Golfers Dream Newsletter August 2009

• To the world, he is known as the man who toppled Tiger Woods in one of golf's greatest upsets. But in New Zealand - where he spent his formative golfing years - he is known as "Too Much Lucky".
• South Korean Y.E. (Yong-eun) Yang, ranked 110th in the world, has become the first Asian-born man to win a golfing major by coming from behind to beat the world's best and win the US PGA Championship.
• Yang, now 37, travelled from South Korea to Auckland in the early to mid 90s, for months at a time, to play the more affordable courses and develop his game, after completing his mandatory service in the South Korean military.
• Golf coach and mentor Rory Moor met Yang at the Pupuke Golf Club on the North Shore in the early 1990s. He remembers him having a "phenomenal" work ethic.
• "I have never seen bigger calluses on any player. Because that's how hard he worked. And I think the thing is you can always tell players who are going to be good because they are mentally disciplined, and he has always been really mentally disciplined.
• "He would be in the gym twice a day, in the morning early and late at night, and that was after hitting 1000 balls [at a driving range] and playing a round of golf.
• "He was always going to be someone. But that's become a guy that can beat the best in the world now."
• Professional golfer Richard Lee has played alongside Yang in Japan, and has a lighter memory of him in New Zealand.
• "He was a nice guy. But he couldn't speak any English. We used to call him 'Too Much Lucky'. I was in Taupo after the New Zealand Open ... and he saw me and he said, 'Oh, too much lucky to see you.' He obviously meant, 'It's lucky to see you here.'
• "He couldn't even read the menu back then, so I helped him read the menu in the restaurant. His English has probably improved now that he has been in America."
• Mr Moor said: "We allocated him Mr Yang, because no one could say Yong-eun. But the whole world will know it now.
• "[He was] a very genial character. He struggled with his English but always had a smile on his face, and was always a real positive person to have around. And like with most really good players, great humility as well."
• Yang fired a two-under par 70 at Hazeltine, Minnesota, the longest course in major golf history, and with a chip-in eagle at 14 and birdie at 18 forced 14-time major winner Woods to settle for second, the same place he had at Hazeltine at the 2002 PGA.

• Just 5 minutes north of Taupo in the North Island of New Zealand. Wairakei International Golf Course is set midway between Wellington and Auckland, near Lake Taupo.
• Nestled in a wooded valley just north of Lake Taupo this picturesque 35 year old golf course offers lush manicured fairways and greens, mature tree plantings and magnificent vistas. No built-up areas in sight! The spacious secluded nature of the course and the park like surroundings create a tranquil atmosphere. The course is challenging – sporting its fair share of water hazards and bunkers – however the New Zealand owners and course management have ensured that the average golfer can still enjoy the golf and soak up the atmosphere along the way.
• The clubhouse includes all the usual facilities and a fully licensed bar and restaurant. There is a 20 bay, covered driving range on site and a fully stocked Pro Shop.

Some pros like the Titleist ProV1 golf ball for many reasons, the most important being that it was designed specifically with the pro in mind. It is the golf ball of choice for such pros as Mike Weir, Fred Funk, and David Toms. This ball is described by the manufacturer as a soft ball with a l.550” diameter core formulation. Other features include a speed-enhancing, spin controlling ionomer casing, with an 0.30” urethane cover, plus 392-count dimple coverage in an icosahedral or 20-faced design. The pros on the PGA circuit put tremendous energy into their explosive shots on tee and fairway for days at a time and need a ball like this to meet their standards. Golf balls designed for the pros, such as the Titleist Pro V1, which has a soft, thin cover and costs about $60 for a dozen balls. Contrast that price with what you would be paying for a lesser ball, but one that could certainly be a good ball for your game, such as the Srixon Hi-Spin, priced about $15 a dozen, or the MaxFli A3, at about $25 a dozen. If you'd like to know what the pros look for in a golf ball, keep in mind that the characteristics of all golf balls are strictly governed by the rules laid down by the U.S. Golf Association. It is these rules that determine maximum initial velocity, total distance, and all the other features advertised by manufacturers.