Expose the cheats!

30/05/2003

THE Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) must make public the names of golf
cheats if they want to eradicate handicap manipulators.
This was the opinion of veteran golf course manager S.A. Nathan, who has
seen the biggest of cheats in his 17 years in the profession.
"If the MGA is serious about closing the chapter on golf `buayas', they
must make the names of golf cheats public via the print media so that
others will be afraid of being exposed this way.
"Right now, players who are caught cheating normally receive a three-
month suspension but they are back on the course in a jiffy as not many
people know their true character", said Nathan, who was recently appointed
director of the Paradise Valley Golf Resort in Seremban III.
Nathan also feels that the lucrative prizes offered by organisers of
Malaysian tournaments are the main reason why golfers cheat.
"The number of golfers cheating on their handicaps is growing by the
year because of the lucrative prizes offered by local championship
organisers. The greed factor has grown steadily and it is killing a
gentlemans sport. A concerted effort must be made by all golf clubs in
Malaysia to counter this unhealthy trend", said Nathan, who played a big
role in promoting the Saujana Golf and Country Club and the Kota Permai
Golf Club.
MGA vice-president Low Teck San felt that the National Handicap System
(NHS) is the only way to stop cheating on the greens.
"The NHS system is a foolproof way to make sure that there are no
controversies but not many golf clubs subscribe to it.
"I personally feel that most of the clubs are unaware about the benefits
of the NHS and that is why they are reluctant to subscribe to it," said
Low.
Low also feels that many golf tournaments in Malaysia are not being run
in the proper way because they do not seek the sanction of the MGA.
"If clubs approach us for sanction, we can provide them with the needed
assistance and there will not be any controversies. Also, I feel that it
is time all event organisers make it compulsary that only golfers with the
NHS are allowed to register for tournaments.
"This way, gradually, every golfer in Malaysia will hold an NHS account
and the validity of their handicaps can be checked at a click on the MGA
website," said Low.
The issue of unrealistic handicaps arose at the National Press Club-
Pharmaton Golf Championship gross team title at the Nilai Springs Golf
Club in Negri Sembilan last Saturday.
One of the winners of the team event declared a handicap of 16 and
finished his round on a gross 74, scoring 50 stableford points, while his
partner declaring at 24 had a gross 86 with 46 stableford points.
Which means the 16-handicapper played a fantastic 14-under.
But since his club, Seri Menanti, does not subscribe to the NHS, there
is no way of finding out about his true capabilities.
Many golfers have been complaining about handicap cheats in the country
but nothing has been done to solve the problem which has a ready-made
solution in the NHS.
(END)