Golf Asia Magazine – May 2026

Summary

Steven Lee of Leonian — who has done it all in the world of retail — is the Cover Story of Golf Asia Magazine's May 2026 issue, a Singapore-focused edition that also covers the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times (p28), the Golf Asia Masters (p12), and Wang Mei Zhan's historic win at the BMW Golf Cup World Final 2025 (p52). ONOFF's XCBT range (p34) leads the gear coverage, and the Japan Golden Route hotel guide (p60) offers three boutique stays for the travelling golfer. Lexus ES takes the Wheels feature (p66) alongside a preview of Rolex's partnership with the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The Connect section (p12) covers the ONOFF launch at Awana, the Golf Asia Masters, a VP Bank and Aloysa Atienza fireside chat, International Women's Day at Seletar, and the PMGA Golf Day — all primarily Singapore-market events that give the issue a strong local identity. The Lessons section (p38) targets three handicap brackets: Break 100, Break 90 and Break 80, each with a specific long-iron focus. The Fault Fixer (p42) checks grip faults, and Golf Fit (p43) addresses posture and breathing mechanics.

The Golf Life section spans Xiamen travel (p56), Japanese boutique hotels (p60), Lexus and motorsport (p66), bracelet-dial timepieces (p74), seasonal dining (p80), and the TCMedi Spa wellness facility (p86) — a broad lifestyle spread that positions the magazine beyond pure instruction. The Final Word (p88) delivers a putting alignment quick tip.

—————

Content Guide

▸ Cover Story
p.44 · Full Circle – Steven Lee of Leonian
Lee's journey from working in a small golf shop to building a multi-brand retail empire across Asia, his views on the state of golf retail post-Covid, and the business decisions that kept Leonian independent when competitors consolidated. One retail trend Lee predicts will reshape Asian golf shopping by 2028.

▸ News & Events
p.10 · News
Renovations at Els Club Desaru and the SICC May Day Charity event — updates on two of Singapore's most important golf facilities. The Els Club's new short-game area that opened in April 2026.

p.12 · Connect
Round-up of the ONOFF launch at Awana, a VP Bank fireside chat with Aloysa Atienza, International Women's Day at Seletar, and the PMGA Golf Day. The ONOFF driver that generated the most buzz at the launch event.

▸ Features
p.50 · Sign Of The Time – OMEGA & Rory McIlroy
OMEGA's partnership with Rory McIlroy in the Tomorrow Golf League — how watch-brand involvement is funding the technology-driven format. The TGL rule that OMEGA's timing technology makes possible.

p.52 · Wang Makes History
Singapore's Wang Mei Zhan wins the Ladies category at the BMW Golf Cup World Final 2025 — her road to the title and what it means for women's amateur golf in Singapore. The practice schedule she followed in the 6 weeks before the final.

p.54 · Par Excellence – Daniel Hillier
Kiwi Daniel Hillier's win at the New Zealand Open and what it means for his DP World Tour season. The equipment change that he credits with improving his approach-play consistency.

▸ Gear
p.34 · Good Golf For All – ONOFF XCBT
ONOFF's XCBT range tested — a full bag of clubs designed for the Asian market with lighter shafts and higher launch angles. The wedge grind that performed best on the tight, hard lies common across Southeast Asia.

p.36 · Retro Hip – Onitsuka Mexico 66 Golf
The Mexico 66 golf shoe — Onitsuka Tiger's crossover into spiked footwear. How the retro silhouette compares with modern performance shoes on comfort and traction.

▸ Lifestyle
p.60 · Rooms – Japan's Golden Route
Three boutique hotels along Japan's Golden Route that cater to golfers: a ryokan near Kawana, a modern stay in Hakone, and a Tokyo property with club-storage service. The Hakone onsen that offers the best post-round recovery.

—————

Editor's Take

This issue succeeds where it focuses on Singapore and Southeast Asian golf — the community-event coverage (Connect, Leaderboard) is genuinely useful for local readers who want to know what's happening in their market. The Wang Mei Zhan story is a genuinely good piece of reporting that showcases a player most international magazines would miss. However, the Gear and Lessons sections are thin — two pages for the ONOFF launch, two pages for long-irons across three handicap brackets, which is barely enough to scratch the surface. The Golf Life section (travel, watches, dining, wellness) stretches to 30 pages and feels like it's padding the issue to support advertising. The Lexus ES piece (p66) is effectively a press release. The magazine's production quality has improved — better paper and photography than previous issues — but the editorial-to-advertising ratio is still tilted toward the ad side.

Strengths
• Wang Mei Zhan feature covers an under-reported story well
• Strong local Singapore and Southeast Asia event coverage
• ONOFF XCBT testing is relevant to the target market

Weaknesses
• Golf Life section is overstretched and ad-supported
• Lexus ES feature is advertorial without disclosure

Verdict: Selective read — essential for Singapore-based golfers who want local event coverage, but the lifestyle pages dilute the golf content significantly.