The Business of Golf in Singapore & Malaysia

What a pleasure it is to be travelling overseas again, to be frantically running around checking passports, making sure we don’t need visa’s for Singapore and ensuring that the bags are packed with enough Polo shirts to handle the hot and humid weather. 

Upon recently returning from a trip to develop relationships with the key golf courses and golfing associations through Singapore and Malaysia, a few aspects of international business and travel remained clear. Golf globally is still thriving, the business card does indeed appear to be dead and we do have a dire need to seek out and explore new cultures and experiences.

The trip began in Singapore, a city not traditionally known for golf due to the perception of vast skyscrapers and a severe lack of space. The courses in Singapore are a great demonstration of what can be achieved when you are constrained by space but not by money. From the drastic undulations on the reclaimed land and architectural prowess at Laguna National, to the rolling hills, expansive views, and classical elegance of Sentosa, you can see why international golf events continue to find their way to Singapore. 

Photography: Callum Bakken

The golf courses in Singapore were encouragingly positive, with almost all having a clear desire to encourage the continued growth and development of golf in Singapore. Nevertheless, the importance of the face-to-face meeting was clearly demonstrated. Going from elongated times between emails and missed phone calls over the previous few months to confirmed bookings within a few hours. The ability to build meaningful relationships with clients and partners has certainly not been aptly replicated through video conferencing.

As we started our journey to Kuala Lumpur, you couldn’t help but noticed the untouched box of business cards lingering. Upon reflection, although the benefits of face-to-face meetings has not been lost, many of the rituals of these meetings has. The end to the exchange of business cards fittingly elucidated the lost formality of the meetings we had through Singapore and Malaysia, with a far more relaxed and joyful setting coming in its place.

The quality of golf courses certainly did not diminish as we ventured into Kuala Lumpur, however, the expansiveness of the properties certainly did vastly increase. With this the style of course resorted to something more traditional, with the golf courses following the rolling nature of the land rather than being constructed onto the land. This best exemplified at Saujana and Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, which were certainly world class golf venues. Once again we were welcomed with excellent hospitality and kindness, the likes of which you can only gain from a face-to-face meeting. 

The only disappointment for the trip was the inability to play at any of the fantastic courses we had the pleasure of visiting, and this not due to a lack of time. With the popularity of golf vastly expanding through Singapore and Malaysia tee sheets are booked up well in advanced and waiting lists for golf course membership are growing day by day. Although this bodes well for the growth and development of golf globally, it certainly does highlight to book and book early prior to any international trips.

Irrespective of the exceptional golf courses, encouraging meetings and warm weather, the highlight of the trip was certainly the opportunity to immerse oneself in new cultural experiences. From eating food far too spicy for my delicate palate, to discussions with local students to provide an opportunity for them to practise their English, the new challenges and encounters is always what makes international travel so invigorating. With a number of trips to come to build relationships with golf courses and organisations globally, the novel circumstances are certainly what I look forward to most.

Guest Writer & Photography: Callum Bakken
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