Monday, August 30, 2010

Liang Jumps Up World Rankings After Thailand Open Victory

Singapore, 30 August 2010: China's Liang Wenchong has risen to world number 57 after his dramatic win in the US$1 million Thailand Open on OneAsia at the weekend.

Liang jumped seven places after taking the title and is now the fourth ranked Asian on the world rankings behind Koreans Y. E. Yang (37th) and K. J. Choi (49th) and Japan young gun Ryo Ishikawa (56th).

"One of my targets this year is to get into the top 50 in the world rankings," said Liang during the Thailand Open. "That will assure me spots in all the Majors next year."

The 32-year-old Liang lifted his third OneAsia title by one stroke after holding off challenges from Thai rising star Namchok Tantipokhakul and veteran Michael Wright from Australia at Burapha Golf Club.

He won last year's Midea China Classic and the 2010 season-opening Luxehills Chengdu Open.

The former Asian number one is enjoying a rich vein of form.

He followed up a second place finish at the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta at Damai Indah Golf - Pantai Indah Kapuk Course in July with an outstanding display at the final Major of the year, the US PGA Championship, where he shot a course record 64 in the third round at Whistling Straits on his way to eighth spot in the elite field.

His winnings of US$180,000 at the Thailand Open saw him leapfrog Yang into top spot on the OneAsia Order of Merit with earnings of US$493,200.

New Address Ria Bintan Golf Club - Jakarta Sales Office

Effective 1 September 2010 the Jakarta Sales Office of Ria Bintan Golf Club will be operating from:

Ria Bintan Golf Club - Jakarta Sales Office
Barclays House, Management Building 3rd Floor
Jl Jend. Sudirman Kav 22-23, Jakarta 12920

Telephone: +62 21 571 1137
Facsimile: +62 21 571 2264

FusionExcel Long Drive Golf Carnival 2010

The FusionExcel Long Drive Challenge 2010 is a series of qualifying tournaments in major cities throughout South East Asia, proceeding to Country Finals and ending in a Grand Final.

The tournament is open to all golfers and anyone that would like to have a try at hitting the ball as far as they can.

EVENT DETAILS

The FusionExcel Long Drive Golf Carnival will be held between Friday, September 24th – Sunday, September 26th (3 Days) at Cengkareng Golf Club

LONG DRIVE CHALLENGE
  • The Long Drive Challenge will be held at field between Cengkareng Golf Clubhouse and Toll Road between 11am – 6pm.
  • Two (2) Winners will compete and represent Indonesia in a Grand Final for prize money and the title with an all expense paid trip to Malaysia.
  • The event will be promoted through media partners and various promotional materials produced in the lead up to the event and during.
  • There will be 3 divisions: An Open, Seniors 45-55, and super seniors 55+ and a special ladies event.
  • There will be daily prizes given away to amateurs who win daily challenges inclusive of Drivers and Woods.
  • There will be prize money given away to Golf Professionals participating totaling to Rp40,000,000 over the 3 days. A certain amount will be given out on a daily basis.
  • Participants enter by buying 3 balls to hit at the venue and be counted towards the competition.
  • Entry Fee for Long Drive Competition is Rp150,000 per Amateur Golfer and Rp200,000 per Professional Golfer. Each Participant will get a Goody Bag for every entry made inclusive of a Shirt, Cap, Recycled Bag, Tees and a Certificate of Participation.
  • Entry Fee for Putting and Chipping Competition is Rp50,000 per Amateur Golfer.
GOLF CARNIVAL
  • Will be held at Cengkareng Golf Club Driving Range
  • The Carnival will feature Indonesia's largest golf clearance sale with amazing discounts.
  • There will be putting and chipping competitions on the green area of the driving range with great prizes to be given away on a daily basis including Putters and Wedges.
  • Participants will be able to try out and test the products of each merchant at the driving range and get tips on what they should be buying from each merchant's sales clerks.
  • The event will be promoted through media partners and various promotional materials produced in the lead up to the event and during.
For more information, please contact Harmony Le Riche +62 817147371 or email at harmony@obgolfandlifestyle.com

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Kariza Classic

Between September 21 and 24 the Kariza Classic will be held at Imperial Golf Club in Karawaci.

Over the past years, this tournament has gained in importance and any golfer that like to compete against fellow golfers in a amateur/pro-like tournament should join this tournament that annually is organized by The Flag, one of Indonesia’s quality golf publication.

For more information golfers can contact: Wendra Lesmana at wendra@kariza.biz

Golf Joke

A betting golfer says to his wife, "what would you do if I won Lotto?"

She says,
"I'd take half, then leave you."

"Excellent," he replies,
"I won $10, here's $5 - now F*ck off!"

Monday, August 23, 2010

Golfing For Career Advancement

Thirty three percent (33%) of people in Indonesia questioned in a Reuter/Ipsos poll said they used the sport as a means of professional social networking. The same figure was put on people asked the same question in China and Saudi Arabia. In India that figure was even 10% higher and stands at 40%.

Overall, 15 percent of the 12,691 employees surveyed in 24 countries said golf gave them an opportunity to climb the corporate ladder.

Nearly half of the employees that joint the survey in China thought the sport could help to advance their career, followed by 46 percent of employees in India, 37 percent in South Korea, 35 percent in South Africa and 30 percent in Saudi Arabia.

In Britain, 22 percent said the sport could benefit their career but only 5 percent said they used the sport to get closer to senior management. Source Reuters/New York

Bali Handara Revisited

For me, Bali Handara has always been a special place and certainly not only because of the golf course. Recently I traveled to Bali to revisit Bali Handara and meet up with my longtime buddy Supriadi Mawardi, the new and current General Manager.

My first ever visit to Bali Handara dates back to 1987, when the course was just voted into the top-50 courses of the world by USA based Golf Magazine. Until today, I proudly treasure the beautifully handwritten certificate that is a testament to my maiden round at this awesome location.

Many years have passed and ever since I permanently moved back to Indonesia in 1990, I have played the course at least a three dozen times. Over the years I have seen the course mature into one of the most exciting layouts (and sites) in the world of golf, as much as I have also seen it deteriorate form times to times.
The well known proverb that "new brooms always sweep cleaner" truly is applicable here and the new management has put in place a program that looks at upgrading the course as well as the hotel facility. Only a few months into the new job, Supriadi has put his mark on the course and the hotel. It truly shows what simple and basic maintenance can do to a course.

Depending on how much money will be made available by the owners, it needs to be seen what the future brings for Bali Handara, a course that once has put Indonesia on the world map of golf. Under the new management, overall maintenance is pretty good while fairways and greens look better than they have ever done over the past five years. However, lots of upgrading is still heeded and especially in bunkering. Most of these traps are shallow and at the end of their life span and given the explosive development of today's golf equipment and balls, repositioning of bunkers need to be looked at. It is hoped that Supriadi will get all the support from the owners and in doing so to bring back Bali Handara to the forefront of world golf.

Located in a more than 300 years extinct volcanic crater - and as it (almost every hour of the day) is exposed to constant changing of day light, for golf course photographers like me Bali Handara is a genuine treat. The more than 350 meter high forest-clad crater wall that overlooks the site is dramatic and impressive and serves as a natural backdrop photographers and film directors can only dream of.

Over a period of two full days I shot at least 200 pictures that show the course in clear sunlight as well as in light that was colored orange-yellow by a setting sun. On the final day it was overcast causing it the course and clubhouse to be back dropped by dramatically dark rain-filled clouds and flairs of gloomy mist. Yet, even this type of weather allowed me to make some of the best pictures in a long time.

Bali Handara is back on the radar and with the new general manager in place golfers are likely to be pleasantly surprised with enhanced maintenance at the course and hotel when showing up in Bedugul for a "must" round of golf at one of the most historic courses in today's world of golf. Make sure you play Bali Handara next time you are in Bali and stay over for the night. It truly is worth the trip!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Mountain View Golf Club Opens New 5 Storey Club House

Dago Pakar, Bandung - Mountain View Golf Club has just celebrated the opening of its new 5 storey club house on Sunday the 1st of August with an invitational golf tournament and lunch program that hosted many dignitaries and officials to witness the occasion. The event was hosted by the owner Mr. Sundjono Suriadi and the invited officials included the Governor of Bandung Mr. Ahmad Heryawan, Agum Gumelar and chief of the committee golf Indonesia Mr. Arifin Panigoro.

The new club house facilities include; VIP rooms, massage, luxury lockers for men and ladies, Champions Bar & restaurant, multi function room, balcony lounge, roof top open function area and a well stocked golf shop adjacent to the grand lobby entrance. The restaurant is also open for evening diners and offers a slection of foods from Indonesian, Western and Japanese favourites with chef specials.

Mountain View Golf Club enjoys some 20% of the total rounds from Malaysia, Singapore and
other Asian neighboring countries.
From the club house golfers and visitors will enjoy breathtaking views of the golf course and the nearby mountain ranges with the city of Bandung sprawled in the forefront.
Visitors are welcome 7 days a week so if you're looking for spectacular mountain golf go to Mountain View Golf Club on your next visit to Bandung  Call for more information: Ph: (+62 - 22 253 6089 or email: mountainview.bdg@gmail.com

Check out their web site: www.resordagopakar.com (new web
site released in September 2010)

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Screen Golf In Jakarta

Recently a brand new indoor golf center opened on Jalan Wolter Monginsidi No. 89. The name of the facility is GOLF PRO SCREEN GOLF. It offers 5 spacious rooms in which indoor golf can be played by making use of state of the art golf simulators.
The facility is pleasantly decorated and offers a convenient seating area for those golfers that have to wait their turn when playing in a four ball.
Unfortunately Indoor Golf, so far, hasn’t been on the forefront yet in Indonesia, but given the advanced technology of today, the latest equipment is way better than the early simulators introduced in Indonesia some 10 years ago. Go and try your hand at Indoor Golf. Here’s is a chance to get yourself introduced to an exciting new way of golf, something you can do during rainy days and at times that the sun has long set. In the near future I will try the place myself and I will keep you posted on my experience. In the meantime, you should try it too and fill me in on your thoughts.

Swiss-Belhotel International Takes Over Bali Kuta Resort

Swiss-Belhotel International, a rapidly expanding international management company with over 60 hotels, resorts and projects in Asia Pacific and Middle East is taking over the management of 251 international standard room accommodations in Kuta, Bali effective 1 August 2010.

The new property, Bali Kuta Resort by Swiss-Belhotel is conveniently located in the heart of Kuta area, 15 minutes away from the Denpasar International Airport and five minutes to Kuta beach. As the hotel allows easy access to entertainment venues, tourist attractions, exclusive shopping and site seeing in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and Nusa Dua, golfers that are looking for a convenient place to stay in Kuta may well consider staying at Bali Kuta Resort.

Each room has a spacious bathroom and is fully equipped with LCD TV with international channels, IDD/NDD telephone lines, wi-fi internet access, in-room safe, individually-controlled air-conditioning, mini bar, coffee and tea-making facilities, while suite type is complemented with separate living room and dining area.

Pink Pepper Restaurant is designed in casual dining atmosphere overlooking the pool and offers sumptuous Indonesian and international specialties and international favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Muze Lobby Lounge and Cupid Pool Bar are designed in friendly ambiance, serve variants of light meals, snacks and beverages throughout the day. 24-hour in-room dining, business centre, swimming pool, kid’s club, fitness centre, spa are also available in the premises.

Given all of the above, the Indonesia Golf Consortium (IGC) opened discussions to make Bali Kuta Resort a member of the consortium and include this facility into the IGC golf packages. In doing so, we can guarantee golfers a fine place to stay in Bali and in close proximity of the best courses on the island.