New challenge at Borneo Golf Resort, Bongawan in December

KOTA KINABALU: Golfers around Sabah can expect a new golfing challenge at the Borneo Golf Resort (BGR), Bongawan, come December.

Entering the last phase of renovation, BGR president, Datuk CK Tan announced a ‘Reverse Course’ golf challenge on the Jack Nicklaus-designed greens.

“It is now 90 per cent completed,” Tan said, of the golf course which was formerly known as the Borneo Golf and Country Club (BGCC).

“I believe that golfers are excited to try the new greens.

It is exciting but challenging,” he said, adding that the renovation of the greens is completed and they are now awaiting the installation of ‘Tee boxes’.

He said this during a press conference at the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu in conjunction with the 2015 Open Golf Program which was jointly organized by BGR and Hyatt Regency Kinabalu of which proceeds of the event were donated to CSR activities and the Papar Middle School Hostel Project.

“This project began several months ago where, together with the general manager of BGR, Peter Tan, who is himself a veteran golfer, designed the greens.

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New era for Damai Golf with RM2.8 mln facelift

KUCHING: Damai Golf and Country Club (DGCC) is in a position to host golf majors from next year once upgrading and refurbishment work on its Ocean Nine and Mountain Nine are fully completed.

The total cost for the refurbishment is about RM 2.8 million and the works are expected to be completed by June 2013. According to SEDC Sarawak General Manager Soedirman Aini, once the upgrading works are completed, DGCC will become one of the most spectacular golf courses in Sarawak.

“The refurbishment works not only include the golf course, but also various aspects of the clubhouse. We are very happy with the progress so far as the works are ahead of schedule,” remarked Soedirman.

The soft opening to mark the completion of upgrading works for its Ocean Nine was done over the weekend with golfers giving their thumbs up. He pointed out that SEDC Sarawak have received very good feedbacks on the new greens and as such would like to invite the golfing fraternity to try them out.

As for now, the present golf course is still playable as temporary greens are provided for greens which are currently being upgraded.

“The upgrading signals a new era for Damai Golf. It will help position Damai Golf as the preferred golf destination by golfers and tournament groups alike, locally, regionally and internationally, and bring Damai Golf to the next level of quality,” added Soedirman.

In addition, the upgrading will greatly facilitate DGCC’s efforts in making the golf course and Sarawak, the preferred destination for golf tourism in this region. Damai is already a popular destination for tourism and with the addition of the DGCC’s new facilities, it will boost the state’s sports tourism industry.

This is in-line with the recent call made by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek for the state to promote golf tourism.

“The State must look into golf sports tourism. Sarawak must look into the possibility of having a signature golf championship of international stature. The return of investment of organising such international class golfing event is tremendous. I have played many times at Damai Golf which is very scenic and has better potential for golf tourism,” said Shabery.

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MASwings launches Golf Escapade promotion

KUCHING: MASwings launched its Golf Escapade promotion that covers extensive prestige packages for golfers all over the world in conjunction with MASwings BIMP-EAGA Golf Challenge 2012 recently.

The tournament will be held on the lush green of Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club Miri on May 27 with participants from BIMP EAGA destinations like Brunei, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan and the Philippines.

“The Golf Escapade package is a platform to support the growing golfers market as well as to further promote the current domestic tourism as well as within BIMP-EAGA region,” said MASwings’ chief executive officer Dato Captain Mohd Nawawi Awang at a press conference here on Tuesday.

He added that apart from that, MASwings aimed to create a luxury golf vacation experience for both local and international golfers by offering low cost packages to numerous other golf courses in Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Indonesia.

He also said: “The golf course is the best place for corporate people to meet and form business alliances.

“The Golf Escapade package will create the opportunity for business golfers to travel and play golf at an attractive price within Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia.”

The Golf Escapade package offers fares as low as RM509 to RM1,300 where customers will enjoy a return flight, hotel accommodation for three days two nights or two days one night stay with daily breakfast and return transfer.

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Golf tour operators name Sabah as future hot spot

Malaysia’s most eastern state of Sabah has been pinpointed by a group of visiting golf tour operators as a future major attraction for golf tourism in South East Asia.

Sabah is strongly on the radar as an international golf tourism destination following a visit by 33 European, Chinese and Australian golf tour operators.

The visitors, who spent three days in Sabah immediately before last week’s Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) in Kuala Lumpur, came away highly enthusiastic about the East Malaysian state’s golf and broad tourism attractions.

“The golf is great, but what is also appealing about Sabah is the nature,” said German tour operator, Manfred Rauno. “Sabah isn’t known in Europe, but when people learn about the wonderful plants, animals and natural attractions – as well as the golf – I am sure they will want to come.”

Australian tour operator, Fred Sparksman, whose Golf and Gourmet tours combine golf with gourmet dining and other eclectic experiences, said Sabah compared more than favourably with other Asian golf destinations. He said it was ideal for six-night stay-and-play packages.

“I was especially impressed with the Shangri-la Rasa Ria and Sutera Harbour Resort,” he said. “The Ocean Wing at the Shangri-La is wonderful and combined with the orang-utan sanctuary, beach and dining, there’s a lot to attract visiting golfers.”

He said the Dalit Bay golf course was challenging, but playable for average golfers.

“The courses and resort facilities at Sutera Harbour are also impressive, and being so close to Kota Kinabalu is a definite plus,” he added.

Both Manfred Rauno and Fred Sparksman said they saw Sabah as an add-on destination for golf tourists visiting Singapore, the Malay peninsular and other South East Asian markets, rather than as a purely stand-alone option.

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Sabah Golf Resorts Launch Marketing Alliance

The two leading golf resorts in Sabah have formed a marketing alliance to promote golf tourism in Malaysia’s most eastern state, situated on the island of Borneo.

A key feature of the co-operative promotional campaign between Sutera Harbour Resort and Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resort is the launch of a new website, Sabah Golf (www.sabah-golf.com). As well as giving prospective visitors an insight into some of Malaysia’s most scenic and enjoyable golf, the website highlights Sabah’s numerous tourism attractions, including its rich local culture and colonial history, offshore islands, pristine tropical jungle and nature reserves.

The launch of Sabah Golf – with a catchline of ‘Simply Awesome’ – coincides with the first Asia Golf Tourism Convention to be held later this month by the International Association of Golf Tourism Operators (IAGTO) in Kuala Lumpur. The convention will bring more than 100 golf tourism operators to Malaysia at a time when Asia has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing and most exciting golf tourism market.

Before the convention, the two resorts will host a visit by golf tour operators from Europe, Australia and other international markets, who will see Sabah’s golf credentials for themselves.

As members of the Malaysia Golf Tourism Association, formed last year, Sutera Harbour Resort and Shangri-La Rasa Ria’s Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club are especially seeking to boost golf tourism from regional Asia,

Australia/New Zealand and Europe. Sabah’s capital, Kota Kinabalu, receives direct flights from numerous Malaysian and Asian cities including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore and Shenzhen.

Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club has 27 holes of high quality championship-standard golf designed by former Australian tour pro, Graham Marsh. Fronting the South China Sea, it has several outstanding golf holes including the signature hole 24 playing beside the water’s edge. The resort also offers the only night golf in East Malaysia.

Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club is located within the Sutera Harbour Resort which encompasses the marina, the 500-room Pacific Sutera Hotel and the 456-room Magellan Sutera Resort.

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