Amateur Golfers Head To Sabah For The Second Round Of WAITGC 2014

KOTA KINABALU, 21 APRIL 2014 – International and local amateur golfers are all geared up to compete in the qualifying round 2 of the World Amateur Inter Team Golf Championship (WAITGC) 2014 in Kota Kinabalu today.

The four-day event, from today till 24 April, is participated by 14 teams from Australia, 10 teams from Brunei, 2 teams from Singapore and one team from Malaysia.

Golfers will first play at the 6,197-metre, par 72 Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club. Designed by Ted Parslow, the course is located about 35km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, nestled in the heart of the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort. The 18-hole wetlands course is bordered by the Mengkabong and Tambalang rivers with the former mangrove swamp offering a fusion of risks and rewards to delight and test the skills of golfers of all levels.

Dalit Bay’s signature hole is its 163-metre, Hole 11. It is a relatively easy par 3 with the South China Sea surrounding the tee. The challenge lies in cutting across the Tambalang river mouth in order to land the ball on a gently contoured green flanked by bunkers. The imposing sight of the majestic Mount Kinabalu in the background presents a unique marking point for the pin. 

From Dalit Bay, the participants will proceed to the Karambunai Resort Golf Club, which is designed by renowned golfing architect Ronald Fream. This par 72, 18-hole course is surrounded by breath-taking views of Karambunai Beach, the South China Sea and Mount Kinabalu, presenting a unique golfing experience. The course presents fair but demanding challenges for every level of player. It is Sabah’s most distinctive golf course and one of Southeast Asia’s premier seaside resort.  

The first qualifying round of WAITGC 2014 took place in Johor last month. After Sabah, the subsequent four qualifying rounds will take place at eight different golf courses in Penang, Langkawi, Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur/Putrajaya.

WAITGC is played in Strokeplay gross for the gross category and Stableford for the nett and senior category. Since its debut in 1994, WAITGC has emerged as a well-regarded tournament and one of the highly anticipated golfing events in the region.

Organised by Tourism Malaysia, it attracts more than 500 participants every year. The home-grown event not only tests the golfing skills of the participants but also encourages them to discover the many colourful cultures and traditions in Malaysia, as well as the country’s delectable cuisines and fascinating tourist attractions. The participation of international media has also boosted the stature of the event and placed Malaysia on the world map.  

WAITGC is managed by the Golf Club Managers Association of Malaysia (GCMAM) and sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association. For more information, please contact the WAITGC secretariat at 03-5633 2079/5634 2078 or visit www.ewaitgc.com.

-Tourism Malaysia.