MGA Introduces New Programme GoGolf To Boost Golf Industry

The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) has launched its GoGolf programme yesterday to further popularise the sport locally, in an effort to reach a new generation of golfers.

MGA president Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor said currently in Malaysia alone, there are about 2.1 million people from the younger segment who have expressed interest in golf but were unable to find a suitable platform to get a head start in the sport.

“Therefore with this new programme, we hope to make the sport more accessible to the masses in order to fulfil Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak’s mandate to promote golf not merely as an exclusive sport.

“We hope to achieve the mandate alongside our official partners — which are Zurich Insurance Malaysia Bhd (ZIMB), Finexus Group, and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN),” Mohd Anwar said at the launching ceremony yesterday.

The GoGolf programme is open to professionals, amateurs and beginners, where members will be entitled to special privileges at approximately 129 golf clubs nationwide.

Currently, Mohd Anwar said about 70 golf clubs have confirmed their participation to support this new initiative and MGA hopes that more clubs will join in soon.

“Essentially, we are staking out a new turf by forming alliances with forward-thinking partners to institute a radical change in our business model,” he said, adding that the programme is still in its first phase and an expansion in the new future is still to be negotiated.

He pointed out that MGA is committed to work with golf clubs nationwide to provide more attractive incentives, new revenue streams and promotional opportunities to make golfing more accessible and affordable.

Youth and Sports Ministry Deputy Secretary General Nik Abd Kadir Mohamed was present on behalf of Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to officiate the launching ceremony.

“It is precisely for these reasons I am of the view that the launch of the GoGolf programme by MGA and its partners is an exciting proposition.

“We now have the catalyst to revitalise, build fresh interest, nurture new talent and grow the golf industry,” Khairy said in the speech, read by Nik Abd Kadir.

He added golf memberships had declined in recent years while defaulters of clubs continue to escalate, which subsequently forced clubs to confront the rising cost of course maintenance.

As a result, it has hampered efforts to introduce improvements to their respective club facilities.

The deputy secretary general — along with The Mines Resort and Golf Club founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew — witnessed a signing ceremony of the strategic alliance agreement for the GoGolf programme between MGA, ZIMB, BSN and Finexus.

The signing ceremony was followed by a launch gambit led by Olympian Danny Chia.

Among the benefits of being a GoGolf member include instant provisional handicap status for non-National Handicapping System (NHS) golfers, with access to play at more than 100 golf courses.

Members are also entitled for online and mobile application golf bookings, participation in inter-club championships, loyalty reward programmes, discounts on professional golf lesson rates and access to member clubs facilities.

Founded in 1929, MGA is a non-governmental organisation run by volunteers and is the sole governing body of golf in Malaysia entrusted to promote the game, while preserving its traditions and integrity.

The association’s portfolios have increased over the years — ranging from conducting 14 state amateur opens, national amateur open and national amateur close — and is open to processing handicaps through its NHS.

Article from The Malaysian Reserve – October 26, 2016

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