Momentous Golfing-Malaysian International Open.

The Saturday evening was fabulously cheerful with good spirit and happy bunch of professional and casual golfers. They just simply love the people around them and tossed the cup for each other's participation at the Malaysian International Open. 

The day was superbly perfect for golfing and for a moment I just felt like I was in Malaysia. 

Bright and sunny hot day with happy faces, beautiful green and serene view at the Birchwood Park Golf and Country Club, Dartford,  Kent. Anyone can just simply fall in love with golf and forget themselves between the bounce of this great game if they play the game well.

Young Nazmi Kamal, has been attending proper golf coaching and been playing for 7 years. Nadzry Nurdi plays for fun and it has been 15 years now. Senior Max K. Lim is Malaysian Golfing Society, MGS member and has been playing for 10 years. For George Pedred from Hertfordshire, this is his first time playing with Malaysians. So is for Chris Edmonds who finds it amusing and enjoyable. 

In any competition, winning does matter. So it is in Malaysian International Open but owning the cups and prizes is yet a secondary matter. No one tasted defeat as what matters most is the sportive participation of all  94 players.

It's the first time in history of Malaysian Golfing Association of United Kingdom, MGAUK to organize such tremendous event with a huge participation from golfers and enthusiast from all over the United Kingdom, UK. They are Malaysians or family and friends of Malaysians.

Sharp at 10:10 in the morning, the ping at the tee box  with the Driver hitting hard and sharp at the ball on the tee, marked the start of friendly Malaysian International Open. All 94 players were divided in groups of 4 and format of the game was Stableford.  

The course marshal , Mike Hayes played a big role to get everyone on time at the starter tee box of 342 yards Hole 1. He certainly did a good job. Firm but friendly, he made sure his excited crowd starts  on time. That helped the game going well on time until the finishing of 18th Hole at about 6pm.

This is what Mr Hayes has to say about the enthusiastic players.

Among the exuberant golfers is the High Commissioner of Malaysia to the United Kingdom, H.E. Datuk Mohamad Sadik Kethergany. H.E Datuk Sadik did  play his game well and very much excited to see many Malaysian who has lived here for more than 10 to 50 years still upholding their values and identity of home country.

MGAUK does have high ambition for  Malaysian International Open. The Treasurer of MGAUK, Nor Azman Yusof said that the association plans to make this grand event an annual event which in future will involve many more international casual,  amateur and professional golfers.

MGAUK Treasurer, Nor Azman Yusof

Azman is happy that this year MGAUK can proudly applause themselves for the good turn-out. Birchwood,  he said is like a home course where the members often get together in the sunny season. Their members consist of young and older generations who are equally excited to play either for self-improvement or fun.

The association at the moment holds meet-up plays on a monthly basis and whenever the members group-up according to their convenience.It is a chance for many who are  keen in Golf to brush up their skills and expertise at the green. Through out the day the lens of my camera captured fun and enjoyment. I saw the participants enjoy the camaraderie of their group and other like-minded golfers.

On the other hand golf is always a serious sports. Many golfers tackled well the hardest holes at Birchwood, Hole 6 in the front-line and hole 15 with par-4 because of the distance, shape of the green and what's around the green.

Hole 11 with par-4 and par 3 of hole 12  is the easy greens because it is flat and short except the land is marched with some tall trees. The tricky part of this area is some might loose their golf balls. However, they have the expertise of Joseph Bowen, another course marshal at the green to guide and help.

The excited MGAUK team are already planning for Malaysian British Open and talks have also started with the UK Bangladeshi Golf Association. It's secretary, Sarfraz Ali, whom  also participated in the Malaysian International Open spoke to me before his first tee shot.

The game ended on time as expected and made memories with its simple prize giving ceremony.

The overall winner is Mo. Mo whom simply wants to be known as Mo, thanked his dynamic group for encouraging him all the way around the tricky ravine and uneven land in the course. I spoke to this cheerful man earlier at Hole -1 and he was very excited.

Before cool and wet Autumn greets the cold and icy Winter, Malaysian International Open on a pretty summery day did end with a fabulous finish and marked another milestone for MGAUK.

With best wishes to the team, all the participants and the fantastic staffs at Birchwood Park Golf and Country Park, I, Teynmoli Subramaniam, will signs-off here.

More pictures of the day are available at my photo page:

https://penamoli.blogspot.com/p/malaysian-international-open-14.html