MGA receives support to eradicate crocodiles

12/06/2003

THE Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) has received overwhelming support
from golf managers around the country to eradicate the "buaya menace" who
are spoiling the sport for short-term gains.
Newly-elected MGA vice-president Low Teck San said yesterday, his phone
has not stopped ringing since Timesport exposed two of them in the recent
National Press Club-Pharmaton Golf Champions at the Nilai Springs Golf
Club in Negri Sembilan.
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.
"I am happy to say that we (MGA) have received overwhelming support from
golfers, and golf managers in the country in our quest to eradicate the
handicap cheats which have brought disrepute to this noble and ancient
sport," said Low yesterday.
Low, who is also the MGA National Handicaps System (NHS) chairman, said
he held a teleconference with the president of the Golf Club Managers
Association of Malaysia Zulkifli Datuk Ismail yesterday, and has received
full support to resolve this menace once and for all.
"Zulkifli, who is in Surabaya, promised full support and said a meeting
with all club managers will be held soon to resolve this menace. We at the
MGA will also go on a Tour to explain the benefits of being in the NHS
family," said Low.
MGA also called upon all event managers to help them achieve their
target of having all 200 golf courses in Malaysia under the NHS umbrella,
by only allowing golfers registered with the NHS to play in future
tournaments.
"In this area, we need the full support of event managers because if
they place a clause in the entry form that only NHS members will be
allowed to tee-off, then, it will make our task of getting all 200 clubs
under the NHS system much easier.
"It will be wonderful if we can get 100 percent co-operation from event
managers to only allow NHS holders to play. We can help them by being the
watchdogs and check the entry list of their tournaments," said Low.
Former Saujana GC and Kota Permai GC manager S.A. Nathan, who was
recently put in charge of the MGA Media Relations and Corporate Affairs
Committee, said MGA members would go on a tour of golf clubs, to listen to
grassroots views and promote the use of the NHS system.
"It is a fool-proof system which can monitor and nab handicap cheats but
about 50 percent of the 200 golf clubs in Malaysia do not subscribe to it
because their members felt there was no need for it, as golf is a
gentleman's sport and people will not cheat. But the situation is getting
out of hand, and those who have been suffering all these years because of
this buayas, want to see an end to it. We can help them by promoting the
NHS system," said Nathan.
Zulkifli said now that the ball has started rolling, he would assist the
MGA stop the menace.
"First of all, I would like to congratulate Low on his appointment as
the MGA vice-president because he is a grassroots man who can help
eradicate the buaya menace. With solid co-operation from the MGA, we hope
to get to the bottom of matters in a short span," said Zulkifli in a phone
interview.
All it takes is for golfers to part with RM12-per year to become NHS
members, so hold that jug of beer bet, and place it on the NHS instead.
(END)