Classic gets grip on pandemic
Robin Bose from thegolfinghub.com, in India, reports that the Classic Golf & Country Club – venue for the Classic Golf & Country Club International Championship and an Asian Tour Destinations member ‒ has weathered the COVID storm well.
It isn’t for nothing that the Classic Golf & Country Club was declared the safest golf course in the National Capital Region during the pandemic.
Ensconced at the foothills of the Aravalli Mountain ranges in Haryana’s Mewat district, not far from the capital New Delhi, this 27-hole Jack Nicklaus signature course was a first in South Asia when it came up, and with time has maintained the exclusive tag. It’s not just the layout that makes the 300-acre facility unique; the work ethic of the workforce is top-notch as well. This came to the fore again with the way operations were handled after the golf course reopened following the first and second phases of lockdown in the space of a year.
There were a couple of mantras that drove the campaign to prove “golf is the safest sport in these times”, and along the way stringent steps ensured that not a single staff or club member tested positive for the virus.
Keshav Kumar, DGM (Marketing and Sales) was at the forefront of this drive. “My chief concern was if I could keep my staff safe, the members would be healthy too. It was better to take extra precautions than to regret later,” he said.
The measures pressed into action did evoke resentment from some quarters initially given the uncertain times, but there was no budging by the authorities. A lot of research went into formulating the policies as well as inputs from the parent company ITC’s COVID command centre.
Rory Hie won the 2019 Classic Golf & Country Club International Championship to become the first Indonesian winner on the Asian Tour.
Atop the to-do list was to ensure the golf course was in prime condition when members returned after the first reopening last year. A small workforce was stationed at the facility for maintenance and a quarantine centre set up nearby to test personnel on return as the situation started to ease.
Soon, it was time to throw open the gates to members. Those coming in after booking their tee-time on the club’s app were subjected to temperature checks and had to produce proof (via the Indian government’s health app Aarogya Setu) that they were safe to proceed after sanitization of their cars.
All through, the endeavour was to ensure social distancing/minimum contact. Golfers were expected to park and hop on to a cart from a designated spot and head to the clubhouse. Once at the pro shop, payments were accepted by scanning the bar code. It was one golfer to a cart and tee times were advanced to ensure there was a 15-minute gap between groups. Members could carry food, but items they got from home. Water was available on course, placed on racks at vantage points for pickup. After the round, golfers had to leave the cart at a designated spot for a four-stage sanitation process. This involved four personnel in PPE suits first spraying sanitizer, followed by water and air being applied at high pressure. The final stage was about fogging the vehicle and aligning it in the parking lot. The carts took a hit, especially the electricals, a result of the cleansing, but nothing could be left to chance.
Among the list of don’ts was using the spa and locker rooms, raking of bunkers and access to caddies, who were engaged as spotters during this phase. To keep a check on exposure, golf course personnel were divided into two teams and worked on alternate days.
Given the skepticism, footfall fell but the inflow was consistent, and numbers rose with time as word spread about the measures in place to ensure a safe round of golf at a course that showed the way to cope with a crisis of unprecedented proportions.
Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert says he is completely focused on finishing in the top-30 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit so that he earns a place in next year’s US$5million Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers ‒ the Tour’s new season-opening flagship event.
The two-time Asian Tour winner returned this week from a three-month stint in the US where he made it to the second stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School and is now preparing for the Asian Tour Phuket Series, which starts at the end of this month.
“I am very happy the Asian Tour is restarting – I know the Tour has been working very hard to get back,” said Pavit.
“It’s amazing for Thailand that the Tour is restarting in my country with back-to-back events in Phuket and then to have the Saudi International become part of the Tour is really good news – I am really focused on getting into the top-30 on the Order of Merit to get into that event. I am now 21st [on the Merit list] so it’s going to be very, very close. Every tournament means a lot.”
The Blue Canyon Phuket Championship tees-off from November 25 to 28 on the Canyon Course at Blue Canyon Country Club, while the Laguna Phuket Championship will be staged the following week at Laguna Golf Phuket.
Both events boast prizemoney of US$1million and will be followed by two events being planned in Singapore in January that will bring to a conclusion, the 2020-21 season.
The Saudi International will commence the 2022 season in February and feature the top-30 players from the final Merit list.
Pavit added: “And if I can win in Phuket it also means a lot as I am playing in my home country. I am completely focused on the Asian Tour, I have nothing to worry about, I can’t wait. We’ve stopped playing since March last year.”
The 32 year old says playing in the US has made him a stronger player.
“I was pretty happy with the result actually,” he commented.
“I didn’t make it but it’s my first professional events in America. It’s a new experience there.”
The Thai star made it through stage one in Arizona but struggled with the cold weather and tough golf course at the second stage in New Mexico.
“I made a mistake on picking the course in New Mexico. I played well in Arizona – the weather is like Asia. I should have picked Florida. New Mexico is like one or two degrees in the morning, and I couldn’t feel my hands. I practiced in Florida with Kiradech [Aphibarnrat] and I practiced on Bermuda grass there, but when I went to New Mexico it’s Bent grass. It’s completely different.”
The US trip also meant he was able to spend more time with his wife, Chorpaka Jaengkit, as she is also a Tour professional, and they are normally thousands of miles apart. She plays on the Symetra Tour in the US – although she received a medical exemption.
“I am pretty confident [heading into Phuket]. I played against some high-quality players in the US and learned a lot. I can’t wait to compete and play on the grass here, it’s different, it’s Thailand,” said Pavit, who has also won a record seven times on the Asian Development Tour.
In the first of this year’s engaging series of “Our Time” videos ‒ a collaboration with Tour partner Rolex ‒ Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond talks about his love of the Asian Tour, the early days and the pandemic.
Jazz Janewattananond, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, says he hopes the Asian Tour can be “one of the global Tours” now that it is about to restart and that the only way to deal with the pandemic was to “power through it”.
The Thai star has been playing on the European Tour this year but is preparing for the Asian Tour’s restart in Phuket at the end of November.
“When I heard the Asian Tour is on, I felt like things are going to be back to normal,” said Jazz, in his “Our Time” video.
“Everything is going to be fine you know, it’s just one of those things, that means our region is improving, the pandemic situation in Asia is improving because they are allowing us to set up tournaments, and the Asian Tour is doing better. It’s just a win-win situation for the players, the Tour and the region.”
The 26 year old will compete in both Asian Tour Phuket Series events: first the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship from November 25-28 and then the Laguna Phuket Championship, from December 2-5.
These events were announced recently and will help bring the curtain down on the 2020-21 season, while just last Friday the Tour revealed that its 2022 schedule will boast 10 new events that will form a new series of tournaments each boasting prizemoney of US$1million and above.
“My hope for the Asian Tour in the future is that we can be one of the global Tours that can compete with any Tour on earth, really looking forward to it,” added Jazz.
Like all players, the Thai star’s schedule was hampered by the pandemic, but he found a way to deal with the situation.
“When the pandemic hit it was really hard for us,” he said.
“Where I come from in Thailand, it was really hard, the country was shut down. We could not go back home, everyone was facing the similar situation, but you gotta move on and power through it.”
Jazz is a six-time winner on the Asian Tour ‒ four of which came in 2019 ‒ and is grateful for the opportunities it afforded to him
“The Asian Tour is where it started: the whole golf professional process. I played the first one when I was 12 or 13, I can’t remember. When you play Asian Tour it’s more like you are going out, hanging out with your friends,” he said.
His first win on the Asian Tour came at the 2017 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open. But it was back in 2010 when he first made a name for himself when he became the youngest player ever, at age 14 years 71 days, to make the halfway cut in an Asian Tour event at Asian Tour International in Bangkok, as an amateur.
“It’s the vibe there [on the Asian Tour], everyone is friends, you go there to enjoy your week, you stay in the same hotel, you take a bus to the golf course. So, there is a connection there with me and my golf, and childhood and Asian Tour. We kind of all grew up together,” said the Thai.
“It’s great to have a Tour in our region that is really well run and very good to improve young players like me. If I didn’t have Asian Tour I don’t know where my career will be at.”
‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 16: Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand tees off the first hole during Day One of the Dutch Open at Bernardus Golf on September 16, 2021 in Cromvoirt, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Two-time Asian Tour winner Miguel Tabuena says he is in the best shape of his life as he prepares for the forthcoming Asian Tour Phuket Series, thanks to extensive work with Dr. Harry Sese ‒ the strength and conditioning coach of world number one Jon Rahm from Spain.
The Filipino star has been based in Bellevue, Washington, for most of the pandemic period and has also been practicing regularly with PGA Tour player Cam Davis from Australia.
“I have been playing quite a bit with Cam and we both work with Harry Sese,” said Tabuena.
“I am close to him and he is a fellow Filipino as well. He is the number one guy of Jon Rahm. So, I have been looked after very well here in the States.
“I am a bit rusty but the most fit right now in my career. It’s one of the positives I got from the pandemic set back.”
The Asian Tour Phuket Series starts with the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship from November 25-28, followed the week after by the Laguna Phuket Championship. The two US$1 million tournaments are part of the 2020-21 season ending events, with two final ones planned for Singapore in January.
HONG KONG, CHINA – JANUARY 11: Miguel Tabuena of Philippines tees off during the third round of the Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club on January 11, 2020 in Hong Kong. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Tabuena has been starved of playing opportunities because of the pandemic, but when he has competed he has seized the opportunity, including winning an event in September run by the PGA of America.
He added: “Playing practice rounds with myself and Cam is a no brainer; I can shoot six or seven under with my eyes closed but when it’s actually tournament play it’s very much different, you are under pressure with your score counting, and world ranking points on the line.”
The 27-year-old from Manila was thrilled when he heard the Asian Tour would restart this month.
“It was really good to hear from Cho [Cho Minn Thant] that things were going to start to move again on the Asian Tour, so I have been preparing quite a bit. It is great for us who have full playing status on the Asian Tour. It is going to be great playing again and I am very much excited as I miss my friends on the Asian Tour.
“It will be great to see everyone, all the staff as well, who I have been very close to for the past 10 years since I have been on Tour. It will be great to see those faces again.
“But I am just grateful that we get to play golf again especially in Asia and be part of this new partnership with Greg Norman!”
He said his game could be better but as of now he is pretty much ready for Phuket.
He has a Monday qualifier for the Houston Open next week and will fly to Phuket on November 18.
“My expectations are not that high going to Phuket,” he added.
“Maybe I will contend and maybe I will not, but I won’t make a big deal out of it. It’s the first tournament back and I am glad to be part of it.”
In-form Sadom Kaewkanjana became only the sixth player from Thailand to win the Thailand Open when he claimed the title at Riverdale Golf Club yesterday.
The 23 year old secured a four-shot victory over compatriot Prom Meesawat in the 49th staging of the event.
Sadom closed with a five-under-par 66 to win with a total of 23 under, and make it three wins on home soil this year. He won the SINGHA-SAT Phuket Classic on the Lakes Course at Blue Canyon Country Club at the beginning of October and the following week he was victorious in the Singha Laguna Phuket Open.
The rising star will be one to look out for at the forthcoming two-leg Asian Tour Phuket Series which will be played at the same two venues – although the Canyon Course will be used for the Blue Canyon event.
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, who won Singha Pattaya Open the week before, and countryman Suradit Yongcharoenchai were tied for third.
Sadom, who did not drop a shot in the last two rounds, received the King Rama IV trophy and a cheque for 1.5 million baht (about US$44,885).
The tournament was due to be staged on the Asian Tour but was prevented from doing so by the pandemic. It was therefore sanctioned by the All Thailand Golf Tour and it marked the fourth time Sadom has won on the circuit.
The other Thai winners of the country’s oldest golf event are: Prom’s father Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004), Prayad Marksaeng (2013), Rattanon Wannasrichan (2017) and Panuphol Pittayarat (2018).
“I feel really happy to win this trophy and I think every Thai golfer wants to win this one,” said Sadom, who won the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open on the Asian Tour.
“I try to hit fairways as much as I could and this week I managed to play my game without any pressure.”
Fourteen-year-old amateur Ratchanon Chantananuwat shot 66 to finish 16th and finish as the low amateur.
“I am really proud because it is a big tournament and there are many great golfers in the tournament,” he said.
He also plans to compete in the Asian Tour Phuket Swing.
Sentosa Golf Club has wrapped up another successful awards season, after capturing the title of ‘World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’ for the second consecutive year at the 2021 World Golf Awards in Dubai.
This latest accolade comes shortly after the Club received recognition as ‘Sustainability Champion of the Year’ at the Britcham 22nd Annual Business Awards (British Chamber of Commerce Singapore), further crediting their efforts in golf’s battle against climate change from an array of highly successful initiatives over the past 12 months.
Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong also collected ‘Singapore’s Best Golf Course’ at the World Golf Awards, with the course recently ranked at number one in Golf Digest’s ‘Best Courses in Every Country’ list.
At the World Golf Awards the Club’s latest achievement is the third year in a row it has collected a headline, ‘world’s best’ award, having first captured the title of ‘World’s Best Golf Club’ in 2019.
It has been another standout year in the sustainability field, during which the Club announced a new pledge to become the world’s first carbon neutral golf club by 2022, through various initiatives to actively manage and reduce its carbon, water and waste footprint including the deployment of energy efficient buggies, innovative irrigation and agronomy technologies, and supporting offsite carbon sequestration through certified high-quality offsets from contributions from golf rounds.
The Club’s sustainability plans are aligned with the recently announced Sustainable Sentosa strategic roadmap. The Club is part of the Sentosa Carbon Neutral Network, a business alliance committed to achieving Sentosa Island’s dual goals of carbon neutrality by 2030 and becoming a globally recognised, certified sustainable tourism destination.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony in Dubai, Sentosa Golf Club General Manager, Andrew Johnston, said: “To be recognised as the ‘World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’ for the second successive year, as well as ‘Sustainability Champion of the Year’ at the Britcham 22nd Annual Business Awards, is an outstanding achievement. Receiving recognition for our hard work to improve and pioneer new sustainable initiatives over the last 12 months is also hugely satisfying.
“Sentosa will take great pride and satisfaction in winning these awards, however our focus will remain on continuing the excellent work that has been carried out over the last three years and to continue to lead the industry in tackling this critical issue.”
Sentosa Golf Club’s awards success is firmly backed by the strength of its team, who deliver state-of-the-art championship courses in tournament ready conditions, 365 days of the year, under the leadership and guidance of Johnston.
He masterminded an extensive renovation last year to The Serapong, to maintain its pristine quality playing standards and elevate the course to a new level on the world stage and has also been credited as second runner up in the 2021 Healthy Land Stewardship Award at the GCSAA Environmental leaders in the Golf Awards.
As part of the Club’s ongoing GAME ON campaign, five new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations were installed earlier this year as part of Porsche Destination Charging. This initiative is a global charging network being introduced at premium lifestyle destinations, with Sentosa being the first golf club in Singapore and the Southeast Asia region to join the programme.
In July 2020, Sentosa became the first golf club in the world to sign the UN’s Sports for Climate Action Initiative to help set the sports industry and their communities on a path to achieving the global climate goals established by world leaders at the Paris Agreement in 2016.
The Asian Tour is based on Sentosa Island, and Sentosa Golf Club is part of the Tour’s Asian Tour Destinations network.
Former world #1 and World Golf Hall of Fame member, Greg Norman, has today been announced as CEO of a newly formed company, LIV Golf Investments, a move which will set in motion a number of momentous developments for professional golf worldwide.
Norman’s first order of business is the announcement of a ground-breaking series of 10 new marquee events to be staged annually on the Asian Tour over the next 10 years, representing a total commitment of over $200m to support playing opportunities and prize funds. The move represents one of the single biggest investments in the history of professional golf.
The series will be added to the Asian Tour schedule from 2022 onwards, with new events across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. It has been designed to drive greater engagement amongst fans, attract new commercial interest and to help stabilize professional golf following a sustained period of worldwide disruption and uncertainty.
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
“This is only the beginning,” commented Norman. “LIV Golf Investments has secured a major capital commitment that will be used to create additive new opportunities across worldwide professional golf. We will be a cooperative and respectful supporter of the game at every level, and today’s announcement alongside the Asian Tour is the first example of that.
“I have been a staunch supporter and believer in playing and developing golf in Asia for more than four decades. The Asian Tour is a sleeping giant and we share ambition to grow the series and unlock what we believe is significant untapped potential. We see our promotion of these new events as a vital first step in supporting emerging markets, creating a new platform, rich with playing opportunities that create valuable player pathways.”
LIV Golf Investments has been established with group companies in the USA, UK, with Asian offices to follow. Several high-profile C-Suite executives have already been appointed, with further announcements to follow in due course. PIF, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds with a diverse international investment portfolio, is the majority shareholder in the new company. Plans are in place to introduce further investment partners, who share the passion and belief in how new opportunities in professional golf can create widespread benefit for fans and players.
“This is the single biggest development in the history of the Asian Tour and a major milestone for professional golf,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Asian Tour. “The opportunity will secure unprecedented new playing opportunities, establish new player pathways, allow us to compete commercially with other sports, and enhance our social agenda.
“We are particularly excited at the prospect today’s landmark announcement brings to the amateur game, providing new inspiration to aspiring players through a new level of top-flight professional competition in the region.”
The series will add to the Asian Tour’s backbone of established events to comprise a 25-event season, expected to represent a record-breaking combined prize-fund in 2022. Each of the 10 new events will be broadcast live across the globe, with plans to attract an international field of headline talent through an open eligibility category regardless of Tour affiliation so opportunities are available to the broadest cross section of players.
Today’s announcement closely follows the striking of a new 10-year partnership between the Asian Tour and Golf Saudi, the organisers of the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, which will see the event become the flagship tournament on the Asian Tour, featuring an impressive increased prize fund of $5m. The Saudi International will not be one of the 10 new events to feature as part of the new series but will itself provide enhanced exemption requirements.
Further signals of increased prosperity for the Asian Tour also came recently with the announcement that competitive play will soon recommence following a postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its suspended 2020/21 season will draw to a close with the staging of two new tournaments in Thailand in November and December 2021, and two further tournaments planned for Singapore in January 2022.
The new series of 10 events will take place throughout 2022, with all full-field events contributing towards the Order of Merit ranking.
Further details on the new series, including a reveal of the brand and series name, will follow in the near future.
About LIV Golf Investments
LIV Golf Investments is a newly formed company, with group companies in the USA and UK, with Asian offices to follow. Its remit is to holistically improve the health of professional golf on a truly global scale and support existing stakeholders to help unlock the sports’ untapped potential. Greg Norman is the first and founding CEO of LIV Golf Investments. PIF, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds with a diverse international investment portfolio, is the majority shareholder in LIV Golf Investments.
Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club is another precious golfing gem in the south of Malaysia, who became part of Asian Tour Destinations last year. We felt it was time to catch up with them and find out how things are at the club. We spoke to Ong Seng Kiat, the Assistant General Manager – Club Operations.
Becoming part of Asian Tour Destinations is an exciting development. What are you looking forward to the most?
It is very exciting, especially since Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club is the second property under our Group and second club in the country to receive this distinction after Kota Permai Golf & Country Club.
We are looking forward to more involvement with the Asian Tour, especially to boost golf in the southern region of Malaysia. Seeing Asian Tour players practice and play at our venue away from the pressures of tournaments will definitely help increase interest to play here.
In addition, we want to establish interclub relations with other Asian Tour Destination venues and link-up with its partners.
It has been a difficult year for the golf industry. How has Horizon Hills handled the situation, in particular with the border closed?
It’s been tough, especially considering that a lot of golfers that regularly play at Horizon Hills hail from Singapore.
We’ve had many meetings with key management personnel on business strategies moving forward and we are looking forward to executing these.
While the club was closed, we still kept up a maintenance schedule for the course and the facilities plus we vaccinated the entire workforce.
The border is still closed so we will be looking to entice golfers from within the country to come and experience Horizon Hills.
Your club has been opened for 13 years and, prior to the pandemic, you must have been delighted with the progress the club has made?
Yes, Horizon Hills has come a long way in its 13 years, from hosting internationally acclaimed tournaments such as the Iskandar Johor Open (2010-2012) to winning numerous awards and accolades from various reputable organisations.
On top of that, the location at the southern tip of the peninsular so close to Singapore sees us welcoming a lot of foreign golfers, even all the way from China due to direct flights being introduced to the Senai International Airport.
Sergio Garcia posing with the winner’s trophy at the Iskandar Johor Open at Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club on December 16, 2012 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. (Photo by Khalid Redza/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
What are some of the club’s landmark achievements?
Hosting the Iskandar Johor Open from 2010 to 2012 was a great achievement for us. But we are also proud to have earned some great awards, such as: Best Course in Malaysia – Asian Golf Awards, First Runner-Up, 2019; ParGolf People’s Choice Awards, Top 3 Best Overall Golf Experience, 2018; Malaysia’s Top 10 Golf Courses, Winner, 2017; HAPA Golf Course Of The Year – Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards (HAPA), Winner 2016-2018; and Regional Series Awards 2016 – 2018.
How much has the golfing landscape in Johor changed over the past 10 years and what is the outlook in the region post COVID-19?
It’s changed quite a bit especially with the opening and closing of several golf courses. Now the scene includes some prominent big players so it’s a good challenge for us to keep growing and improving too. In terms of outlook, hopefully things go back as close to normal as possible but SOPs will still remain in place for awhile to safeguard players from contracting the virus. A lot of things will go digital or contactless – this will be interesting to see how far the golf industry can progress on this front.
Horizon Hills hosted the Johor Open in 2010, 2011 and 2012. What was that experience like for the club and do you intend to stage tournaments in the future?
It was a very memorable and enlightening experience for everyone, especially when it came to learning the ropes on how an event of such magnitude is planned, organised and executed. The bonus was welcoming players and watching them in action, also working with officials from the Asian Tour. It was a very good learning experience for everyone. If there is a possibility or opportunity to stage tournaments in the future, Horizon Hills will readily welcome this.
You are one of the leading and most established club’s in the region. What have been the keys to your success?
Basically, it boils down to three things – our people, our products and our services. We empower our people to go above and beyond their scope of responsibilities and in turn, take care of their wellbeing as best we can with a lot of perks and privileges. We are very conscious about our products and services and are constantly trying to find ways and means to further improve on them.
Photo by Mike Casper
What has been the club’s mission statement over the years and objectives moving forward?
Mission: To be a premier golf destination that provides a well-maintained golf course, quality facilities, excellent services, competitive pricing and valued affiliations; consistently achieves international recognition; and to be a popular sports and recreational hub for the community.
Objectives: To continuously improve on our people, products and services so that we come to mind when anyone wants to experience golf in Johor and on a wider extent, Malaysia.
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