Third Round Of WAITGC 2016 To Tee Off In Pulau Pinang

PULAU PINANG, 30 May 2016 – International and local amateur golfers are all geared up to compete in the third qualifying round of the World Amateur Inter Team Golf Championship (WAITGC) 2016 in Pulau Pinang.

Teams from Australia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are participating in the four-day event, which kicked off today at the Penang Golf Club and Bukit Jawi Golf Resort.  

The Bukit Jambul Country Club (BJCC) officially change its name to the Penang Golf Club following the outsourcing of its management and operations to Japanese investor company Taiyo Resort (KL) Bhd. Situated on a hilltop, Penang Golf Club provides a stunning panoramic view of the island, overseeing the impressive 13km Penang Bridge. Its stunning 18 hole 5,763 meter, par 72 golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Probably the most famous is the 10^th hole with its tee box perched 100 feet above the fairway on the valley floor.

The second qualifying round will continue at the Bukit Jawi Golf Resort, a superb year-round golfing paradise set amidst a picturesque setting with lush tropical greenery. Strategically situated in Sungai Bakap, just off North-South Expressway (PLUS) Jawi interchange, it is a mere 30 minutes away from Penang island. The fairways and tee boxes are carpeted with Zoysia Matrella and the greens are covered with Bermuda Tifdwarf.

The fourth qualifying round of WAITGC 2016 will take place in Kuala Lumpur in August. After Kuala Lumpur, the last qualifying round will take place at two different golf courses in Sarawak.

Golf tourism has been identified as one of the key priority projects to increase the nation’s tourism contribution to the economy, and has in fact been underscored in the country’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). Last year, golf tourism receipts amounted to RM319 million, a significant contribution to Malaysia’s economy.

Since its debut in 1994, WAITGC has emerged as one of the most highly anticipated golfing events in the region. Organised by Tourism Malaysia, it attracts more than 500 participants every year. The homegrown 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.

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.waitgc.com.

-Tourism Malaysia.