A familiar golf course may have its charms, but one feels an exhilarating sense of anticipation just standing on an unknown tee box and having no clue what lies ahead.
Perhaps this is why some Malaysian golfers are willing to fly thousands of kilometres to play their favourite sport overseas, even when there are plenty of good courses available nationwide.
An overseas golf trip allows one not just to play on a course they have never played before, but also to experience different surroundings, see how the sport is enjoyed elsewhere and, at the same time, discover a new destination.
Golf may be a niche sport, but for those who play, it can also be a reason for travel. Some travel abroad solely for golf, while others play when they are away for work or make it part of their holiday.
Ng Eushen, director of Liberty Golf Services, says that currently the golf holiday trend is being driven by those in their late 20s and early 30s.
He shares that more than 95% of the destination management company’s (DMC) customers specifically look for golf holiday packages, instead of a classic holiday with some golf sessions scheduled in.
“Many would actually set aside just half a day or a full day for sightseeing. But golf remains their main focus,” he says.
He adds that Indonesia and Vietnam are two of the most popular golf destinations in South-East Asia. “For Indonesia, thanks to its competitive prices, ease of communication and reliable transportation systems, it is the choice for many Malaysian golfers,” Ng says.
Vietnam, meanwhile, has been putting in more effort in the past year or so to promote its golf tourism segment. This is not surprising as the country has several world-class courses including Laguna Lang Co, Ba Na Hills Golf Club and Montgomerie Links.
A new challenge
Malaysia, too, has many good golf courses, and Dr Manoharan Kumaran, 69, can attest to this.
He is a member of the Meru Valley Golf Resort and Kinta Golf Club, both of which are in Ipoh, Perak. The retired radiologist started playing golf in 1990, after an injury put an end to his football days.
“I injured my knee playing football, and I wanted to try another sport, so I chose golf as it is a challenging sport ‘from the inside’,” he says.
Dr Manoharan explains that a round of golf requires players to strategise and carefully make their move. From using the right clubs to calculating distance to knowing where to aim and how to deal with hazards and changing conditions, a golfer needs to think about all these factors throughout the round.
“All this is what makes golf mentally challenging,” he says.
That mix of skill, strategy and concentration was what kept him interested in the sport, he says.
About nine years after picking up golf, Dr Manoharan travelled to Medan, Indonesia for his first overseas golfing experience. But the trip was memorable for another reason: he won his first tournament there.
Since then, he has played in different parts of Indonesia, as well as in Vietnam, Thailand and Australia, and each destination gave him the chance to experience courses with different terrains, designs and playing conditions.
But not every golfer looks for the same things when choosing where to play. For Dr Manoharan, one of the things he looks for in a course is that “extra something” which can make the play more challenging. Playing on a course he has never been to before means he has to make decisions on the fly during the round, which is part of the excitement.
Some courses have long, open fairways (the strip of grass between the starting point and the hole), while others wind through hills or have narrow landing areas.
Bunkers (sand-filled areas), water hazards and slopes can also make a round more difficult, while the shape and speed of the green can affect a golfer’s final shot.
The lay of the course itself is not the only draw, though. Golf courses, Dr Manoharan says, are usually very well maintained and surrounded by beautiful nature so it’s similar to visiting a tourist attraction, only you get to play golf at the same time.
Weather is another “attraction”.
“Sometimes, you get play in good weather when you’re overseas. It’s very different from Malaysia’s scorching heat,” he says.
Cost can be a factor too when choosing where to play. Some courses overseas charge lower fees to play a round of golf than at premium courses in Malaysia. But of course, once flights, accommodation, ground transport and meals are included in the final bill, an overseas golf trip will usually cost more than a local one.
Nonetheless, that itself is not a deterrence to most keen golfers. The chance to play somewhere new while enjoying everything else the destination has to offer, can make that extra cost worthwhile, Dr Manoharan says.
There are also golfers who travel simply because they want to play a famous course they have heard about for years.
Dr Manoharan often adds well-known courses to his list when planning where he wants to go next. One course he truly wishes to go is the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland, widely regarded as the “home of golf”.
He has already visited St Andrews before and even walked around the course, but was not able to play at the time because he had not made a booking in advance. Still, the visit left an impact on him.
He says a course’s history and reputation can make the experience more meaningful, even more so when it has hosted major tournaments or been associated with some of the world’s most famous golfers like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
Part of the adventure
Wong Kok Chuen, 29, took up golf early last year. While the freelance tutor is relatively new to the sport, he has already ventured overseas to play a few rounds.
In the beginning, Wong did not quite understand the appeal of the sport. But that changed when he decided to join his wife for a game.
“I was hooked,” he says.
Since then, Wong has played in Japan and Australia, and hopes to explore more courses around the globe.
“Golfing in Japan is especially memorable, with the majestic Mount Fuji in the background as you play,” he shares.
Australia, meanwhile, had a more relaxed atmosphere, which also made the game more enjoyable for him.
Choo LeAnne, 23, on the other hand, is still waiting to go on her first overseas golf trip.
She started playing golf about two years ago and is curious about what it would be like to play in another country.
Much of her interest comes from seeing how golf is played in other places ] how the sport would fit into their lifestyle.
“It would also be interesting to see what golf is like in other countries, from the courses and facilities to the overall culture surrounding the sport,” she says.
“For me, it’s about creating new memories. I’d love to play in a completely different environment, whether that’s surrounded by different landscapes or even cool weather.
“Beyond the game itself, I’d like the experience to be part of my travel adventure,” she adds.
For her first overseas golf trip, Choo is considering heading to Chiang Mai in Thailand, thanks to its cool weather, beautiful mountainous surroundings and established golf courses.
The relaxed pace in Chiang Mai is another reason why it draws many holidaymakers, and why it is an appealing destination for golfers. Several good courses are also within easy reach of the city.
Like Dr Manoharan, Choo, too, thinks that playing on a new course would be a fun challenge. However, they have different takes on what would make a good golf holiday.
Dr Manoharan does not mind making golf as the “main attraction”. Choo, on the other hand, sees golf as part of a holiday.
“I’d want to explore the destination, try the local food, see the sights and experience the culture as well. I think that would make the trip more enjoyable for me because then golf is just part of the holiday rather than the whole holiday,” she says.
One major aspect of going on a golf holiday that needs to be taken into consideration is the planning, especially when it comes to logistics. Golfers need to think about how to get their clubs to the destination, and whether the airline they’re taking has allowances for golf equipment in their baggage compartment.
And if they’re playing at several different courses that are not affiliated with one another in the area, then they’d also need to think about ground transportation.
Some places do offer shuttle services from one course to another, but this most likely requires reservation or even payment.
Meeting people
If you ask people what comes to mind when they think of golf, “networking” might be one of the first answers you’ll hear.
There is no denying that golf is a social sport, and that is part of what makes playing overseas interesting, too.
Golfers may end up playing with people they have never met and getting to know people from different backgrounds.
“Meeting local golfers when you’re playing overseas is always fun. We can use our good or bad scores during the rounds as a conversation starter,” says Dr Manoharan.
For Wong, though, the focus is always on the game first; the social aspect comes second or not at all, sometimes.
“To me, we should focus on playing the game rather than meeting people. We don’t go there expecting to meet anyone. We have one goal, which is to drive the ball and strike it well,” he shares.
The social side of golf can extend beyond individual golfers. You’ve probably heard of – or even been on – an “incentive trip” organised by a company. These days, a golf holiday is one of the most popular types of incentive trips among Malaysian companies.
Tour operator Ng says that some golf clubs also organise trips overseas for their members, participating in inter-club competitions and other programmes.
Better opportunities
When it comes to golf tourism, Malaysia has very strong competition coming from neighbouring countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.
While Malaysia is also a well-known golf destination, Ng believes that more needs to be done to attract an even bigger pool of international golfers, or holiday golfers.
He feels that some courses in the country need to improve their facilities, as well as promote themselves more actively overseas.
Government support could also help, particularly through better tax exemptions for course-maintenance machinery, duties on buggies, caddie employment and tax assessments.
“This will be key for Malaysian courses to be better prepared to welcome international golfers and bring in bigger tourism receipts,” Ng says.
At the same time, he feels that Malaysian golf packages could be more creative and offer greater value to holidaymakers. For example, adding hotel stays and tickets to well-known tourist attractions to a golf holiday package.
