FALL 2013 Quarterly Most Powerful People in Tim Finchem moves to the top of our annual ranking of the world’s power brokers based on the financial performance of the PGA Tour. Plus, Ken and Tenniel Chu top our inaugural ranking of the most powerful in Asia.

001_coverFall13.indd 1 9/25/13 4:33 PM Fall 2013 Volume No. 22 Issue No. 4 features Staff

25 MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE ARR

B C Editorial Team

IN GOLF RO Jack Crittenden / Editor-in-Chief Tim Finchem, PGA Tour commissioner, has OTO 858-810-7092 P PH

taken the tour to new heights and climbs to A [email protected] No. 1 in our annual ranking. Robert Vasilak, Senior Editor Trevor Ledger, Editor-at-Large, James Prusa, Editor-at-Large, Asia 34 MOst powerful people Mike Stetz, Managing Editor Michelle Weyenberg, Contributing Editor IN Asia Michael Liechty, Proofreader

Asia is golf’s new frontier, and some heavy Shannon Harrington, Art Director hitters are emerging. For the first time, Golf Richard Steadham, Designer Inc. identifies them. Phillip Haut, Ad Production Publishing Team Katina Cavagnaro, Publisher News & Trends Mindy Palmer, Marketing & Sales Consultant Elizabeth Callahan, Director of Audience Development 4 Publisher’s Column 17 Wendy Ullman, Director of Marketing & Promotion Trish Newberry, Office Manager 5 Front 9: Chip shots from the New Subscriptions: Contact subscriber services by emailing [email protected]. 7 Back 9: People on the move Complimentary Subscriptions: 10 The Operators: Hinton, Affiniti join Golf Inc. provides a complimentary digital subscription forces to create new company to the top decision-maker at golf courses, management companies, development firms, and to advisers, consultants, architects, engineers, planners, 13 Technology: Point-of-sale software investors and financiers. 22 helping courses market effectively If you match any of these criteria, please email [email protected].

18 Transactions: Tough time for Change of Address: silverstein with loss of two courses Please send your inquiry to [email protected]. 20 Trend: Growing golf in Europe Reprints: Please call Foster Printing Service at 1-866-879-9144 22 Trend: Hanse’s next masterpiece Golf Inc. magazine (USPS 009-747, ISSN 1074- 40 Trend: American leads Asian 9276) is published quarterly by Cypress Magazines association Inc., 7670 Opportunity Road, Suite 105, San 42 Diego, CA 92111. Periodical postage paid at San Diego, CA, and at additional mailing offices. Entire 42 Turnaround: Muni courses spend contents copyright 2013 Cypress Magazines Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may money to make money in Dallas not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Golf Inc. grants permission only for educational purposes. Golf Inc. is a trademark of commentary Cypress Magazines, Inc. 16 Lucas and Keegan: Predicting POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Golf Inc. at 7670 Opportunity Road, Suite 105 strategic potential of golf courses? San Diego, CA 92111

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002-3TOC.indd 3 9/25/13 2:59 PM Most Powerful Asia Their names are not as well known on the international stage, but their power is nonetheless impressive. Look for these 15 power brokers to impact the golf industry the most during the next few years.

Golf’s growth in Asia has with multiple governing bodies of golf in meant greater prominence for its key , Asia and throughout the world. players and power brokers. But who are the Tenniel is also the first Chinese member businesspeople behind the game’s ascent? of the Royal and Ancient of St In a continent where connections and Andrews. Both brothers have also been relationships rule, power is often wielded active in encouraging golf tourism in Asia. behind the scenes. It’s more “who you know” than “what you have done.” And Arihiro Kanda while that may seem odd to westerners, Chairman, it means that those with influence and Pacific Golf power can get far more done and in large 2 Management and impressive ways. 1 2012 Ranking: 29 Take, for example, David Chu. The Japan late father of Ken and Tenniel, he built a Ken and Tenniel Chu business empire through connections and Chairman, Vice Chairman, Arihiro Kanda heads the largest golf wise investments. When the time came, he Mission Hills Group course management and ownership group had the power to build the world’s largest 2012 Ranking: 22 in Asia, and the second largest in the golf resort: Mission Hills Shenzhen, in China world, with 153 18-hole facilities, of which China, with 11 courses. He then did it 121 are owned. Lone Star private equity again, building 10 courses at Mission Hills The Chu brothers took over the family fund set up Pacific Haikou. business from their father when he passed Golf Management with Chu passed away in 2011 at the age of away in 2011. And less than 24 months former American Golf 61, leaving his golf empire in the hands later, they have shown they have the executives, and Pacific of his two sons, Ken and Tenniel. The moxie to run the behemoth company. Golf Management then brothers top our inaugural list of the Most Ken leads an organization that includes went public in 2005. Powerful People in Asia. the ownership and management of 24 Kanda, now 50, is a To determine our list, we looked at golf courses and four resorts in Southern former star performer every country in Asia and asked this China. Two courses opened in 2013 and for Goldman Sachs, question: Who has the power to advance some 3 million people visited the resorts. who was with rival Accordia Golf before the industry into the future? Most of the Their conglomerate operations reach joining Pacific Golf Management. Kanda 15 on our list are not operators, per se, or outside of golf, into spas, resorts, hotels, attempted to take over Accordia last year even developers. Instead, they are leaders shopping malls, entertainment, dining and through a leveraged buyout, and most who are well connected, well educated and business centers, and they are extremely expect him to try again. For now, he is poised to increase the business in their influential in promoting professional tour building strategic alliances with many home countries, if not the entire region. events along with world golf competitions golf organizations in Japan, including the Our list includes three Japanese, two for amateurs, professionals and kids. They JLPGA and the JGTO. Chinese, two Koreans, and one person from staged 506 amateur events in 2013. each of the following countries: , The Chus’ leadership is now looking Kim Young Je Singapore, , , India and beyond the borders of China and reaching President, Vietnam. Brian Curley, an American, and out to all of Asia. Tenniel serves as the SKY72 Resorts Paul Burley, a Brit now living in Singapore, secretary general of the OneAsia Tour, 3 Korea also made the list. and this brings him and the Mission Kim Young Je has many titles: —The Editors Hills Group into a key role in dealing entrepreneurial leader, golf journalist

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powerful.indd 34 9/25/13 4:22 PM and golf course owner. It all adds up to Wang Jun helped found two of and broadcaster for the considerable influence for the Korean China’s biggest leviathans: the state-run Hong Kong Commer- throughout the golf industry in Asia. investment conglomerate Citic Group cial Broadcasting Co. The brains and energy behind SKY72, he Corp and the China Poly Group Corp. In 1971 he became the has been a business trendsetter. SKY72 is (military weapons and oil exploration). communications man- perhaps the busiest golf complex on the He and a brother are developing a ager for IBM World planet, logging a mind-boggling 500,000 massive resort area including golf courses Trade Corp. covering Sebastian rounds a year at five courses. It also has a in Nanniwan, near to where his father Singapore, Malaysia, mega-learning center and a new boutique once saved Mao’s army. In a country Indonesia and Brunei. hotel. And with greens fees that exceed where relationships and connections In 1976 he took over as regional manager Pebble Beach, it may also be the most speak volumes, Wang Jun has a lot of say for Time Magazine in Southeast Asia until profitable complex in the world. It is one in what gets built and where. forming his own marketing and promo- of only a handful of daily-fee public golf tions company in 1981. He then retired in Je facilities in Asia. Jimmy Masrin 2000. Even with day (and night) golf running President and CEO, However, Sebastian came out of with on seven-minute intervals PT Caturkarsa retirement in 2006 to start Asia Pacific throughout the year (even when snow 5 Megatunggal Golf Group, which has grown to be falls), Kim demands and supports world- Indonesia the powerful publisher of Asian Golf class conditioning and service. He has set Monthly magazine and Asian Golf a new standard for golf course utilization Jimmy Masrin, president and CEO of Business online magazine along with and service management, and has even his family’s business, PT Caturkarsa producing Asian Golf TV. In 2007 he developed a highly technical grasp of turf Megatunggal, is “the man” in Indonesia created the Asia Pacific Golf Summit, and grass management that would be the envy when it comes to golf. A diversified holding it since has become the most influential of most superintendents. company, Caturkarsa Megatunggal is gathering of golf business executives in Graduating from University of Seoul engaged in petrochemicals, mining and Asia and an annual networking event with a degree in public administration, he logistics, with holdings in Southeast that has attracted the biggest names in joined ACE, the Korean club membership Asia. His business interests provide him golf. Just recently the APGG was named brokerage firm that controlled the boom an influential and powerful network in as the agent for the Asia Pacific Chapter – market, in 1988. He served as its CEO global commerce with which to pursue his Club Managers Association of America. while concurrently acting as the director passion: golf. Add to all that, the fact that Sebastian of in Korea until he started “I would like to see Indonesia being founded the Asian Golf Industry the SKY72 project in 2003. showcased and promoted to the world … Federation, which is the only pan-Asia Kim is a huge supporter, sponsor and and I want to use golf as the platform to nonprofit, golf-trade association in Asia. influencer of major golf tours such as the do this,” Masrin recently told Asian Golf PGA of Korea, OneAsia Tour, and the Monthly. Santi KLPGA Tour. He successfully brought the Masrin is an influencer behind Bhirom Bhakdi LPGA Tour to its annual SKY72 venue for promoting Golf Wonderful Indonesia President, Korea. Kim also serves as a trustee of the and was the key player in establishing the 7 Singha Corporation KJ Choi Foundation. Indonesian Masters as well as the Asian Thailand Development Tour. Wang Jun Santi Bhirom Bhakdi is the most influ- Vice Chairman, Mike Sebastian ential businessman in the Thailand golf China Golf CEO, business and throughout the developing 4 Association; Asia Pacific Golf ASEAN common market President, Forward 6 Group of Southeast Asia. Bhirom Management Group Singapore Bhakdi is president, mem- 2012 Ranking: 16 ber of the executive board China Mike Sebastian is founder and CEO and executive director of of, arguably, the most powerful golf Singha Corporation Co., Wang Jun is often referred to as the media company in Asia. Where others a leading beer company godfather of and is hands have tried and failed, he has established in Thailand that has ag- down a powerful man. He is one of three longevity and wide influence throughout gressively grown interna- sons of the Wang Zen who was an army the region, occasionally by having no tionally. He is also the director of general and the vice president of China — fear of stepping on toes or weak egos as Glass Industry Co. a war hero who saved communist forces necessary. Forbes ranked the Bhirombhakdi family from starvation in 1948 and commanded With a journalism degree in hand, Se- as the eighth wealthiest in Thailand, with Mao’s army to capture Xinjiang a year later. bastian set out in 1964 as a journalist assets exceeding half a billion dollars.

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powerful.indd 36 9/25/13 9:39 PM Bhirom Bhakdi is also the founder of PGA Thailand and he served as its president in the organization’s early years. He is owner of three exquisite golf courses in Thailand, and placed his people into leadership positions within the Thai Golf Association and the PGA Thailand. Singha Beer is the primary sponsor of golf tournaments at every level and a key sponsor of many sporting events throughout ASEAN.

Brian Curley Partner, Schmidt-Curley 8 Golf Design Arizona, USA (Offices in China)

Brian Curley, the lone American on this list, lives in Scottsdale, Ariz. But he has made his fame and fortune in Asia. With partner Lee Schmidt, he has opened more courses in China than any other architect. Working for David Chu, the partnership designed and opened 10 courses at Mission Hills Haikou. They have another 10 projects under their belt for the other Chu properties. Curley has become to most respected architect in Asia, and he set up an office in China to handle the extensive workload.

Masato Mizuno Japanese Olympic Committee 9 Japan

Masato Mizuno is the man behind the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He is not only one of the most powerful people in golf, but also in all of sports. He’s truly an international power broker. In September of 2011, Mizuno resigned his position as head of Mizuno Corp. in order to avoid conflicts as an International Olympic Committee supplier so as to devote his full time and attention in the effort to secure the Olympic Games. While Mizuno’s younger brother took over as chief of Mizuno, the move for Mizuno to head up the Tokyo Olympics effort was a clear recognition of

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powerful.indd 37 9/25/13 4:22 PM his influence in sports. It was a gain for Accordia Golf Co. since May 2012. of experience in the golf industry to rely Japan and golf. Accordia, which was established in 2002, on to help him transform Asian views Mizuno Corp.’s history and success are went public in 2006. It manages 137 golf on management. Prior to joining IMG, intertwined with golf’s history. Founded courses (134 owned, three leased) and he was responsible for managing golf at by his grandfather and great uncle in 24 centers (19 owned, five Turnberry Resort, in Scotland, the U.K.’s Osaka in 1906, Mizuno Corp. began leased). During the last year, Kamata No. 1 golf course, and venue for The Open plans to make golf clubs in 1921, was the fended off a hostile takeover bid by Championship in 2009. He also oversaw first manufacturer of Japanese-made golf Pacific Golf Management. However, his all golf properties in Europe managed by clubs in 1933, and opened the world’s successful defense was only a temporary Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. largest golf retail showroom in 1935. reprieve and now he is under pressure The company began its sponsorship of from shareholders to redirect Accordia Dilip Thomas competitive golf events and opened the to overcome weaknesses that Pacific Golf Secretary-General, world’s largest golf-equipment factory Management may attempt to exploit. Asia-Pacific Golf in 1965. Its golf commerce has engaged 14 Confederation nearly every aspect of the game and 12. Jin Roy Ryu India business, including club management. By Chairman and CEO, 1975 Mizuno began sponsorship of the Poongsan Corp. Dilip Thomas is the most connected LPGA Japan Golf Classic, and the LPGA 12 Korea and visible face of . As the Mizuno Classic remains an annual tour secretary-general of the Asia-Pacific Golf stop at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Jin Roy Ryu is the man who secured Confederation, he heads up an organiza- Club The 2015 for South tion that represents 36 national governing in Shima-shi with a $1.4 million purse. Korea, spending millions of his own bodies of amateur golf throughout the en- Masato Mizuno studied at the Carthage money to make it happen. Ryu wields an tire region of Asia and the Pacific. College, in Kenosha, Wis., back in the influence on political In India, Thomas is an influential 1960s. He then took the billion-dollar and business circles council member of the India company global during his tenure as a that extends from Golf Union, where he serves as not-so-typical Japanese CEO. He is one of Korea to the highest chairman of the international the best-connected people in sports and levels of industry and affairs committee. He’s an active certainly in the business and game of golf. government. member of the administrative His father founded committee of the International Conrad L. Benitez II Poongsan Corp., one of the world’s largest Golf Federation, which is in Founder and manufacturers of metals for military charge of golf’s participation President, munitions and money coins. Ryu took in the 2016 Olympic Games. He has also 10 The Orchard Golf over as chairman upon his death. served as the technical delegate for golf at & Country Club, Federation of Ryu is an active member or leader the previous Asian Games, in Doha. Philippine Golf Clubs Philippines in several global business and political organizations. He serves as a trustee of Nguyen Van Hao Conrad Benitez is founder and president The First , a World Golf Foundation Secretary-General of the 36-hole Orchard Golf & Country initiative. Vietnam Golf Club, designed by and Arnold Association Palmer. He built the golf courses on what Paul Burley Vietnam was a family mango orchard property. Vice president, 15 Benitez is very active in the Philippines IMG Golf Course Nguyen Van Hao is the key person in golf business and little gets past him 13 Services, Asia Pacific, the Vietnam’s young and developing golf that is going on in the Philippine golf Based in Singapore industry. He serves in a challenging role industry or Southeast Asia. He’s served as the nation’s unofficial liaison for those as a director of the Asian Golf Course Paul Burley runs the largest third-party who have interest in growing the game — Owners Association and a director/vice management company in Asia, with 20 the government, the Vietnamese people president of the Federation of Philippine 18-hole equivalent golf courses strewn and the tourism industry — all the while Golf Clubs Inc. throughout the region. And while his balancing Vietnam’s golf interests portfolio is a fraction of the size of the with its neighbors throughout Ryusuke Kamata world’s largest, it is growing at a solid Asia. Accordia Golf pace, especially in China. Nguyen was instrumental President and CEO, Burley is bringing professional in Vietnam capturing the 11 Japan standards and management practices to International Association of Golf a region that is still learning about golf Tour Operators’ Asia Pacific Golf Ryusuke Kamata has been heading as a business. He has more than 20 years Destination of the Year in 2012.

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