A recent Inside Golf reader competition, coupled with articles I’ve either written or edited in the
past 12 months relating to golf in Asia, brings fond memories flooding back from my time playing and traveling throughout the region in the mid to late 1990’s.
Every week was a unique experience, with different countries and their distinct cultures, while more often than not we played on quality golf courses, against elite competition.
It was a period in my life I’ll never forget, a time which broadened my horizons and opened my eyes to a whole new world, not only as a golfer, but for someone who had led a relatively sheltered existence, knowing little about Asia and what it was all about.
My Asian golf experience began with a flight to Bangkok, a trip to Hau Hin and a successful tilt at a qualifying school, one which allowed me to join what was then called the Omega Asian Tour.
The Omega Tour was an ambitious project, a breakaway organisation to one that had previously existed, which had been run and administered by an American named John Benda who worked with the various local golfing bodies. With a couple of smart people and investors in charge and with the assistance of a few heavy hitters from around Asian golf, the Omega Tour was born and the new entity succeeded in becoming the premier professional circuit in the region.
We played almost everywhere, from the traditional destinations to emerging golfing nations. The Tour would visit Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea, India, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Dubai, the Philippines, Macau, even Myanmar and Pakistan, and I’ve likely forgotten a few. Probably the places where I didn’t play well!!
And the local players were world class, the world at the time just didn’t know about them, while most had little ambition to try their luck in the US or Europe.
KJ Choi dominated in Asia before he headed for the US, however there were a collection of exceptional players who never ventured further afield. Kang Wook Soon, a Taiwanese professional won everything for probably a two-year period, a stocky little Thai named Prayad Marksaeng was super impressive and there was another golfer from Thailand, Thaworn Wiratchant, who won multiple events, over a number of years, with what would be best described as an unorthodox swing. I still to this day don’t know how he did it, produced the scores he did, but he definitely beat me on more occasions than I beat him.
Plenty of Australians also cut their teeth on the Asian Tour, John Sendan, Greg Chalmers played a couple of seasons before heading for the US and the PGA TOUR, Scott Hend before he carved out a career in Europe, Robert Allenby was an occasional visitor during his prime, just to name a few. Good times, good golf and if you played well enough you could make a decent living.
So then, what is this editorial all about? Firstly to congratulate our prize winner, Greg Slocum from Hawthorn, Victoria who has won a trip for two, including round trip flights, accommodation and golf at a couple of Kuala Lumpur’s premier courses. Recently retired, Greg is a regular at Morack Public Golf course in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. His 25-word response in our Win a Golfing Trip To Malaysia competition must have done the trick, with Tourism Malaysian choosing Greg as the winner and while he has previously played golf in Asia, to say he was excited to be going back again is an understatement. Well done Greg, and we hope you enjoy your prize.
Secondly, I’m here to say I am very envious. Asian golf has come a long way since I was travelling and playing throughout the region. More Asian golfers are now on the world stage, particularly regarding women’s golf where they are a dominant force.
Added to that, the game has become increasingly popular in the region, there has been a surge in demand from locals and visiting golfers alike and as a result numerous big name professionals and best in the business course designers have, and are continuing to, put their names to new projects.
All of the above considered, I read through the editorials for Asian golf and consider the possibilities of returning to experience the courses on offer, albeit for fun these days rather than as a way of earning a dollar. Maybe you should too.
Australian golf is obviously in great shape, the game is accessible, our courses outstanding wherever you want to play, therefore far be it from me to discourage anyone from venturing to a regional area or maybe interstate to tackle a new golfing destination.
However, for something a little out of the ordinary, maybe think about packing the clubs and booking a golfing vacation in Asia. Every chance you won’t be disappointed if you do.
An amateur standout, winning the NSW Amateur and Australian Medal in 1988, before going down in the final of the 1990 Australian Amateur Championship, Rob Willis turned professional in 1992, playing the Australasian and Asian Tours, with his highlight being his victory in the 1995 Dubai Creek Open and third placing at the European Tour's Dubai Dessert Classic. A former Editor of Golf Australia Magazine, Willis, who ventured away from golf for a period to be the media manager for the NRL's Cronulla Sharks, has been a contributor to PGA Australia's PGA Magazine for over a decade and for Inside Golf since its first edition back in 2005. 
