Phokeethra Country Club Monthly Newsletter April 2011 Welcome to the third edition of the Phokeethra Country Club Monthly Newsletter. As usual, I will be providing you with an insight into what has been happening at the Club recently and what we have coming up. As low season is officially here, we can concentrate on completing our maintenance projects, training of the staff and general reviews on how we can improve ready for the next high season. Caddie Training

Briefing the caddies after the morning session of training We have recently expanded our team of caddies. The main priority for the Caddy Master, Mr Wat, is to train them on a daily basis until they reach the necessary standard. A new caddy receives training on all aspects of the job and is not allowed to proceed to the next section if she does not pass. Practical and theory training are provided as well as exams for each section. After teaching them the general responsibilities of a caddy, we take them out onto the golf course to explain each and every procedure a caddy must go through during a round of golf. A golfer spends on average 6.5 hours at the golf club. A caddy spends 70% of this time with the golfer; therefore, she is spending more time with the guest than any other member of staff, so it is vital that a caddy is well-trained and equipped to take care of the guest for this amount of time. Golf Course Maintenance Retaining wall at the 7th hole One of our maintenance projects this year is to build a number of retaining walls at selected holes. A retaining wall is a visual decoration that provides definition, whether it is around a green or alongside a fairway. We will be constructing these walls around the greens for holes 5, 6, 7, 15 and 17. The team hard at work on the extension of the new green on the 13th hole. The extension of the green on the 13th hole is well under way. The soil has been moulded into the shape of the new green, and the base layers are now starting to be laid. We have had some unexpected rain last week which has delayed us slightly, but we are moving along nicely now and should hopefully be finished by the middle of May. Membership Our membership base is growing each month, and with our new SMART Membership available, I expect it to increase more and more. If you are not a SMART Member and you are looking to play golf for a reasonable price, this is the membership for you. For only $500 you receive a special green fee rate of $40 for the period of one year. You are able to bring guests for a discounted rate as well as other special benefits. If you’re already a SMART Member and you introduce a new member, you will receive one green fee complimentary! When you have recommended 10 new members to PCC, we will offer your next year’s membership free of charge. Once we have a big enough membership base, we will start hosting monthly member’s competitions with the goal of having the grand finale of the season: the Phokeethra Club Championships. So get involved and sign up to experience some good fun and good golf. Those of you existing members start introducing your friends to the membership and receive some great offers! For more information on membership please email Ms. Yada at golf@sofitel-royal-angkor.com or call the Golf Hotline on 012 882 882 Golf Tip of the Month: CHIPPING In my opinion, Chipping is one of the most underrated and least practiced parts of the game. It is highly unlikely that an average golfer, even a single figure handicapper will go out and hit 18/18 greens. Even tour professionals hit on average 12-14 greens in a round. This means, you will be faced with a lot of chips from around the green. This variety of chips will have many factors to consider so it will require different clubs and different type of chips to get the ball close to the hole. No matter what type of chip you have to play, a sound set up is vital to gain consistency which in hand will contribute greatly to lowering your scores. Follow these simple steps to ensure you have the perfect chipping set up: Grip down on the club to gain more control with the shot. I always aim to grip it just above the Golf Pride sign on the grip (see circled area above). Always tend to lean your hands slightly forward so they are in front of the ball. This will help you to get a better strike on the ball. Narrow your stance. Chipping does not require much lower body movement like the full-swing so narrowing our stance brings you a bit closer to the ball and promotes the upper body to control the stroke. Weight distribution should be 60%-40% on your left side (for a right-handed golfer). This promotes a downward strike on the ball. Ball position. This varies depending on the type of chip you want to hit. It mostly affects the ball flight. In the picture above you can see the ball is in the back of my stance. This will promote a lower ball flight and will allow the ball to run out towards the pin. Maintain the triangle made with your arms throughout the stroke. A breakdown of this will lead to bad contact and poor chips. New Items in the Pro Shop We have recently introduced a new brand into the Pro Shop at PCC. FJ is recognised globally for their quality shoes, gloves and polo shirts. Now at PCC we have it all available at attractive prices. We have three types of mens gloves available which possess three different unique qualities. SofJoy – This is a full leather glove using the famous Cabretta leather. It offers maximum comfort with complex feel. WeatherSof – Half leather and half sinthetic this glove is the most popular. It offers extreme durability and is suited to both hot and wet weather conditions. Tropicool – The perfect glove for hot and sticky weather conditions so ideal for this time of year in Cambodia. Using Quikdry knit material assures optimum breathability, flexibilty and quick- drying comfort. All items hold the PCC logo on show, so if you’re a member looking to showcase your home golf club or a visiting guest looking for a souvenir to take away, these new products are ideal. Thousands of professional golfers use FJ and Titleist all over the world. The products are of the best quality and are not only longer lasting than your average brand but they will assist in the improvement of your performance on the golf course. See you soon! Well that's it for this month’s edition of the Phokeethra Country Club Newsletter. I hope you enjoyed reading and if you need any more information regarding the course or you want to come and join me for a game please don't hesitate to call! I look forward to seeing you on the first tee! Jack Hedges Golf Operations Manager Phokeethra Country Club Email: golf.manager@sofitel-royal-angkor.com Mobile: +855 16 207 963