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Professional Golf’s First ‘Entrepreneur' Willie Park Jnr

With his struggles with the game well documented in recent years, you’d have forgiven Ernie Els for kicking back for just a little while to soak up the enormity of his achievement at Lytham, climbing the mountain again to record a fourth Major win and a second Open Championship ten years after his first.

Truth is, Els spent very little time enjoying the fruits of his la- bour. He travelled from the Lancashire coast to his home in London for a night of celebrations with his family and some close friends, then backed up admirably on a few hours’ sleep for media interviews the next morning before catch- ing a flight to Canada to honour a commitment to play in the RBC Canadian Open – one of the oldest national championships in world golf and sponsored by one of the myriad of...

Japan Golf Entrepreneur Series WINWIN Style

Like so many industries in Japan, golf product makers here are renowned for their high standards of workmanship, reliability and quality. Unfortunately, high labor and material costs can make it difficult to compete with big international brands that produce overseas in bulk. Because of this and other reasons, golf manufacturing start-ups are not common in Japan, but in recent years a few promising local brands have emerged, from fledgling companies to niche bespoke brands. Trailblazers such as Miura popularized the notion of custom, hand built Japanese clubs, in which feel and personal touch makes all the difference.

One company following in Miura’s footsteps is golf bag manufacturer WinWin Style. This Tokyo-based company has not only taken on the domestic market, but is also...

Greg Norman From the Golf Course to the Boardroom

One of the modern game’s most iconic players, Greg Norman is not only the “Great White Shark” on the golf course, but also in the boardroom. A savvy entrepreneur, Norman brings the same tenacity and passion for which he was renowned as a player and translates that into a slew of business enterprises spanning the globe.

Norman’s impressive golf resume includes 91 career victories (most notably the British Open in 1986 and 1993), three Arnold Palmer awards as the tour’s leading money winner, becoming the first person in tour history to surpass the $10 million mark in earnings, and an induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Norman is one of those rare people who have a natural talent combined with a magnetic persona that enables him to achieve greatness both on and off...

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Top 10 Golf Shops in Tokyo

In Tokyo, as in the rest of Japan, golf is an immensely popular sport, enjoyed by the Japanese on meticulously kept golf courses and driving ranges. Not surprisingly golf shops in Japan are also high spec, and it is not hard to find stylish apparel and high-quality equipment from both international and domestic brands in Tokyo. Here Is our list of the top 10 golf shops in Tokyo.

Taylormade Flagship Store, Ginza Just opened in late 2019, this is a must-go for anyone visiting Japan, check out the Taylormade equipment, tax-free, with some exclusive Japan-only goods on offer such as the Gloire range as well as Ginza-original branded goods.

Address: GICROS GINZA GEMS 1F, 6-4-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061

Opening hours: 11:00～21:00

Tel:...

What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway If your ball strikes a fellow players ball on the fairway by accident, both players will play from where their balls lie. There will be no penalty...

Locating The Sweet Spot On Your Irons Get more consistant with your ball striking

There is no better feeling in golf than a pure golf shot, connecting the center of the club face or ‘sweet spot’. In contrast, there is no worse feeling in golf than hitting a thin, chunked or the dreaded shank shot! Consistently hitting the sweet-spot will have you pure-ing your irons and giving you the confidence to be a better iron player.

Up Your Golf Game With an Apple Watch More than an accessory!

Mark your score after that awesome birdie, check the yardage via GPS, decide strategy on the next hole. But first, a quick press of the digital crown to have Siri remind you to call your wife when you get back to the clubhouse. Wait,… what? Yep! All of that was just done on your Apple Watch. It's certainly not your father’s Rolex anymore when it comes to golfing and the Apple Watch.

Just like how the iPhone and other smartphones revolutionized how we communicate and use technology 10 years ago, the new Apple Watch has changed how golfers approach the game today, and possibly changed the game itself. And, with onboard GPS, increased water protection and other performance enhancements Apple Watch Series 2 has the potential to make an even bigger impact. It comes as no surprise...