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.

ENDS

For more media releases, media info and media features on Malaysia’s tourism industry, kindly visit the Media Centre of Tourism Malaysia’s website at http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2015, Malaysia registered 25.7 million tourist arrivals and RM69.1 billion in receipts.

Through the Tourism NKEA (National Key Economic Area), collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, other Government agencies and the private sector have been enhanced to help secure Malaysia’s position as a leading tourist destination and achieve the country’s target of 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020.

The targets set under the Tourism NKEA will be achieved through the implementation of twelve Entry Point Projects (EPPs) clustered under five themes: Affordable Luxury; Nature Adventure; Family Fun; Events, Entertainment, Spa and Sports; and Business Tourism.

Press contact:

Media Relations Unit:

Shukri Hanafiah, Senior Deputy Director, Corporate Communication Division
Tel: +603-8891 8767
Email: shukrihanafiah@tourism.gov.my

Editorial Unit:

Anis Rozalina Ramli (Ms), Senior Editor, Corporate Communication Division
Tel: +603-8891 8759
Email: anisramli@tourism.gov.my