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SCRATCH

December 31, 2013

Editor

Ray Tsang

Staff Contributors

Ray Tsang

Joyce Cheng

Garrick Kong

Guest Contributor

Anthony Kim

Proofreader

Logan Hairgrove

A Newsletter Commissioned by Hong Kong Prime Golf Society

Our first ever Christmas party took place at Havana Bay, a private

lounge, on December 13th. It was a success. More than 30

members turned up, and everybody thoroughly enjoyed the

evening. A special thanks to Dr. Loke, the proprietor, for letting us

use his lounge, for being so friendly and hospitable, and for

cooking all those delicious foods for us.

In January 2014, we will kick start a new program called "Path to

the Green". Its aim is to prepare beginner golfers to play on the

course. To make the teaching more focused and effective, we will

limit the number of participants to ten. The ten participants will be

divided into two groups and go through a lesson every week for

four consecutive weeks. This program will be headed by HKPGS

members Mr. Ben Lau and Mr. Garrick Kong. We are extremely

grateful for their involvement in this program.

A highly useful golf manual called The Position Method Handbook

by Mr. Po Chung, co-founder and chairman emeritus of DHL

International (Hong Kong) Ltd, is now available on our Meetup

website. We would like to thank Mr. Po Chung for supporting

HKPGS. ♣

Council's Message

Some of the happy faces at the Christmas party.

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As I Please

Golf - Not Quite

the Touristy Thing

By Ray Tsang

“I had promised to show him a good time

and go sightseeing with him.”

My best friend Daniel, a Korean Canadian, and I have known each other for

almost two decades. We were each other's sidekick during junior high. Daniel was an

outcast in school, and I was his only friend. When he turned fifteen, he left Vancouver

and travelled to several international cities to pursue an education in music. He is now

an expert violinist playing in a top orchestra in Seoul. I'm very proud of him.

Last summer, Daniel visited me in Hong Kong. We last met about 6 years ago

back in Vancouver, so naturally we were excited to hang out together this time

around. It was his first visit to my hometown. I had promised to show him a good

time and go sightseeing with him.

Just a week before Daniel's arrival, I discovered a technique that allowed me to hit

the ball 20 yards further with my irons. The technique was simple and effective: first,

employ a 'stronger' grip, which makes squaring the clubface at impact a lot easier; and

second, lean the shaft slightly forward at address, which encourages you to strike

down at the ball on your downswing. With this newfound trick, I could hit crisp iron

shots with a penetrating ball flight. I was thrilled. I was itching to play on the course.

When Daniel arrived, I picked him up at the airport.

"Where do you want to go, buddy?" I asked.

"Let's go back to your place and freshen up a bit." he said.

"You've been cramped in an economy class seat for hours. You need to stretch

your legs and get some fresh air. How about we go to a driving range?" I suggested.

To my delight, Daniel agreed. So we drove to a driving range. I gave Daniel, a

total beginner, a 7 iron, spent a few minutes teaching him a proper grip and posture,

and left him to his own devices. We spent two hours at the range hitting balls nonstop.

I had fun honing my new technique. But Daniel had a lousy time, hitting bad shot

after bad shot, and getting blisters on his hands.

Ray at age 14

Daniel at age 14

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My best friend & caddie

He had to wear a bright yellow bib, as per club rules

Rehearsing my swing

The next day, Daniel woke up bright and early. He asked if I would take him to

the Tian Tan Buddha statue (a.k.a. the Big Buddha), which he had read about in his

Lonely Planet.

"I have a better idea. How would you like to caddie for me today?" I said.

"Caddie for you? I'm not sure, Ray. I have never been on a golf course. I'm afraid

I'll be a nuisance to you out there."

"Don't worry, dude. It's easy. You just carry my bag and walk with me. The golf

course is beautiful. You'll love it."

"Okay, Ray, I'll do my best."

So we went to play at the South Course at Kau Sai Chau. The golf club put me in

the same group with three middle-aged men, who were surprised to see that I had a

young, English-speaking Korean guy carry my bag. Daniel did a reasonably good job

caddying. He kept up with me, kept my clubs clean, kept me company, and in the

process got himself a sunburn. I played the best round of my life that day, shooting

88.

To thank Daniel, I treated him to a sumptuous Cantonese dinner at Yung Kee, the

most famous restaurant in Hong Kong, which was also featured in his Lonely

Planet.♣

Daniel sorting out my bag

“Caddie for you? I'm not sure, Ray. I have

never been on the course. I'm afraid I'll be a nuisance to you

out there.”

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Overnight Golf Trip at Mission Hills Golf Club 14 / 9 / 2013

Past Events

Frances, Amy, Wai-ying, Sabrina Group photo Quite backed up on the first tee

Wai-ying, King, Gilbert The nocturnal golfers

Gathering at a pizzeria 18 / 3 / 2013

Gathering at a Chinese restaurant 3 / 2 / 2013

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MEET & GREET

By Joyce Cheng

“I still remember...

how fresh and

fragrant the grass

smelt.”

Christmas is just around the corner and with December always being a joyous and festive

month of the year I bet many of you have family gatherings, party plans and dinner outings

piling on top of each other in the weeks to come! This month we bring you a joyful story of

our lovely Ms. Sabrina Chen! Sabrina is from Beijing and according to her, golf is all about

"sunshine and joy". Sabrina and I played at Firestone Golf Club a couple weeks ago, and this

interview took place on the course.

What is your background?

I went to London for my further

education, and chose to study International

Management. After that, I moved to Hong

Kong. I am currently working in HR at a

shipping firm.

Do you play any sport other than golf?

I took up snowboarding a few years back

and have made trips to Hokkaido, Niseko

and South Korea so far. I have plans to go

to Furano this coming January.

What are your other hobbies?

I love reading – from history, fiction, arts

to fashion! I also love traveling. Golf and

snowboarding give me an excuse to travel.

How did you start playing?

I was an intern at a family friend's firm. At

the end of my internship, I wrote a thank-

you letter to my boss, and in the letter I

also humbly expressed my observations

and opinions about his company. My

boss was so impressed by my letter, that

he decided to treat me to a round of golf. I

still remember how beautiful the sunshine

on the course was and how fresh and

fragrant the grass smelt. That was the

moment I fell in love with golf!

When & where did u start playing?

I started at the range late last year. I had a

really good coach to start me off, giving

me really good tips on the basics. She was

patient and professional. After a few

lessons with her, I started playing on the

course around spring this year.

Where do you practice most?

Asia Golf, Action Waterfall, and Nine

Eagles.

What is your best score thus far?

So far my best score is 112.

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Mi

“No doubt

breaking that

100 mark

would be

brilliant!”

Garrick, Sabrina and Alex

in Ho Chi Minh City

The very laidback Sabrina

Golfing in Vietnam with HKPGS members

Which is your favorite club?

I love my entire pink Kasco set!

What do you love about golf most?

To be able to socialize with friends. A lot

of my friends play golf. We catch up, we

laugh, and we just enjoy our time together.

Do you play with your folks?

They don't play golf. But whenever I'm

back in Beijing and play on the course, my

mom would accompany me. She would

just watch me play. She's really good at

finding my ball. She is more reliable than

a caddie when it comes to finding golf

balls, hahaa.

If you had to use a word(s) to describe

golf what would it be?

Sunshine & Joy

How did you come across the Golf

Outing Network Meetup group?

Through a friend who is a member of the

group. I joined one of the overnight golf

trips in Shenzhen and that's how I came to

know the group. It's great to play with a

group of skilled golfers who I can learn

from.

Have you got any special plans for

Christmas?

Yes, I'm going on a golf trip to Ho Chi

Minh City with a few of the HKPGS

members! It's going to be great with the

summery weather over there. It will be my

first 'Golfing' Christmas! ♣

What's your short term goal with golf?

My short term goal is to improve my

drives. No doubt breaking that 100 mark

would be brilliant!

Thus far, what's been your best ever

round (or most memorable)?

Actually, I think I played my best round

today with you guys. Conditions were

tough out there, wet and cold. I'm quite

proud of the way I managed to stay

focused and play one shot at a time.

What, if anything, drives you mad on the

golf course?

Actually I don't think I ever get mad on

the course. I am still a young golfer and

there are a lot of techniques in the swing I

need to learn and improve on. If I mis-hit,

I try to learn from my mistake and attempt

to do better on my next swing.

Do you have a favorite brand for attire?

Not really. I'm easy. As long as my golf

clothes are comfortable (cotton for

example) then I would be happy to wear

them!

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.

What’s in My Bag

By Anthony Kim

AK always wears his shades on the course.

Ball

Taylormade Penta TP3.

Good balance between

spin and distance.

Wedge

Taylormade ZTP 60 High loft

and shallow bounce allows the

club to hit high flop shots and

get the ball out of wet sand.

No need for me to carry a

Sand Wedge since my Attack

Wedge (AW) and the 60°

wedge are able to get me out

of most troubles.

Sunscreen

SPF 50 Sports. Keeps my

skin healthy and won't

smudge. Oh man, that

sounded like women's

cosmetic commercial.

Fairway Wood

Taylormade RBZ 15°.

Matrix Ozik Stiff flex.

Just LOVE the sound

this club makes.

"THWAK"!

Putter

Taylormade Ghost

TM 770 Tour. Great

feel and able to get

the ball rolling faster.

Tee

Always long

and white.

Divot Tool

Always keep one in a pocket to fix ball

marks. Proper golf etiquette is a must.

Driver

Taylormade R11

9°. Fujikura Blur

Stiff flex. Loft set

to "Lower" since

I tend to hit the

ball high.

Hybrid

Taylormade RBZ 19°. RBZ

65 Stiff flex. I used to carry 2

and 3 irons. Replaced the

long irons with a hybrid to

save weight in my bag.

Irons

Taylormade R11 4-

AW. KBS Stiff flex.

2° upright and +1/2

inch. Very forgiving

and able to get the

clubhead around faster

than forged irons. And

look at that pretty red

"what-cha-ma-call-it"

thing on the club!

Yardage Book

I don't carry a range finder or

GPS device so yardage book

comes in very handy.

Bag

Taylormade Ultralight. I think you can play faster walking than

riding. Most of my plays are in the U.S. and since I have to carry

my own bag, lighter the better.

Towel

Good for keeping my

hands dry. I don't

like wearing a glove

and hands get sweaty

on hot days.

Ball Marker

Hat clip of my

favorite baseball

team, Oakland A's.

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In a very special Golfing Garage edition,

poolside at the Somerset Hotel Ho Chi Minh

City Vietnam and sipping on my Vietnamese

Coffee, Merry Christmas to all our readers

and friends of HKPGS.

Having played several rounds of golf in the

last few days, my round at the Vietnam

Country Club was a tragic one; I was slicing

the ball more than bread being sliced at

Maxim Bakery. Reflecting on the round that

just went by I began to wonder to myself can

the Pro-V1 I’m playing with accentuate my

side spin (the reason for a sliced shot) as it is

renowned to have maximum spin around the

greens, and more broadly speaking should

one play a ball that is suited for their playing

level and style?

The Golfing Garage

- Being Ball-Fitted -

By Garrick Kong

Having spoken to Ed our local golf

equipment junkie, Googling about the

subject and trying different balls out on

course, what I found was that IT DOES!

Just like any other golfing equipment you

should get what they call in the industry

Ball-fitted.

There is a lot of science that goes into

optimizing a golf ball, however to fit a golf

ball correctly you need to most importantly

optimize the compression of the core in the

ball to maximize the distance and spin

control so that you can maximize driver

distance for your particular swing speed and

control unwanted side-spin.

The process in getting a golf ball fitted starts

with reflecting on the level of your current

golfing abilities, which can be determined in

three basic categories of golfers; Novice,

Intermediate and Advanced.

Beginner: Those players that are brand new

to the game or have been playing the game

for a length of time with a very inconsistent

game, with a swing speed of 90mph or

above, drives less than 200 yards and

scoring 95 or above.

Ball type: At this level of playing ability use

a two-piece golf ball, to reduce some

unwanted sidespin and to compress the ball

more efficiently.

Brands: Titleiest NXT’s, TayloreMade

Noodle, Nike Power Distance Soft, Srixon

Ad333.

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Intermediate: You are a fairly

accomplished golfer, and basically a bogey

golfer with a good number of par holes, a

few birdie holes and typically score range

from 80-90, and have a swing speed greater

than 90mph.

Ball type: At this level of play you will

benefit in using a 3-Piece Inomer covered

golf ball utilizing a ball with higher spin for

control and greater distance.

Brands: Titleist NXT Tour, Callaway Hex

Chrome, Srixon Tri-Speed, Bridgestone

B330-RX

Advanced: These are for the skilled golfer,

who has control, and authority around the

green and handicap is around 8 to 12 with a

good portion of birdie holes and a swing

speed exceeding 100mph.

Ball Type: At this envious level, you can

benefit from a 3 to 4 piece high performing

golf ball with Urethane outer cover which

gives greater distance off the tee with good

feel for putting and shots around the green.

Brands: Titleist Pro-V1(x), Srixon Z-Star

Tour, Callaway HX Tour, Tayloremade

Penta.

As with most things in golf don’t just

believe the hype of golf balls being suited

for everyone, and start playing a ball that is

suited for your playing style. A great place

to start knowing what ball fits you is to visit

a place like Golf Laboratory

(http://www.golflabhk.com) and hop on

the GC2 and try different balls and look at

the measurements to find what suits you the

best.

From personal experience I’m currently

trying the Srixon Z-Star XV and Callaway

Hex Chrome and at the moment I like the

Srixon Z-Star XV a lot.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New

Year and hope you get some golf balls that

are suited to your game from Santa. ♣

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For information on our upcoming events,

please visit:

www.meetup.com/HKgolf/

If you have questions or comments, please

write to us at:

info@hkpgs.com

This Month’s

Celebrity Golfer

Sylvester Stallone

Mr. Stallone is one of the most recognized

celebrities in the world.

He is the creator of two iconic and

legendary movie characters, Rocky and

Rambo.

His handicap is 11.

"[Golf] is a very, very psychological game

that gets into your blood because it's you

against you, and there's no one else to

blame. And that takes its toll."

"The best part of my game, I think, is the

amount of money I spend on lessons. It's

keeping the economy going. I think that's

it."