Chuan Campbell and Matthew Murray have big plans for the Asian Seniors Tour.
The Asian Seniors Tour is going big, the
organisers tell K.P. WARAN.
GOOD golfers don’t die, they just fade into the seniors’ pro circuit. This common saying is ringing true in the US and Europe as golf professionals switch to the lucrative seniors’ tour when they hit 50.
As age catches up, most golfers have the option of switching from steel shafts to graphite, from blasting the ball with all their might to taking three-quarter swings and playing the game at a more leisurely pace.
Though the competitive spirit and sharp skills remain, opportunities in Southeast Asia are few and far in between for seniors to continue to play competitive golf and take home prize money..
Most professionals opt to teach, get involved in the golf equipment business, or get confined behind a desk; only a few make it to the seniors’ tour in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
Chuan Campbell and Mathew Murray intend to change this by bringing the seniors’ tour to the region in a big way: they believe that it would have great potential, with backing from the right kind of people and corporations.
Chuan is the chairman of Asian Seniors Tour, which staged the US$100,000 inaugural Asian Senior Masters in Singapore in November 2003 at Jurong Country Club. It was won by Chooi Yoon Soo of South Korea.
Since then ASM tournaments have been staged in Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
“We are in discussions with sponsors and tourism authorities and looking at expanding the tournament to other countries,” Chuan said.
In Malaysia, the tournament was staged in 2005 at the Palm Resort Golf & Country Club in Johor and at Palm Garden Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur in November last year. Both tournaments were won by Australian veteran Stewart Ginn, who lives in Malaysia.
This year’s tournament will be held in the first week of September, and in Singapore the following week.
Sponsors for the Malaysian event include American International Group, American International Assurance, Giant, F&N, Sumak Steel, Carlsberg, IndoChine, Johnnie Walker, Pensonic, Citibank Malaysia and Flextronics.
Chuan said raising the status of the senior tour to match the US and Europe tours would require Government support, especially from the tourism and sports ministries, and sponsorship of a prize purse to attract top senior golfers.
“The mileage for the sponsors is huge especially as television and the press show more interest in the senior tours.
“Furthermore the Asian Senior Masters has a unique format with its pro-am feature; this is played over several days and involves amateurs, women and juniors, with those with good scores progressing to the finals,” Chuan said.
“ASM tournaments, unlike regular tour events, are all about participation, and each event has catered to over 600 amateur golfers from Singapore, Malaysia and Austral-Asia.”
Tournament director Mathew Murray said the championship atmosphere of the Asian Senior Masters would benefit local players, especially juniors in the pro-am tournament who can watch and learn from the seniors. Mathew believes a well-funded and properly-run tournament will attract international players, many of whom would bring their family for a holiday.
Senior professionals in US and Europe, having amassed a fortune from the pro tour, would find it challenging to travel and play in exotic venues — and Malaysia is definitely an attraction.
* Further information on the tour: www.asm-malaysia.com, and www.asianseniorstour.com
Inquiries: chuan@asm-malaysia.com
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