Golf Malaysia Champion of Champions Championship

Golf Malaysia Champion of Champions Championship

Champions Warming Up
The prestigious Champions tournament will see all champions representing their respective clubs heading into the event as firm favourites to take out the title at the 5,918 metres layout of Berjaya Hills Golf & Country Club in Bukit Tinggi. But to do so they will need to contend with an impressive field all ready to win. Joining the locals in the field for the first time is Brunei’s lady champion Joan Chin (11) from The Empire Country Club.
“It is great to see such a high quality field assembled for this tournament, it is also a great opportunity for them to put their skills on display and it would be a huge honour for any of these champions to win the tournament come Saturday’s final round.” said S.A Nathan, General Manager of Berjaya Hills Golf & Country Club. Teeing off at 8.00 am on short gun start, these amateurs are all looking to make their mark in this 36-hole stroke play tournament for their club. Leading the charge are all three defending champions Mohd Shanizam Mohd Mohagi, Clearwater Sanctuary golf club’s Ling Hui Shin and Dato’ A.S Khamis.
Organised by Golf Malaysia Magazine, the championship is proudly supported by Callaway RAZR Golf (Official Equipment and Topfilte golf ball), Heineken (Official Beer), Singleton of Glen Ord (Official Single Malt whisky), ONLY Golf (Official Apparel), SUNPLAY 130 (Official Sun Block), (Red Bull (Official Energy Drink), 100 PLUS (Official Isotonic Drink) and ICE Mountain (Official Mineral Water). Hole-In-One sponsor is Bermaz Motor, sponsoring a Mazda2.

Golf Malaysia Course Poll Results & Awards 2011

Kota Permai and Sarawak GC are Tops
The latest Golf Malaysia Course Poll that determined the best golf courses in Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia produced some pleasant surprises, thanks to 5,723 votes that you, our loyal readers, have taken the time to cast.
In this 2008-2010 survey Golf Malaysia readers have voted by way of our website, at numerous Golf Malaysia competitions, via e-mail, on Facebook and also at the annual GolfFest events.
The 2008-2010 poll was unique, as the voting extended over a three-year period rather than the traditional two-year timeframe of the pervious polls.
In late 2008, Golf Malaysia felt the world’s poor economy was having a negative bearing on the country’s golf courses, especially when it came to maintenance. When the economy started to show signs of recovery in 2009, the decision was made to extend the voting into 2010 with the plan to determine the results in December of 2010 and release the list of winners in early 2011.
When golfers vote they were asked to state their preferences based on the course’s routing, playability, conditions, cleanliness, maintenance, overall landscapes, facilities, services, and the memorable qualities of their rounds.
In our last poll, which gave us winners that reigned from 2008 to 2010, the winner for Peninsular Malaysia was Kota Permai Golf & Country Club and Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai captured the East Malaysia crown.

Since clubs capable of creating overall customer satisfaction year-in-and-year-out tend to garner the votes, Kota Permai G&CC was able to retain the top spot as the best course in Peninsular Malaysia by receiving 1,288 votes. In fact Kota Permai’s win makes it three-in-a-row for the 18-hole facility.
If Kota Permai wishes to join Saujana Golf & Country Club’s Palm course in our Golf Malaysia’s Hall of Fame for outstanding golf courses it will need to win the next two polls to meet the Fame’s criteria of five-in-a-row. And, if this year is any indication Kota Permai’s task is far from a lock.
With 1,117 votes, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) displaced Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort (1,003 votes) as Peninsular Malaysia’s second best course and The Mines Resort Golf Club (1,087) climbed to third to push Clearwater done to fourth.
In the previous poll KLGCC sat at No. 9, but since that poll their West and East courses were completely revamped at a cost of several million Ringgit and the club hosted the 2010 Malaysian Open on the West Course and the inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia on the East Course. Over the next two years, with their continued hosting of the two professional events and more golfers getting to play their outstanding new layouts KLGCC will give Kota Permai a strong challenge.
The same can also be said of The Mines Resort. While its 18 holes did not undergone major renovation, the condition of the course was brought to its finest in 2010 as the club prepared to host the first US PGA Tour event to come to Malaysia, the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia. The expose this first-class tournament provided The Mines had it moving from No. 7 to No. 3 in the voting and like KLGCC it will be challenging Kota Permai for the top spot over the next two years.

The most startling news, however, from the latest poll is that, there are NINE new ‘faces’ in the Peninsular Malaysia Top 20. Leading the way for the new comers was Saujana Golf & Country Club’s Bunga Raya course in the fifth position followed by: Starhill Golf Club No. 12, Horizon Hills Golf Club No. 13, Ayer Keroh Country Club No. 15, Berjaya Hills Golf & Country Club No. 16, Pulai Springs Golf Resort No. 17, Datai Bay Golf Club No. 18, The Legends Golf & Country Resort No. 19, and Bukit Jawi Golf Resort No. 20.
Clubs voted out of top 20 included Staffield Country Resort in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan (3rd previously), Palm Garden Golf Club in Putrajaya (4th), Cinta Sayang Golf & Country Club in Sungai Petani, Kedah (5th), Kajang Hill Golf Club (6th), Sungai Long Golf & Country Club in Kajang (8th), Bukit Jambul Country Club in Pulau Pinang (11th), Kelab Golf Negara Subang in Petaling Jaya (12th), Kelab Golf Rahman Putra in Sungai Buloh (19th) and Glenmarie in Shah Alam (20th).
The biggest upward moves were made by Tropicana Golf & Country Club which jumped from No. 18 to No. 6 and Tanjong Puteri GRfrom 16th to 9th.

The Top 10 East Malaysia Courses from the states of Sabah and Sarawak, had Sarawak Golf Club dethroning Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai and their jump from No. 7 to No. 1 represented the strongest move among the top 10. The second biggest upward move was Sabah Golf & Country Club going from 10th to 5th.

Interestingly, no new courses appeared in the East Malaysia rankings.
While Nexus lost its pole position to Sarawak Golf Club, it did retain the title of Best Golf Resort in Malaysia with Melaka’s A’Famosa second and Sutera Harbour in third.
And when it comes to being ‘Memorable’ Sabah’s Tawau Hot Spring Golf Club impressed those who played enough to outrank Clearwater Sanctuary who claimed the second spot.
For those who have not played Tawau’s Hot Spring, be informed that the tough 18-hole layout gets the ‘Memorable’ honour because of its natural jungle settings, cool highlands weather, the frequent appearance of majestic hornbillls and more out-of-bounds than any other course in Malaysia.
Clearwater Sanctuary Resort again, top in the most scenic category, followed by Awana Genting GC, Bukit Unggul GC, Tawau Hot Spring and Berjaya Hills GC.
As for difficulty Klang Valley golfers have to look no future than Kelab Rahman Putra as it is the most difficult course to handle, followed by Orna GC in Melaka, Tanjung Puteri GR, Berjaya Hills GC and Horizon HillsGC.
In the Most Difficult Hole category readers put Hole 9 on the Lake Nine at Tiara Melaka GC, with another 9th hole, that of The Legends GC’s Nicklaus course at No. 2, with Hole 3 Hill course at Rahman Putra GC, Hole 15 Bukit Jawi GR and No. 18 at Kinrara GC in that order.
Darul Ehsan Golf Club was voted as it was in the previous poll, the Best 9-hole Course, followed by Bukit Utama, Royal Kampung Kuantan GC, Royal Kedah GC and Valencia GC in Sungai Buluoh.

The Golf Malaysia Course Poll 2011-2012 poll will commence with voting in December 2011 with the results announced in the 2013 February issue of Golf Malaysia magazine.
Again, thanks to all who participated in this poll and in previous polls and we at Golf Malaysia look forward to counting your votes once again about 18 months from today.

Full results of the Golf Course poll can be found in the February issue of Golf Malaysia Magazine.

A Saintly Break

St Enodoc, one England's most beguiling links courses, and the St Moritz Hotel, set in one of Cornwall's most romantic locations, is offering a 'Saintly Break' package that allows you to spend time on the golf course while your partner languishes in the spa.
Whilst you enjoy the majesty and beauty of the James Braid-designed course that was founded back in 1890, your other half will be being spoiled rotten in the Cowshed spa at the St Moritz Hotel.
Guests will be pampered by a team of committed therapists who soothe, calm, invigorate and delight with a luxurious range of udderly gorgeous Cowshed products, such as Wild Cow, Knackered Cow, or the award winning Grumpy Cow.
So no need to feel guilty as you plot your way around the award-winning championship St Enodoc course that is famed for its characteristic fairway undulations and firm greens that are set against the backdrop of some of the greatest sea and estuary views of any course in the world.
"St Enodoc is one of the UK's most highly rated links courses and testament to its quality, the Church Course has hosted numerous amateur golf events, including the English Ladies Amateur Championship in 1993 and 2002 and the English Counties Championship in 1989 and 2005," says Tuck Clagett, General Manager of St Enodoc.
"The outstanding beauty and design of St Enodoc has also lured a host of legendary Open Champions to its fairways including James Braid of course, Henry Cotton, Jim Barnes and Tom Watson which has added to the prestige of this exceptional course."
St Enodoc's location on the high sand dunes of the North Cornwall coast overlooking the Camel Estuary, with Padstow to the west and the Atlantic coast to north, makes for ideal links golf and stunning sea panoramas from almost every hole. The course has won many accolades and in 2009 was ranked 55th in the world outside the US by the well-respected Golf Digest magazine.
"In addition to glorious golf at St Enodoc and perfect pampering at the Cowshed spa, this part of Cornwall is an incredibly romantic retreat," comments Hugh Ridgway, owner and founder of the St Moritz Hotel. "It offers wonderful coastal and beach walks with stunning panoramas, traditional cosy, warming pubs and long lingering dinners in gourmet seafood restaurants."
The Cornish Cowshed at the St Moritz is part of the global spa network founded at Babington House in Somerset, with sister spas in New York, Miami, London and Berlin among others.
Within the restored 1950s-influenced leisure suite, guests can also enjoy a fully-fitted gym, pool and a Hamman-style steam room as well as six treatment rooms and a luxurious manicure and pedicure area with huge armchairs and state-of-the-art televisions.
"Saintly Break" packages comprise:
· 2 rounds of golf (18 holes) over the Church and Holywell Courses at St Enodoc (tee times to be confirmed on booking)
· Two one hour Cowshed spa treatments for the partner (times to be confirmed on booking)
· Two-night stay on a Bed & Breakfast basis
· Dinner on both nights
Only £145.00 per person per night
based on two people sharing a king/twin room (upgrade to a suite for just £60 per room per night)
Not available from 8 July to 29 August 2011 inclusive. Remains subject to availability at both St Moritz and St Enodoc. Applies to new reservations and existing reservations cannot be changed once booked.

BANGLADESH MASTERS

SIDDIKUR ROMPS TO 12-STROKE VICTORY

Bangladeshi Siddikur posted a final round score of three-under-par 69 for a 19-under-par 269 total to win the Bangladesh Masters title at the US$75,000 Asian Development Tour event.
Md. Milon Ahmed of Bangladesh secured second position with a 72 for a 281 total, 12 strokes behind Siddikur while amateur golfer Md. Jakiruzzaman (68), also of Bangladesh and flamboyant Japanese prospect Yosuke Tsukada (74) shared third place on a 284 total at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
"I want to dedicate my victory to Bangladesh. This is the first time the Asian Development Tour is organized here and it was great exposure to the professional golfers in Bangladesh,” said Siddikur, who won US$13,125.
Siddikur got off to a strong start, sinking three consecutive birdies from the first hole before returning with three further birdies against as many bogeys.
Since his victory at the Brunei Open last season, Siddikur has continued to fly the Bangladeshi flag on the international stage and he is determined to continue his mission in the new Asian Tour season.
Milon, who started his golfing journey with Siddikur as a ball boy at the Kurmitola Golf Club, rued a cold putter as he closed with three birdies against three bogeys. He was ecstatic with his experience of playing in his first Asian Development Tour event and hopes to one day follow in the footsteps of his close friend Siddikur.
A tired Tsukada, who struggled with fatigue, admitted he was playing for second place but was disappointed to bogey the last hole and eventually finish in tied third.
The top three players on the Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn their Asian Tour cards for 2012.

Leading final round scores
269 – Siddikur (Ban) 66-65-69-69
281 - Md. Milon AHMED (Ban) 72-69-68-72
284 - Md. Jakiruzzaman (A) (Ban) 71-75-70-68, Yosuke TSUKADA (Jap) 70-71-69-74
285 - Md. Zamal Hossain MOLLAH (Ban) 72-68-74-71
286 - Md. Rezaul KARIM (Ban) 74-70-75-67, Hirotaro NAITO (Jap) 70-70-72-74
287 - Justin BRINK (Ire) 71-72-75-69, Ross CANAVAN (Eng) 71-72-69-75
288 - Javed INAYAT (Pak) 73-74-67-74, Md. Liton HOWLADER (Ban) 69-71-71-77
289 - Takafumi KAWANE (Jap) 73-71-75-70
290 - Md. Sayum MIAH (Ban) 70-72-72-76
291 - Llewellyn MATTHEWS (Wal) 75-74-73-69, Neil REILLY (Eng) 72-73-74-72
292 - Md. Shakhawat SOHEL (Ban) 75-71-75-71, Md. A. MOTIN (Ban) 68-71-76-77

Prosperity to Eat All You Can!

How's that to eat your way to prosperity?

Here's the deal....Chinese New Year 2011 is a family affair celebrating, a time of reunion and this year, Tropicana Golf & Country Club Chinese New Year dinner has a special promotion.
“Our Family Prosperity buffet dinner, will have a wider variety of dishes to choose from, including the famous yee sang to toss for a bountiful year ahead, said James Thor, Event & Promotions Manager of Tropicana Golf Club.
The price is: RM52++ for adult
RM35++ for Member’s child
RM62++ for Member’s guest/visitor
RM40++ for Visitor’s child.
Members and guests who are 60 years and above will be entitled to a 50% discount.
Meanwhile, the CNY Family Prosperity Buffet Dinner has a presale offer. If you purchase 10 Prosperity Buffet Voucher from January 1-25, you will get 2 vouchers FREE!If you buy the most Family vouchers, you have the chance to win a trip for 2 to ClubMed Cherating worth RM2,888!The CNY Prosperity Dinner will be available from Jan 28 till Feb 13 from 7pm to 10.30pm.
Reservations at The Palm Coffee House are recommended. Call 03-7804 1919.

Maybank Malaysian Open 2011

MALAYSIAN OPEN 2011


Maybank has confirmed its commitment for another five years as the title sponsor of the Malaysian Open, increasing the tournament's prize purse to US$2.5 million at the same time.

Young sensations Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel from South Africa and Rory McIlroy from Ireland, aare expected to lead the 2011 field of players in the 156 player this April 14th to 17th at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (West Course).

On the star players, Tan Sri Dato' Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor Chairman of Maybank said: “We are thrilled to welcome Oosthuizen, Schwartzel and McIlroy to the 50th edition of the Maybank Malaysian Open. This is the first time in the Malaysian Open history a newly crowned Open Championship winner will be participating in our tournament. I believe that the appearance displayed by these three rising stars will attract more fans to the sport, especially after witnessing their superb sportsmanship."

The Malaysian Golf Association ("MGA") welcomed the announcement of the sponsorship renewal, acknowledging that the Maybank Malaysian Open is the jewel in the crown of Malaysia professional golf.

"The Maybank Malaysian Open has been instrumental in cultivating and supporting local talent over the years, giving them to opportunity to hone their skills on an international platform against some of the biggest names in the golfing world. Looking back 50 years, golf has truly come a long way in Malaysia. With tournaments like the Maybank Malaysian Open spurring on our local professionals, giving them priority and ensuring that their needs are taken care of, we are optimistic that a Malaysian golfer will one day represent our country in the Olympics," said MGA President Datuk Robin Loh.

Points earned by the players will go towards the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and will also add to the player's 2011 Race to Dubai Ranking, granting them a chance to qualify for the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

Past Malaysian Open has seen the likes of Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell, Lee Westwood and Nick Faldo making waves on its courses over the years. In 2010, this prestigious event was won by 19-year old Korean sensation Noh Seung-Yul who then went on to become Asian Tour's number one player.

In addition to the series of announcements, Maybank also revealed the appointment of local heroes Danny Chia and Mohd Shaaban Hussin as the Ambassadors of the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011. "Our support for Malaysian golfers stretches from developing youth through our Junior Development Programme, to Malaysian professionals. This year will see the number of Malaysians in the field increase from 17 to 22 golfers. I am also pleased that this year, we will sponsor two Malaysian golfers - Danny Chia and Shaaban Hussin. It is our intention to help some of those affected by our support to realize their potential and hopefully become international champions," said Tan Sri Dato' Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor.

"Danny made history by becoming the first Malaysian to win an Asian Tour event when he won the Taiwan Open in 2002. He also qualified for the third time to play in the British Open, becoming the first Malaysian to play in all four rounds at the British Open at St Andrews, the oldest major in the world," added Tan Sri Dato' Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor. "Shaaban, who turned pro in 2003, proved himself a talent to watch when he beat over 100 local professionals to qualify for the inaugural PGA Tour-sanctioned event in Malaysia last year. He has the makings of a great player."

Golf in Vietnam

Thu Duc Garden Homes Invitational attracted 122 players from around Vietnam.




And so, a course record fell as Vietnam’s top amateur tournament was held from January 7-9 at Danang Golf Club.

The format was conducted in 36 holes of stroke play and, as one might expect, three of the five Asian Tour representatives claimed top honors. Australian Unho Park’s 139 led the field, thanks to Sunday’s closing 69, a new course record from the championship Shark Tees at 8-month-old, Greg Norman-designed Danang GC. Lam Chih Bing of Singapore finished two strokes back while Vietnam’s own Tran Le Duy Nhat placed third at 146.

The individual competitions were broken out into five separate divisions:

• Amateur Gross (no handicap)

• Amateur Net (maximum handicap: 13)

• Vietnam National Team Open (no handicap)

• Professional (local and regional tours)

• VIP (with handicap)



Earning Amateur Gross honors was Vietnam Golf & Country Club’s Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, whose 74 on Saturday and 73 Sunday which gave him a 7 shot victory over this strong field. The Amateur Net champion was Le Ngoc Tu of Montgomerie Links, who plays off 12 and posted 135 over the two days.

Lau A Tay, playing out of Dong Nai GC, earned top spot among Vietnam National Team Open entrants, posting 82-78, while Vo Viet Thanh of Vietnam Golf & Country Club earned the VIP title with a net score of 140.

“The tournament was a qualified success in terms of the quality and depth of the field, the atmosphere and the venue. Even the weather cooperated!” said FOREGolf Asia Managing Director Jeff Puchalski. “It absolutely poured rain on Friday morning, the day we were supposed to have played practice rounds. That makes one nervous, of course, but Saturday and Sunday were both perfect for golf.

Puchalski reserved special praise for the Dunes Course at Danang Golf Club, General Manager Howie Roberts, and his staff. This Norman design was recently cited by GOLF Magazine as one of the top 15 new courses to open worldwide in 2010, and none of the competitors in January are about to disagree.

“Everyone loved the course and the Asian Tour players frankly raved,” Puchalski said. “The playing conditions could not have been better and the staff at Danang GC was superb. Their personalized service made the event really special.”

“Unho Park ultimately took the top prize, on Sunday, but the atmosphere late Sunday morning — when we held a sudden-death putt-off to gain the final —was electric. There were 122 people, the entire field, gathered around the putting green at Danang, living and dying with every stroke,” Puchalski said.

The two days of competition offered dozens of compelling storylines all their own, but special attention was paid to the hole-in-one competitions on account of what was at stake. A finer collection of prizes would be hard to find anywhere in Asia, unfortunately nobody won them:

• Host Danang Golf Club put up a two-year membership

• Course supplier Jebsen & Jessen offered Club Car golf cart, or $5000 USD in cash

• Local auto company Auto Do Thanh put up a straight cash prize of 100,000,000 VND

• Tournament host Le Quang Liem, General Director of Thu Duc Garden Homes, offered one of his company’s villas valued at $360,000 USD