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This year, Transitions Championship not only has the best fields in its history, but also the spectators and player’s experience at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.

The event started with the Family Walk that encourages people to think about their eyes; and the week ended with players donating their pay cheques to Japan’s Tsunami victims. Throughout the week too, spectators received tips and try on Transitions products designed to help enhance their vision as well as their game.

But the happiest day went to 26-year-old Gary Woodland, who rolled in a 10-footer victory putt on the Copperhead course’s 18th hole to beat Webb Simpson by one shot as the rest of the contenders were left behind the Copperhead course. And that – was his only par he recorded on his back nine to add to his five birdies and three bogeys for a 4-under 67; and his maiden PGA Tour triumph of a four day total of 15-under 269.

Earlier, Woodland entered the final round two shots behind Justin Rose and one behind Simpson and Brendon de Jonge; and he didn’t miss a single putt inside 20 feet in the final round, with four of those 17 putts outside 10 feet.

“But, I was really struggling hitting the ball all day,” he said. “You know I had shoulder surgery (torn labrum) in August of ’09, and it’s been a long road back. Obviously I had a lot of adrenaline that I was trying to control and one thing that helped me was putting, it saved me.” That steadiness earned him US $990,000, two year exemption on Tour, invitation to Augusta National for the Masters, and a big jump from 15th to 3rd spot in the Fedex Cup standings.

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Mohd Iylia Jamil, a 20-year-old rookie, surprised himself and everyone else involved with the PGM Tour when he won the Kinrara Classic.

The tournament was the first event for this young man who turned pro a mere two weeks earlier. In his last amateur effort Mohd Iylia was seen at Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort competing against his then amateur colleagues Gavin Kyle Green and Kenneth de Silva in the Kuala Lumpur Amateur Open.

On opening day, at Kinrara Golf Club, Mohd Iylia let everyone know he was in the event by posting a 4-under 68, which put him at the top of the leaderboard. He followed his sterling performance with a 3-under 69 to remain alone on top.

On the third day Mohd Iylia carded a 2-under 70 to sit at 9-under 207 and was joined by Sukree Othman and Shaaban Hussin to form a trio of overnight leaders.
Rashid Ismail who began the final day five shots behind Mohd Iylia, Sukree and Shaaban was behind in a grouping with S. Murthy and Khor Kheng Hwai. He had recorded several birdies during his closing round to put him at 9-under through 17 holes. A tiger-line drive over trees on the 18th went too far right and he followed that with a second shot that found a right greenside bunker.

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This year, Callaway Golf has hit the golf market in grand fashion with new, innovative products that include the Octane Diablo, the RAZR Hawk and their Legacy line of clubs.

Callaway Golf in South East Asia and India is spearheaded by vice-president/managing director Sanjeev Pant. After 20 years of working in the FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) area, Sanjeev, who hails from the northern India state of Uttaranchal (now called Uttarakhand, as of January 2007) in the Himalayas, loved his job, and also had a passion for golf.

The 45-year-old, who is a MBA Business graduate from Arizona State University, then moved to the golf business and was soon enjoying the challenge of helping people bring their game to a higher level, especially with the help of Callaway Golf’s engineers and the technologically advanced clubs they developed.

In a recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, Sanjeev took the time to answer some questions for Golf Malaysia.

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by Steven Giuliano www.sggc.com.au (Australian PGA Member)

This month begins a series of four instructional articles that will be delivered on putting. In the event that I don’t bore you with the most uninteresting and under practiced area of the game, I will apply a 21st Century spin on how putting can be analysed, practiced and ultimately how it can improve your scoring. If that’s not what you’re playing golf for, then please stop reading NOW!

Let’s take a look at some of renowned putters over golf history Bobby Lock, Ben Crenshaw, Jack Nicklaus to name a few and the modern day greats include Brad Faxon, Aaron Baddeley and Tiger Woods.

It’s clearly impossible to define similarities in there technique and so it’s impossible to distinguish a technique and style that would work for everyone. From this we can ascertain that putting is arguably the most individualised part of the game.

Over the following months I will cover what I believe to be four key areas required to be a successful putter. As we move more into the sport science and biomechanics era of the modern game and how it is taught these common traits will continue to stand the test of time. Rather than a few aimless tips I will attempt to give you a total putting solution.

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The Northern Hidden Gem

Looking for a relaxing getaway that offers great golf and outstanding restaurant choices, entertainment and lodging?

Then head to Perlis where you can also test your skills on a 6,983-yard golf course located in the wide reaching shadow of the Nakawan Range.

Green fee: RM35
Buggy Fee: RM50 (18 holes) RM25 (9 holes).

The Best of Perlis Golf

His Majesty Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin has an undying passion for sports and golf in particular.

This year, in conjunction with the birthday of HRH Tuanku Raja Perlis, the first ever Royal Golf Challenge Trophy hosted by the state and held at Kelab Golf Putra, 14-15 May, visiting golfers and their families are welcome to participate in the happening.

Themed the Royal Perlis Celebration Golf 2011, the two-day event is sure to present a first of its kind golf experience that will also put a powerful spotlight on Perlis tourism treasures.
A prize purse of RM30,000 for professional golfers and amateur winners will be decided over two rounds under a System-36 Stableford scoring format. The unique portion of the festivities is a six-challenge competition. The skills being tested are long drive, putting, chipping, play from a sand bunker, a 150-yard nearest the pin, and a special juggling competition.
The juggling is consider to be a first, as no other golf tournament in the world as ever features this skill that requires outstanding hand-eye coordination.

On hand to show-cased their talents will be four long drive, trick shot personalities – Lance Reader, a world class long driver who has a career record of 532 yards; Joe Millar, the current world long drive champion; Kevin Shook, a multiple winner on the long drive tour; and Jean Daniels, a noted trick shot specialist.

In promoting sport, HRH Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, is leading the way. During the launch, he said golf has proved to be more popular than ever and this remarkable event is a noble way for golfers of various skills levels to participate in the game and improve one’s skills as they share and discuss good values.

“Come and join us. The Royal Perlis Celebration Golf 2011 aims to cultivate, to develop and to find new talents in the game. It is also to promote sports tourism in the state of Perlis, the ‘State of Wonders’ and it is our hope to spread golf’s message of harmony and to ensure that young Malaysians are given equal opportunities to grow and excel in golf,” offered the beloved monarch, who welcomes everyone to Perlis – ‘The Essence of Tranquility’.

Under the Chairmanship of Dato’ Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan Ibni Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, the Royal Perlis Celebration Golf 2011, is another testament to the state’s achievements.

“This is Perlis’s biggest golfing event and also the nation’s first, The magnitude of the event speaks for itself as being the incorporation of seven competitions and a tournament. This would mean that Malaysia has proudly, for the first time ever in our history, created a truly comprehensive golfing spectacle, a feat that will always be remembered,” said Dato’ Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan, who together with his team is working at all levels across the state to showcases the very best that Perlis has to offer.

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Longest Drive
Each player will get six balls that are to be hit in four minutes at hole No. 9.
They will receive points from 1 to 150 and will also receive a certificate with their achieved distance.

Chipping Competition
Golfers will get three balls to hit to a green marked with six bulls-eye rings ranging from 1 to 6 points.

Putting Competition
Participants will play a 5-hole ‘course’ in the lowest score. Points will be awarded based on the score of the golfer, with a penalty of one stroke given if a ball crosses the demarcated line.

150 Yard Nearest to the Pin
Golfers will get thee balls and the nearest of the three balls will count as the best ball.

Bunker Competition
Participants will receive three balls and the 18th green will be marked with six bulls-eye rings ranging from 1 to 6 points with participants receiving 10 points for every ball that finds the hole.

Juggling Competition:
Golfers may use any club they wish, but they are to hold on to the grip and not the shaft and then perform several juggling skills to again gain points. For more information, visit www.royalpcg.com

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After a round of golf, one can choose to uncover the great tastes of Perlis at either luxurious fine-dining spots, air-conditioned restaurants or go casual by dining al fresco at hawker centers. Perlis all over, is particularly famous for its fresh Cat fish (Ikan Keli Bakar). When it comes to shopping, the quaint two-storey Padang Besar arcade is most ideal for budget buys and it is always alive with shoppers. There is also duty free shopping in Padang Besar at the northern Thai border. Beyond the Padang Besar rail tract is Pekan Siam, another bargain hunters’ paradise.

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Let’s face it, nowadays you may need more than custom-made clubs, good swings, pin-seeking chips and on-line putts to post a good score for a round of golf, as your opponents may be using ‘scientific technology’ to better his game.

Range finders give exact distances to the pin or the back edge of a sand bunker at a dogleg you wish to carry. Your golf shoes have special support and scientifically designed protrusions on their soles to provide maximum torque to add distance to each drive. And, they may even be using ‘brush’ tees that, hopefully, add a yard or two to tee shots because they are designed to offer ‘no’ resistance as the golf ball leaves the tee.

When it comes to fashion not only are golfers dressing smart and comfortable, but also now have options that are directly aimed at improving performance. Compression wear is a perfect example of how technology and innovation have moved to the forefront of golf wear, as it provides the body’s muscles a steady increase of oxygen and helps remove lactic acid to reduce muscle fatigue.

SKINS, an Australian company noted for its performance sports garments introduced Compression Wear to the world and is now offering its new 400 Series to help golfers raise their game to the next level through their new sports specific dynamic compression wear.

In developing the new 400 Series, SKINS carried out extensive tests on hundreds of real athletes using 3D body scanning and dynamic compression measuring techniques to yield a product that was not previously available to golfers.

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