By Yusrin Junaidi –
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 16 OCT – The Sabah Tourism Golf Challenge 2024, which will take place from 5 to 7 December next, is expected to attract the participation of 360 golfers from all over Southeast Asia, promising fierce competition to the participants.
The tournament organized by the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) will be held at three leading golf courses in Sabah, namely Sutera Harbor Marina Golf & Country Club, Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club and Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai.
The General Manager of X Multisport Event, Ahmad Syuaib Nasir, during a briefing session on the tournament at the Malaysian Tourism Headquarters, Rizqun International Hotel, in the capital, said his side was excited to organize the prestigious event which is also expected to boost the sports tourism sector in Sabah.
“We hope to welcome golfers from all over Southeast Asia to experience the beauty and hospitality that Sabah has to offer. This event not only promotes the sport of golf but also highlights Sabah as a superior sports tourism destination,” he said.
Director of Tourism Malaysia to Brunei, Hazrina Azman, in her speech, is confident that Malaysia remains the main destination for golfers from Brunei, with a record of 785,000 Bruneian tourists visiting the country until August this year. He believes the figure is also contributed by the interest of Bruneian golfers who often visit Malaysia to play golf.
“The 2024 Sabah Tourism Golf Challenge is expected to attract more participation from Brunei and open up opportunities for more similar tournaments to be held in the future,” he added.
Malaysia has 148 golf courses in the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, with 77 of them open to the public. The golf courses offer a unique experience that caters to both professional and amateur players, including the e-Malaysia Golf Directory to facilitate golf trip planning.
The tournament offers a prize pool of up to $30,000 including prizes for shots hole-in-one and is expected to attract participation from countries such as South Korea, China, Singapore, and the Philippines.
The presence of several prominent golf celebrities from South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia is also expected to enliven the event, making the tournament a lively celebration for the sport of golf and also the beauty of Sabah’s nature.
Also present at the briefing session were the Honorary Secretary of the Brunei Darussalam Golf Association (BDGA), Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Hamid bin Haji Jafar; Vice President of Brunei Darussalam Senior Golfers Association, Haji Muhammad Lufti Haji Muhamad Hanif, Honorary Secretary of Brunei Darussalam Senior Golfers Association, Brigadier General (B) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Jofri bin Haji Abdullah and President of Brunei Women’s Golf Association (BLGA), Hajah Sarinah binti Haji masri
