FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shah Alam [SELANGOR]: High fives and handshakes may have been missing, but the SELANGOR GOLF CLASSIC, which concluded on September 30, proved to be a rousing success.
Played over two days at two of Selangor's golfing gems - The MINES Resort & Golf Club and Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, the inaugural edition attracted a full field of 128 participants from across the country, including a strong turnout of expatriate golfers.
The 36-hole amateur championship, staged by Liberty Golf Services, was one of the innovative approaches undertaken by title sponsor Tourism Selangor to revive the state’s golf industry from the COVID-19 doldrums, in line with the Pusing Selangor Dulu reset tourism campaign.
With attractive prizes and lucky draw giveaways worth almost RM30,000, the tournament was eagerly contested with every putt proving vital.
Hassan Rahmat notched identical rounds of three-under 69 at both venues to run away with the overall championship. He received a 49' SAMSUNG LED Smart television worth RM2,100 and a trophy for his efforts.
The top prize in the Medal A (hcp 0-12) division went to 12-handicapper Goh Kian Seng, who totalled 75 (39,36) points to take home a 43' SAMSUNG LED Smart television worth RM1,800 and a trophy.
The Medal B (hcp 13-24) contest went down the wire with Magenthiran Thanimalai (14) emerging from a four-way tie to win on countback. He notched 74 (37,37) points to pick up a Cleveland HB Launcher Turbo driver worth RM1,990 and a trophy.
Speaking during the prize presentation, Tourism Selangor general manager Azrul Shah Mohamad noted that the SELANGOR GOLF CLASSIC was a great platform to tee up the state's reset tourism vision, especially in the golf tourism sector.
"Considering that the Recovery Movement Control Order remains in force, the SELANGOR GOLF CLASSIC is a bold step because it is one of the first full-field amateur tournaments to be staged in the new norm. We were keen to support this event because the organiser and golf clubs involved, namely The MINES Resort & Golf Club and Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, could adhere to the strict SOPs set by the National Security Council (NSC).
"Tourism Selangor is encouraged by the positive response received for this tournament, which was over-subscribed less than ten days after its launch on August 13. Not only do we see this event becoming a mainstay in our tourism calendar, but we will also explore the possibility of expanding it to include other clubs in Selangor as well as incorporating a golf fair or festival," added Azrul.
He also presented the Best Golf Experience in Selangor award to Kota Permai Golf & Country Club to recognise the outstanding experience that the club delivers for visiting golfers. Gamuda Land club, townships, and property management director Tang Meng Loon received the award on behalf of the club.
Official partners for the SELANGOR GOLF CLASSIC include The MINES Resort & Golf Club (host venue), Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (host venue), SRIXON (official golf equipment), SUNWAY HOTEL (official hotel), CORUM (official timekeeper), NUPREP (official health supplement) and F&N Beverages (official drink).
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Please click on the links below (directs to the World Golf Awards website) and vote for us!
Asia's Best Golf Tour Operator:
https://worldgolfawards.com/award/asia-best-golf-tour-operator/2020
Malaysia's Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator:
https://worldgolfawards.com/award/malaysia-best-inbound-golf-tour-operator/2020
Malaysia's Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator 2020:
https://worldgolfawards.com/award/malaysia-best-outbound-golf-tour-operator/2020
The Els Club Teluk Datai in Langkawi has picked up the Best Golf Experience in Malaysia accolade in the 20th edition of the IAGTO annual golf tourism awards, which took place on October 17 in Marrakech, Morcoco.
Meanwhile, The Magellan Sutera Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, was named as the Best Hotel Experience in Malaysia during the prestigious awards ceremony, staged on the final day of the International Golf Travel Market attended by more than 1,000 delegates. The golf travel convention and awards are organised by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).
Built in 1992 and redesigned by South African golf legend Ernie Els in 2014, the spectacular Rainforest Course of The Els Club Teluk Datai (www.elsclubmalaysia.com) stretches from the foothills of towering Mount Mat Cincang to the azure waters of the Andaman Sea.
The newly-introduced Experience Awards recognised one golf course and one hotel in each of 25 countries for the outstanding experience that they delivered this year for visiting golfers. Like the other categories, the awards were voted for by IAGTO golf tour operators.
The Algarve in Portugal claimed the blue-ribbon award, the overall Golf Destination of the Year, introduced this year to replace the previous practice of presenting one award for each of five geographical regions. Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, Moon Palace Cancun and Adare Manor picked up the awards for Asia Pacific, The Americas and Europe, Africa & Middle East Golf Resort of the Year Awards respectively. Meanwhile, Cambodia was voted Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year by the journalists of the International Golf Travel Writers Association.
Another new recognition was introduced where IAGTO members voted for the top 15 golf destinations in the world, which were (in alphabetical order) as follows: Abu Dhabi, Algarve (Portugal), Coastal South Carolina (USA), Costa del Sol (Spain), Cote d’Azur & Provence (France), Dominican Republic, Fife (Scotland), Lisbon Golf Coast (Portugal), Marrakech (Morocco), Monterey County (USA), New Zealand, South West Ireland (Ireland), Tenerife (Spain), Vietnam and Western Cape/Garden Route (South Africa).
Another new recognition was introduced where IAGTO members voted for the top 15 golf destinations in the world, which were (in alphabetical order) as follows: Abu Dhabi, Algarve (Portugal), Coastal South Carolina (USA), Costa del Sol (Spain), Cote d’Azur & Provence (France), Dominican Republic, Fife (Scotland), Lisbon Golf Coast (Portugal), Marrakech (Morocco), Monterey County (USA), New Zealand, South West Ireland (Ireland), Tenerife (Spain), Vietnam and Western Cape/Garden Route (South Africa).
“As the guardians of the most important and prestigious golf tourism awards, for two decades now we have presented only a handful of awards each year which lends enormous gravitas to the event and significance to the winners. With only one Golf Destination of the Year Award the expectation was palpable.,” said IAGTO chief executive Peter Walton.
“But we also took the opportunity to expand the Awards to other categories of companies with our Golf Experience and Hotel Experience awards. We will extend these next year to yet more countries so that every major golf destination will be able to celebrate achievements within their golf tourism industry.”
IAGTO has over 700 golf tour operators in 63 countries and the top 15 golf destinations that they voted for were, in alphabetical order:
2020 IAGTO Awards winners
Golf Destination of the Year: The Algarve, Portugal
Golf Resort of the Year – Europe, Middle East & Africa: Adare Manor, Ireland
Golf Resort of the Year – The Americas: Moon Palace Cancun, Mexico
Asia Pacific Golf Resort of the Year: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf Resort & Spa
Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year: Cambodia
Hotel & Golf Experience Awards (Hotel / Golf)
Bulgaria: Lighthouse Golf & Spa Hotel / Thracian Cliffs
Caribbean: Casa de Campo Resort / Villas Punta Espada Golf Club
Cyprus: Almyra Hotel / PGA National Cyprus Golf Course
France: Hôtel Ermitage – Evian Resort / Albatross Course – Le Golf National
Morocco: Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech / Assoufid Golf Club
Gulf States: The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa / Yas Links Abu Dhabi
Indian Ocean: Anahita Golf & Spa Resort / Ile aux Cerfs Golf Club
Indonesia: Bintan Lagoon Resort / Bali National Golf Club
Ireland: Adare Manor / Old Head Golf Links
Italy: Verdura Resort / Golf Club Bogogno
Japan: Kawana Hotel / The North Country Club
Malaysia: The Magellan Sutera Resort / The Els Club Teluk Datai
Mexico: Moon Palace Cancun / El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Course
New Zealand: The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs / Jack’s Point Golf Course
Northern Ireland: The Bushmills Inn / Ardglass Golf Club
Portugal: The Oitavos / Monte Rei Golf & Country Club
Scotland: The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa / Kingsbarns Golf Links
Slovenia: Grand Hotel Union / King’s Course – Royal Bled Golf
South Africa: Kwena Lodge – Gondwana Game Reserve / Pinnacle Point
Spain: Hotel Camiral at PGA Catalunya / Finca Cortesin
Thailand: The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok / Black Mountain Golf Club
Tunisia: La Cigale Tabarka Hôtel Thalasso & Spa – Golf / Golf Citrus Hammamet
Turkey: Maxx Royal Belek Golf & Spa / Carya Golf Club
USA: Trump National Doral / The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Vietnam: Anantara Hoi An Resort / Ba Na Hills Golf Club
For the eighth year, IAGTO’s partner in sustainability, the GEO Foundation, highlighted four exceptional golf courses with Aphrodite Hills of Cyprus being recognised for its outstanding contribution to sustainability.
For more information log on to www.iagto.com/awards
Please click on the links below (directs to the World Golf Awards website) and vote for us!
Asia's Best Golf Tour Operator: https://worldgolfawards.com/vote/liberty-golf-services-2019
Malaysia's Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator: https://worldgolfawards.com/vote/liberty-golf-services-in-2019
Malaysia's Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator: https://worldgolfawards.com/vote/liberty-golf-services-out-2019
01 October - Haikou (China) - As the world’s largest golf facility, Mission Hills has awarded Liberty Golf Services from Malaysia as its Best South East Asia Travel Agency in 2018.
This ceremony took place at the Finals Dinner of the Mission Hills ASEAN Golf Tournament where it has over 140 amateur golfers from all over South East Asia.
“We are tremendously honoured to receive such a recognition by Mission Hills. To be the best in South East Asia, we have certainly taken a lot of bold (and correct) steps in promoting a wonderful golf facility like Mission Hills” said Simon Ng of Liberty Golf Services. “Indeed we need to thank all our customers for being supportive of our business and the given opportunity to serve them. Through our hard work and consistency, we are very glad that it has paid off“ the managing director added. The agency first promoted Haikou within the region in 2008 and to Mission Hills Haikou in 2010 when it was opened.
Mission Hills’ Shawn Ooi said “We are very pleased to have such a strong overseas partner in Liberty Golf Services. They have actively developed new channels, events & promotions in tune with our mutual business strategies. We are looking forward to an even greater success in 2019”.
Liberty Travel & Tours (M) Sdn Bhd has been established since 1976 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its main business coverage is in relations to golf tourism, golf tournament, destination promotions and travel related services. In recent years, Liberty Golf Services has been acknowledged as one of the preferred golf travel specialists by World Golf Awards - 2014 Malaysia’s Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator, 2015 - 2017 Malaysia’s Best Golf Tour Operator and 2015 - 2016 Asia’s Best Golf Tour Operator. Besides China, Liberty Golf Services offers golf tours to Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and popular golf destinations around the world.
In ensuring seamless travel experience for customers, Liberty Golf Services has included Malaysian Airlines and Malindo Air within their golf travel packages to Mission Hills, Hainan.
Its 2019 Mission Hills Haikou Packages are available here:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (5 November, 2018) - Liberty Golf Services has proved its excellence for the fifth time after it was awarded Malaysia’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards. The prestigious annual event was held at La Manga Club in Spain last weekend.
‘We are very pleased to have been honoured by this prestigious award and certainly a testament that our customers have put us here" said Simon Ng, managing director of Liberty Golf Services. ‘We know this market better than anyone else - we have to constantly improve ourselves and serve market needs’ he added. The award received is a combination of 2 honours; one is Malaysia’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator and the other is Malaysia’s Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator.
In celebrating this award, Liberty Golf Services’ Eushen Ng said ‘Digitising our business has been a priority but nothing is as paramount as our personalised approach with our customers near and far. It was that practice and culture we had since the late 90s which got us to where we are today’. The General Manager added ‘Certainly, we will need to thank our business partners and media friends alike who have all played a role in this’.
World Golf Awards is dubbed as the ‘Oscars of Golf’ and is the most prestigious reward of excellence in golf tourism.
The celebration marks an important segment of travel & golf industry namely golf clubs, hotels and tour operators.
World Golf Awards is part of the World Travel Awards; which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.What the regional golf industry has to say: Datuk Mohd Ishak Mohd Esa, GM of Malaysia Golf Association (Malaysia)Success is delivered only to the deserving. On behalf of MGA, congratulations on winning the most coveted award. Liberty Golf Services has certainly placed Malaysia in the forefront of the tourism and hospitality industry.
Hidekazu Tagashira - Managing Director of Srixon Sports Asia (Japan)
Srixon Sports Asia would like to congratulate Liberty Golf Services on winning Malaysia’s Best Golf Tour Operator 2018. We hope with the new form alliance we can help grow golf tourism in Malaysia and across Asia together.
Faiz Zakaria - Marketing of Tourism Authority of Thailand (Thailand)
Congratulations with all the awards mentioned. Your company deserves it.
Paulus Rudy Jr, GM of Klub Golf Bogor Raya (Indonesia)
Congratulations to Liberty Golf Services on winning Malaysia’s Best Golf Tour Operator 2018 at World Golf Awards. Wish you all the best in the future
Hari Wibowo, Marketing Director of Enjoy Jakarta Promotions (Indonesia)
Congratulations for the achievement Eushen and the whole team. You guys deserve it and keep up the good work
Tim Haddon, GM of Ba Na Hills Golf Club (Vietnam)
Liberty Golf Services is a trusted partner of Ba Na Hills Golf Club and the award of Malaysia’s Best Golf Tour Operators is well deserved. Congratulations
David Baron, GM of Angkor Golf Resort (Cambodia)
Congratulations on your recent success at the World Golf Awards. It’s been a pleasure working with the team at LGS over the past decade. Your professionalism, services and understanding of the Industry has been greatly beneficial to us. You have been instrumental in developing our product within the Malaysian Market and long may it continue.
Connie Mamaril, President of Association of Inbound Golf Tour Operators Philippines (Philippines)
Winning the Malaysia’s Best Golf Tour Operator award is a great milestone for Liberty Golf Services.Their knowledge in the industry is kept abreast with the emerging and solving standards of golf tourism in the world.
Shawn Ooi, Marketing Manager of Mission Hills (China)
Liberty Golf Services has continuously operated personalised services to their customers.Mission Hills is honoured to be in partnership with Liberty Golf
Ricky Yeo, Senior Director of Apexlynx LeisureSport (Singapore)
Congratulations to Liberty Golf Services for winning the Best Golf Tour Operator in Malaysia at the World Golf Awards 2018. Eushen’s outstanding leadership and vision on service excellence and his team’s expense and reliable support makes them an obvious choice for anyone heading to Malaysia for golf
