time since our opening,
first Legacy Course from the world- sizes ranging from 2,034 to 6,975 opportunities and skill transfers to
the course has been fully booked
renowned architects in the country. square feet of freeholding land. the locals,” he said.
through November,” he said.
The official launch early A long course with four sets of tee Forest City now offers a
“We have already entertained
September saw Arthur Yeo, general boxes, Nicklaus has designed it with promotional rate of RM220 with
several corporate golf events
manager of Forest City Golf Resort, the resort golfer and the good player shared caddie for weekday play and
and individual groups coming in
Paul Springer, executive vice- in mind. His penchant for bunkers RM430 for weekend until the end of
from Kuala Lumpur and the rest
president at Nicklaus Design and interspersing with wide, undulating the year.
of Malaysia, and especially from
Dominic Wall, director of the
6 | SWING BY SPHGOLF | 27-28 OCTOBER 2018 | THE BUSINESS TIMES WEEKEND
BY
BENNY TEO
HONMA BEZEAL YAMAHA UD+2
Japan’s most famous golfing export Another popular Japanese brand, club face closer to the shaft axis, aimed
is without a doubt, Honma. It may Yamaha also recently launched its at increasing club head speed during
not be its most widespread, as 2019 inpres UD+2 series to promote the downswing.
the legendary club and shaft distance, as indicated by the ‘+2’ Its fairway woods are also built with
company based in Sakata, label, and a unique sound quality on a 115-gram, high-density alloy sole,
Japan, is renowned for its its metalwoods that only the world’s and for the mid to long irons, a blade
very expensive equipment. foremost music instrument maker can undercut design that moves excess
However, the quality of achieve. weight from the top of the blade to
its products is undeniable Performance wise, pun unintended, the rear of the sole, making this truly,
and the new Honma BeZEAL the entire club range is built with Tip Yamaha’s most forgiving
535 series continue to set the Weight Technology, which is achieved and high launching
tone of excellence in manufacturing by placing sheet-like tungsten weights set up to date.
standands. and other materials at the tips of shafts
Built for senior golfers and to reduce deflection at impact and
ladies, the 535 is basically thereby increasing kick velocity and
a power-up over the 525 swing speed.
models. Its metalwoods offer Another attribute of Tip Weight
a proprietary Goove Power Technology is that it stabilises the shaft
Area, a sort of speed slot that to produce consistent launch angles
is built shallow and narrow and spin rates.
and positioned along the sole, For the driver, a 37-gram weight is
close to the club face. inserted into the sole, accounting
This slot helps to expand the for almost 20 per cent of the
sweetspot that aids in correcting head weight, which pulls the
misstruck shots off the heel and toe but centre of gravity low and
also increases clubhead speed to boost distance. deep to further complement
The centre of gravity can be lowered by the shaft’s quality for high
positioning a seven gram weight on the heel to launch and low spin.
promote high lauching flights with low spin that Also in the driver is a Head
will help those with slower swing speeds (around Turn Energy Design element
60 mph with the driver) achieve better results that places the centre of the
immediately.
For the titanium face irons, the slots are located
on the sole, toe, heel and top, combining to reduce
enough discretionary weight to place tungsten
inserts of six and three grams to the toe and heel
respectively and in both sides of the cavity.
And finally, the Vizard shaft for BeZeal is
carefully crafted with damping materials to
reduce power loss and increases club head speed LION SYSTEMA SUPER THIN
further with a higher kickpoint than the previous TOOTHBRUSH
model. And while you’re still at the shower room, check your teeth in
For the driver, shaft weight is offered in 48, 49.5 the mirror to ensure that it is not filled with plaque, especially
and 51 grams. the hard-to-get-to-ones at the back, which when accumulated,
can pose high cavity risks.
Systema, Japan’s number one toothbrush now offers a
new Super Thin head that is 40 per cent thinner to get to
the difficult areas between the grooves of your teeth. Use
in conjunction with the brand’s Gum Care toothpaste,
mouth wash, interdental brush and gel and floss to
remove seven times more plaque.
SHOKUBUTSU 2-IN-1 SPORTADE
HAIR AND BODY WASH Homegrown energy drink Sportade is a non-
After a hot and sweaty day out on carbonated isotonic refreshment that comes in
the course, Shokubutsu offers the three flavours — Ice Blueberry,
perfect way to finish the day. A Purple Grape and Strawberry
convenient two-in-one product, — and contains electrolytes
the Japanese hair and body to replenish lost body fluids
wash comes with a unique dual faster than water.
action botanical formula for an Great tasting and healthy
energising full body clean. with less sugar, it is the
Comes in two variants, ‘Fresh perfect companion to pump
Blast’ for a cooling and refreshing up tired bodies throughout
wash and ‘Power Up’ for the round.
hydrating and deodorising scrub. Sportade is Halal certified.
THE BUSINESS TIMES WEEKEND | 27-28 OCTOBER 2018 | SWING BY SPHGOLF | 7
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