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Showing posts with label Golf a walking game. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golf a walking game. Show all posts

Monday, October 29, 2012

The demise of BJCC, a memorable day for Penang Golf Club (PGC)?

THE new Penang Golf Club (PGC) entity has been launched with much aplomb.

Taiyo Resort (Pg) Bhd chairman Datuk Eiro Sakamoto said it was a historical day that the 18-hole Bukit Jambul Country Club (BJCC) had been renamed PGC.

“I’m overwhelmed and happy with the huge turnout.

“The name Penang Golf Club is also easier to remember,” he said during a press conference at the club in Bukit Jambul on Saturday.

In conjunction with the launch, the PGC also hosted the 2nd Penang Chief Minister’s Golf Tournament which saw a participation of 180 participants.

“This is a very positive sign. Many members are happy to see our efforts in renovating our courses, purchasing 100 new golf buggies as well as building a new coffee house and the Sakurajima Japanese Chinese Restaurant at the club.

“And the renovation was completed 14 months ahead of schedule,” said Sakamoto.

“We will continue to make PGC and Penang known to golfers and tourists, both local and overseas,” he said.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the renaming was a testimony of the confidence the state government had on Sakamoto to help realise the aim to turn PGC into an international golf course.

“Hopefully, this will also allow us to have more international golf tournaments in the future,” he said.

- The Star Metro

Related posts:
BJCC renamed Penang Golf Club, welcome to the newly upgraded Penang Golf course   

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

BJCC renamed Penang Golf Club, welcome to the newly upgraded Penang Golf course

THE renovation project at the 18-hole Bukit Jambul Coun-try Club (BJCC) golf course in Penang has been completed well ahead of its scheduled time.

The upgraded section is slated to open to golfers starting this Saturday.

Island Golf Properties Bhd chairman Datuk Eiro Sakamoto said the RM11mil golf course, which would be known as the Penang Golf Club, had been completed 14 months ahead of schedule.

“The course has been leng-thened slightly, and is now a par-72 golf course instead of its previous par-71 course.

“Among the upgrading works done were the resurfacing of the tee boxes, fairways and greens as well as the careful tendering of the golf lanes,” he said.

“The bunkers have also been redone. In addition, the subsoil drainage throughout the golf course has also been carried out to allow the smooth flow of rainwater,” he told a press conference at the club premises on Saturday.

All systems go: Sakamoto (left) having a discussion with Penang Golf Club chief operations officer Johnny Khoo at the newly renovated 18-hole golf course
 
Sakamoto said the cow grass at the fairways had also been replaced with Bermuda grass.

“The putting greens, the area surrounding the pin flags, have also been covered with an imported grass known as TifEagle, a hybrid type of cultivated grass that enhances the smoothness and fineness of golf greens,” he said.

Sakamoto also said approximately RM2.5mil had been spent on 100 new all-weather golf buggies for the new golf course.

“In the coming months, we’ll also upgrade the clubhouse building at a cost of RM4.5mil. We already have a new restau-rant known as the Sakurajima Restaurant which serves both Japanese and Chinese cuisines.

“We are now looking at a terrace coffee house and new changing rooms,” he added.

He also said the new golf course with all 18 holes would be open on Saturday during the 2nd Penang Chief Minister’s Golf Tournament.

“Chief Minister (Lim Guan Eng) will launch the game at noon,” he said.

By CAVINA LIM The Star/Asia News Network

Related posts:

Monday, October 15, 2012

Golf clubs in Malaysia face closure with new tax

Golf industry cries foul over new form of taxation and there is definitely a cause for concern.

Golf clubs in Malaysia face an uncertain future with the new tax issue hanging over their heads.

THE Malaysian golf industry has come under threat of closure again and this time it comes from the Inland Revenue Board.

The IRB now wants to tax all the 180 proprietary clubs (private commercial clubs) on the advance licence fees since the clubs were set up.

The advance fee is the collection of 80% of membership fees that they collect when folks first sign up.

This amount is collected in advance and slowly released into the balance sheet of the companies for the period of the trust deed.

While the industry disputes that the money was taxable as it was a sum that they had to refund if there was a breach of the trust deed, the IRB said it was income to the club and thus is taxable.

The total amount the authorities want the clubs to cough up is more than RM600mil – a sum the golfing industry cannot afford to pay and this could spell the end of many clubs in the country.

A spokesman for the Malaysian Association of Golf & Recreational Club Operators (Magro) said it was not as if the clubs had not been paying taxes or had been hiding the advance fee from the IRB.

He said that the clubs had been in touch with the IRB from the start and had proposed the normal way of taxation based on services.

“This was accepted until 2010 when the IRB wrote to a few clubs and after conducting field audits, decided that the advance fee was taxable.

“The total bill is over RM600mil and they wanted to back tax us all the way to the day the very first member signed up,” the spokesman said.

However, the IRB after several rounds of discussion agreed to cap the backdate of taxation and allow the amount owed to be paid over three years.

A club manager of a popular club in Petaling Jaya said even that concession by the board is totally unacceptable because it will mean the effective end of the golf industry in Malaysia.

“All our profits for the next few years will be wiped out just paying this back taxes. Our club owners will definitely want to exit this business.

“Most of the land we sit on are worth a lot of money and it will make sense for the owners to close down the club and build residential units instead.

At the most, the value of a golf course is only about RM200 per square foot but the houses, condominiums and shops built on top of these land will be worth thousands of ringgit per square foot,” he added.

Already there are several clubs in the Klang Valley, which have either been closed down like Kajang Hill GCC or downsized like KGSAAS, because it is so much more profitable to develop the land into residential and commercial projects.

The owners could also go the way of Palm Garden Golf Club where the owners bought back all the sold membership and turned it into a “premier public course” and thus paying taxes only on income earned from services.

There are about 500,000 members to the 180 proprietary clubs (this ruling by the IRB does not affect members club, at least, not yet) who will eventually lose out in terms of facilities.

There is also the 50,000 direct and indirect workers who will be jobless once the clubs close down.

There is also a tremendous loss of tourism dollars. A total of 120,000 foreign golfers play in Malaysia each year.

They spend an average of four hotel room nights per visit translating into 480,000 room nights. Each of them spend an average of RM300 per night for accommodation and a further RM1,500.

This means that if the golf industry collapsed the country’s economy would lose RM864,000,000 annually.
Let’s not be pound wise penny foolish. The tax dollars can be found through other means and let’s hope the authorities realise this.

CADDY MASTER By WONG SAI WAN

Related post:

Golf courses targeted for re-development - Too valuable for golf?

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Golf, a good walking game!

Make it a good walk  

Golf is an enjoyable sport as long as there is an element of exercise involved, like walking, otherwise it’s just a parlour game.

Bukit Jambul Country Club in Penang has issues with members now not allowed to walk the course.
The phrase “Golf is a good walk spoilt” is often attributed to the famous American scribe Mark Twain, who was said to have used it to describe his frustration with the game.

The truth is that Twain, whose real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, never uttered those words but it seems a US magazine in the 1930s attributed the phrase to him because “it sounded like something Twain would say”.

Regardless of who is the original author, we golf mortals, who find the simple instruction of keeping the ball in a straight direction an impossible task, find so much truth in that phrase.

Even a demi-god like Tiger Woods is struggling to keep his game together and often refers to the present state of his game as military golf because he keeps hitting the ball left and then right and then left and then right again – like soldiers marching.

However, all of us continue to chase after the white dimpled ball because we want to get better at it and it is probably the only form of exercise we get after hours in the office. Thus, it’s a good walk spoilt – a good exercise pursuit interjected by bad golf.

This brings me to the recent controversy surrounding the Bukit Jambul Country Club in Penang where the management company running it has decided to ban golfers from walking.

The actual ruling is not a ban on walking but rather that all golfers taking to the course must rent a buggy.

The clash between the golfers and the club operators – Taiyo Resorts – has descended into all sorts of battles from name calling at press conferences to disciplinary hearing against members who opposed the buggy only ruling which took affect on Feb 1.

It all started when some 100 members voiced their displeasure over the compulsory buggy-use rule at the golf club.

According to the club’s liaison committee chairman, Stanley Park, from that day walking hours were restricted to after 5pm (only on Monday and Tuesday). Many other clubs around the country also restrict golfing to non-peak hours but none have enforced it as strictly as BJCC.

“However, the club has already made known to the members of the Liaison Committee during one of our regular meetings, that BJCC shall be a full buggy course as soon as the renovations of the fairways gets completed,” Park said in an interview.

More than 100 disgruntled golfers protested at the club on Feb 2, saying the ruling was not suitable due to the way the course was built as it was designed for golfers to walk and not intended to be a buggy course.

They also complained about the increase in the buggy rental rates from RM22 to RM37 for the first nine holes.

Taiyo Resorts’ managing director Datuk Eiro Sakamoto argued that majority of the club’s 2,800 members did not object to the new ruling and it was just a few golfers who were making noise.

It cannot be denied that the “buggy only” ruling is a way for the company to increase their ancillary income – after all it had promised the state government, which owns the course an increase in profit.

However, most visitors to Bukit Jambul would rent a buggy as it is quite a commando course with hilly and tight fairways that are quite sapping for those unused to such conditions.

But for golfers, seeking a good workout, Bukit Jambul is the perfect course to keep fit and to test whether you can avoid playing Tiger’s military golf.

Making money from running a golf club is not an easy thing especially when you have a course built into the top of a hill. Maintenance, I expect, would be high and the green fees collection cannot be much.

The subscription is just over RM90 and with 2,800 members, this works out to be RM252,000 per month. The extra revenue from F&B plus ancillary income like golf buggy rental becomes important.

However, the management of BJCC must take cognisance of the importance of walking when playing golf.

It improves your game because it keeps the rhythm going when one walks:

  • This is how the game is supposed to be played and this way the game finishes faster as the golfer walks straight to the ball.

  • It improves the fellowship among the flight of golfers because all four of them can walk and talk at the same time.

    I hope that the matter can be resolved amicably as golf is a gentleman’s game with proper rules.

    So till next month, walk the course and truly enjoy the view.

    Keep Walking.. Keep Walking...Keep Walking

    Keep Walking.....

    Because...
     
    The Organs of your body have their sensory touches at the bottom of your foot.

    If you massage these points you will find relief from aches and pains as you can see the heart is on the left foot.

    Typically they are shown as points and arrows to show which organ it connects to.

    It is indeed correct since the nerves connected to these organs terminate here.

    This is covered in great details in Acu-pressure studies.
     
    God created our body so well that he thought of even this.

    He made us walk so that we will always be pressing these pressure points and thus keeping these organs activated at all times.

    So, keep walking....... LIVE LONGER !!!!! 

  •  Golfer or not, you must see this clip...
     http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=aw-nt0eTb2w

    It's all in the balance... (He plays off 3!!) And he walks the course!!!!!

    Is there something unreal with our fliers at the club?

    Hear that members are filing court action for some declaration of rights to play golf the way it was meant to be played?

    Perhaps some of you LC members can show this clip to the presiding judge. Thanks
    Related posts:
    BJCC Golf Club management Fiasco: challenges ...
    BJCC management fiasco: 'Outsourcing not the fair way ...

    Tuesday, February 14, 2012

    BJCC management fiasco: 'Outsourcing not the fair way', a walking game must use buggy; Wants 10 to face the music!

    Council unhappy over golf club being run by third party

    By JOSEPHINE JALLEH josephine@thestar.com.my

    GEORGE TOWN: The liaison council of the Bukit Jambul Country Club (BJCC) that is at the centre of a buggy rule controversy has hit out at the state government for “outsourcing” the club’s management to a Japanese company.

    BJCC secretary Alfred Beh claimed members were upset over the state’s decision as the company’s primary objective was “profit driven”.

    “The state government and Chief Minister (Lim Guan Eng) have failed to consider the members’ interests,” he said.

    Golf courses are places of sporting and recreational activi­ties, not institutions to rake in pro­fits.”

    Beh was responding to Friday’s dispute between the club’s disgruntled members and its management, with both sides lodging police reports against each other following the compulsory buggy rule effective Feb 1.



    Club managing director Datuk Eiro Sakamoto had said the rule was to ensure golfers “maximise their time on the field” and that there was no walking on the course.

    He also claimed that the club rules allowed such a rule and majority of the 2,800 club members were happy with it.

    Japanese firm Taiyo Resort (KL) Bhd took over the club’s management in 2010 and signed a leasing agreement with Penang Develop­ment Corporation (PDC) and Island Golf Properties Bhd.

    Beh said the BJCC golf course was built in 1984 as a “walking course” and that the club did not have a buggy track incorporated in the original layout.

    He also claimed there were only 700 golfing members out of the 2,800, with the rest being social and associate members.

    “And among this 700, probably only half play the game regularly,” he added.

    Golf truly a walking game 


    Jack Nicklaus walks up to his ball on the 9th ...
    I AM the secretary of the Liaison Council of Bukit Jambul Country Club (BJCC) and wish to clarify some of the statements issued by club managing director Datuk Eiro Sakamoto, as reported in The Star on Feb 10.

    Members of the club have never challenged the proprietary status of the club.

    Please allow me to provide some background of BJCC, so you can understand the situation that has led to this clash with the club management.

    1. Island Golf Properties Berhad (IGPB) is the developer which operates and manages BJCC which is a proprietary club and is required by law to comply with Division 5 of Part IV of the Companies Act 1965 and the Policy Guidelines and Requirements for Sale of Club Membership dated Sept 8, 1992, and updated on July 31, 2002.

    2. The club’s objective is to promote golfing, swimming, tennis, squash and other forms of sporting, social and recreational activities for members.

    3. The developer (IGPB) is the registered lessee of the land [No:P.T.258, Mukim 13, Daerah Timur Laut] leased from Penang Development Corporation for sixty (60) years commencing 01/02/1985 and expiring on 31/01/2045.

    4. The developer is by law required to appoint a trustee to act in the interests of club membership holders.

    5. There must be a trust deed to benefit and protect members. The principle deed of trust between IGPB and the trustee and several persons who acquire/have acquired membership mentioned in respect of BJCC (the members) was signed on Nov 2, 1993.

    To date, seven supplemental trust deeds have been entered into.

    6. The BJCC golf course was built in 1984 as a ‘walking course’. BJCC did not purchase golf buggies nor did it have a buggy track incorporated in the original course layout. Even a buggy shed was not incorporated into the building design.

    The first set of 30 buggies was acquired only in 1990 and their use was not compulsory.

    Those who purchased membership as from 1984 did so on the explicit understanding that they would be able to walk the course when playing golf whilst carrying their golf clubs or pulling the same on a golf trolley.

    7. One has to just take a look at how this game is being played around the world.

    Watch how Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and the many heroes of the game play it. They walk the golf course through 18 holes.

    There had never been an international or a national game (in Malaysia) or tournament where all players ride motorised carts to move around the course.

    This is how the game has to be played, with the player playing against the terrain of the course, the different conditions of the fairways and the different types of grasses on each fairway. They challenge their stamina to play the game.

    Therefore, it is only natural that members of a golf club would want to play this game the same way great sportsmen play it.

    8. However, over time, more and more golf clubs started to think of the golfers who become physically disabled and still wish to play the game.

    That gave birth to the motorised carts. But the introduction of these carts was never meant to replace the true and correct game methods.

    9. The crux of the matter is that golf has to be properly played to be called golf.

    But we need to cater for the unfortunate golfers who become physically incapable of walking.

    The clash with the club management did not arise from a minority few, as stated by Sakamoto.

    There are some 260 golfers who were affected and are now aggrieved, not the 50-odd claimed by him.

    Another claim he made which I feel was misleading was that the club has 2,800 members and all of them are happy with the new rules.

    What he failed to impress to the press is that out of the 2,800 members, there are about 700 golfing members, with the rest making up the social and associate member categories.

    And of this 700, there are probably only 50% of them who play the game on a regular basis.

    The golf course at any day can accommodate only about 280 players, so declaring that he has 2,800 members happy with this situation is misleading.

    Before the management introduced the reduction in the time meant for golfers to walk the course, there was an average of 85 to 110 members each morning and about the same number in the afternoon visiting the golf course each day to play this game.

    The first change was introduced in December 2010. Several members became disgusted with the changes and stopped playing or they went to other places to play the game.

    Members are now up in arms over the disruptive changes.

    They bought transferable memberships through a sales pro- spectus given by IGPB, which among others, promises certain facilities for members to use and enjoy.

    The aggrieved members bought their membership on the premise that they could use the golf facilities as they saw it then (i.e with people playing the game by walking the course, which then confirms that this is indeed the correct place to play the game). This gave them true enjoyment of the game.

    To change any of these, the members contend that the club management (now outsourced to this Japanese company which has no roots in our state and country) has to comply with the Trust Deeds as enforced by the Companies Acts.

    And the developer needs to seek the members’ agreement on any change that affects the members’ rights to use and enjoy the facilities for which the members pay a monthly subscription.

    This is not an easy matter to comprehensively cover in full and to get clear understanding of. The intent of this statement is to counter the misleading claims, so that Penangites understand the implications.

    To highlight a few points in summary:

    (a) Golf is a walking game, same as any other game.

    (b) Most golf courses today have motorised carts to give players a choice, either to use them or not to. But a choice must exist.

    (c) BJCC members are displeased with our state government which outsourced the management of the club to a foreigner whose sole objective, we believe, is profit-driven.

    The state government and the Chief Minister have absolutely no understanding and appreciation of the game of golf and have failed to consider the interests of the members at large.

    (d) It is common knowledge that golf courses are places of sporting and recreational activi-ties and are not institutions to rake in profits. Sports clubs are social obligations to the commu-nity.

    Thanking you in anticipation.

    ALFRED BEH,Secretary, Liaison Council of BJCC, Penang. 
    The Star Feb 15, 2012

    BJCC wants 10 to face the music

     Sunday February 19, 2012

    GEORGE TOWN: The compulsory buggy use issue has further ‘heated up’ after 10 Bukit Jambul Country Club (BJCC) members were hauled up for disciplinary action.

    More then 50 people, believed to be BJCC members, turned up at the club to show support for the 10 who were accompanied by their lawyers.

    “The 2pm hearing (yesterday), was postponed as the members decided to seek another date after being told by the disciplinary committee that no legal representation was allowed.

    “The members have instructed their lawyers to send a notice (tomorrow) to the committee to place on record as to what had transpired at the hearing,” said the group’s spokesman Alfred Beh.

    He said the members had allegedly teed off despite not being allowed to register as they refused to abide by the compulsory buggy use ruling implemented on Feb 1.

    On Tuesday, the club’s disgruntled members and its management lodged police reports over the issue.

    Beh claimed that members were also upset with the state’s decision to “outsource” the club’s management to a Japanese firm which had failed to consider their interests.

    BJCC managing director Datuk Eiro Sakamoto could not be reached for comments.

    He had said that the new rule was to ensure golfers could “maximise their time on the field” and that the majority of the 2,800 club members were happy with the decision.

    Japanese firm Taiyo Resort (KL) Bhd took over the club’s management in 2010 and signed a leasing agreement with Penang Develop­ment Corporation and Island Golf Properties Bhd.



    Related posts:

    Golf, a good walking game!

    BJCC Golf Club management Fiasco: challenges members to leave! Would Guan Eng Intervene?

    BJCC Golf and Country Club News

    Wednesday, February 8, 2012

    BJCC Golf Club management Fiasco: challenges members to leave! Would Guan Eng Intervene?

    Golfers pleads Guan Eng to intervene Bukit Jambul Country Club fiasco



    Following the dispute over the Bukit Jambul Country Club management decision to require golfers to use payable electric buggies on its 18-hole golf course, the members staged a demonstration and pleaded Penang CM, Lim Guan Eng to intervene and resolve the issue.



    According to one of the golfers, Adrian Ho, he hoped that something can be done to resolve this as they are ready to compromise with the management, if they are going to charge for a walking fees.

    Ho also said that the management set off the water sprinklers at the green today to prevent them from walking.

    He also stressed that they are mulling take legal action against the management if the issue remained unsolved.

    Many aggrieved members feel that such requirement to pay for electric buggies are unfair as they are already paying a regular fees to the club.

    Bayan Baru parliament coordinator, Por Joo Tee said that the issue started from a notice saying that the golfers privileges of walking has been cancelled.

    Por also added that during professional golf tournaments the golfers would walk to the selective holes instead of using buggy.

    Komunitikini earlier tried to reach Bukit Jambul Country Club management for a response but the Chief Operating Officer, Johnny Khoo said that response can only be given once the management company CEO, Dato’ Eiro Sakamoto arrives from Kuala Lumpur later today.

    Bukit Jambul Country Club is a subsidiary of Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and is currently managed by Taiyo Resort (KL) Berhad.

    Source: Komunitikini

    Police Report_BJCC
      Thugs or Guards from Metro Security?


    Management and members take swings at each other over buggy rule
      By TAN SIN CHOW sctan@thestar.com.my,  Friday 10 Feb 2012

    GEORGE TOWN: The “clash” between disgruntled members and the management of Bukit Jambul Country Club has escalated with both parties lodging police reports against each other.

    It all started when some 100 members voiced their displeasure over the compulsory buggy-use rule at the golf club, effective Feb 1.

    A 59-year-old member lodged a police report on Feb 3, alleging that the club's security guards had verbally abused him and several others at the golf course on that day.

    He also claimed that the guards had prevented them from walking on the course and verbally abused them.

    On Feb 2, more than 100 disgruntled golfers protested at the club over the new ruling that made it compulsory to use a buggy.

    The golfers said the ruling was not suitable due to the way the course was built. It was designed for golfers to walk around the course and was not intended to be a buggy course.

    They also complained about the increase in the buggy rental rates from RM22 to RM37 for the first nine holes.

    Japanese firm Taiyo Resort (KL) Bhd took over the club's management in 2010 and signed a leasing agreement with PDC and Island Golf Properties Bhd.

    Yesterday, Club managing director Datuk Eiro Sakamoto said they lodged a report with the Sungai Nibong police station yesterday to deny the allegations.

    “The club had carried out its own investigations and found the allegations to be untrue,” he said at a press conference.

    “The 50-odd disgruntled club members had violated club rules by teeing-off without registering. They also did not use the buggies as required.”

    Eiro said there was no such right as walking on the course, adding that the security guards had approached them in a polite manner but were instead insulted.

    “We are legally allowed to implement the buggy-use rule in accordance with club rules. An overwhelming majority of the 2,800 club members are happy with the rule.”

    He added that a complaint had since been lodged with the club's disciplinary committee.

    “I wish to stress that this is a proprietary club, not a member's club,” he said, adding that displeased members “have the freedom to leave”.



    Related post:

    BJCC management fiasco: 'Outsourcing not the fair way', Golf truly a walking game!


    BJCC Golf and Country Club News

    Wednesday, May 5, 2010

    BJCC Golf and Country Club News

    If you love golf you're going to love this!  What puts a smile on your face? Golf?



    BJCC management fiasco: 'Outsourcing not the fair way ...

    Golfers pleads Guan Eng to intervene

    Bukit Jambul Country Club fiasco

     

    Golfers Protest over new Buggy Rule


     

    (one can translate that to English....click some keys)
    Thugs & Secuirty Guards used to guard BJCC's fairway

    The Star Feb 1 & 3:

    Club managing director Datuk Eiro Sakamoto said the upgrade includes the purchase of additional 60 electric buggies for hire at a fee to "make more money"!

    Golfers speak out against buggy ruling

    Dutuk  Dr Chatar Singh 82, a member since 1984, said the ruling was not suitable due to the club's structure. "The design was meant to enable  golfers to walk around the course as the parking lot (for the buggy) is a distance away"

    Member Tony Lim said the management also increased the buggy rental rates from RM22 to RM37 for the first nine holes. He added that using a buggy to play golf was pointless because the golfers enjoyed walking. 

    Bayan Baru Barisan co-ordinator Por Joo Tee said that decision made should be a balance between profitability and corporate social responsibility. "I will write to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also Penang Development Corporation (PDC) chaiman, to look into the matter," he said when met at the club's on Wednesday. 

    Japanese firm Taiyo Resort (KL) Bhd took over the club's management in 2010 and signed a leasing agreement with PDC and Island Golf Properties Bhd. 
    Shttp://www.theedgeproperty.com/news-a-views/2638-lim-explains-why-taiyo-resort-got-contract-to-manage-bjcc.html


    However, even at St Andrews members can still walk!

    USGA Declares War on Riding!

    A serious campaign to increase the number of golfers who walk is now underway by the United States Golf Association. The Golf Journal, official publication of the sport’s ruling body, launched a dramatic appeal headlined “Declare Yourself a Walker.”

    Taking aim squarely against “the myths of golf cars,” David Fay, USGA’s Executive Director boldly states “We strongly believe that walking is the most enjoyable way to play golf and that the use of carts is detrimental to the game. This negative trend needs to be stopped now before it becomes accepted that riding in a cart is the way to play golf.”

    The pronouncement is strong and specific, castigating those courses that have jumped on the riding bandwagon. While pointing out that the majority of U.S. courses have no policy requiring mandatory use of carts, USGA targets the more than 1000 places that do.



    Returning golf back to its original nature is the century old organization’s justification for its new campaign. Putting its money where its mouth is, USGA is publishing its “Call to Arms” –an informative booklet, distributed free to the public. Titled A Call to Feet: Golf is a Walking Game, the detailed free booklet is available simply by calling USGA headquarters in Far Hills, N.J. at (908) 234-2300.

    For years, individuals have been invited to become USGA members. Now, such golfers are asked to make a more serious commitment. The announcement requests that members sign and mail in the USGA Walking Member Declaration. Its text reads:

    “. . .By signing this, I hereby give my oath that I will never ride in a golf cart for a round of golf unless it is forced upon me or I develop a physical condition which necessitates the use of a cart. Whenever given a choice, I will always walk.”

    Members then receive a bright yellow bag tag, emblazoned with USGA’s logo, identifying the person as a Walking Member and bearing the full text of the Declaration oath.

    By tradition, the USGA’s leadership has stood above commercial interests, resisting pressures to pervert the spirit and heritage of the sport. Doubtless there are people who, despite logic and evidence to the contrary, still will argue that riding is inherently faster than walking–or that rental revenue is essential to golf clubs and courses. Numerous examples kibosh these assertions, according to the USGA which has conducted many studies and thorough investigations.

    For example, Pinehurst Resort and Country Club is cited, where walking and carrying your own bag is optional now on four of the property’s seven courses–1,3,4, and 5. (Walking’s still allowed on the famed Number 2 course but only with a caddie.) “It’s not slowing down play at all, and the courses are still packed. Granted, the policy hasn’t been in effect all that long, but I haven’t heard one negative comment yet.”

    This trend toward providing players the opportunity to walk is expected to accelerate, as a result of USGA’s walking campaign. We encourage advocates of walking golf to pledge your oath and promote the USGA’s Walking Members Declaration!

     

    RESPONSES by LC & UT

    Dear BJCC Members: 

    It has been brought to our attention that several unwarranted, foul-language statements/words had been sent out to people outside our members. Such are unacceptable and unwelcomed. We won't tolerate any of these.

    Members understand that the platform be used to share our views and opinions. I have kept reminding everyone that we are members of a reputable club and all of us needs to try and maintain certain decorum when we wish to express certain disagreements and dissatisfaction. It is impossible to have a state where views and interpretations won't differ.

    I am making a plea to all members to refrain from making any personal attacks, threatening or otherwise to people in our state government or to members of our club.

    Thank you for your support and co-operation

    Best Regards,
    Stanley Park Feb 6, 2012

    1. Liaison Council (LC) will be meeting with Dato Sakamoto on Thursday, 19 Jan 2012. We have on our agenda for discussion pertinent issues affecting members of BJCC. 

    2. There has been requests that the LC have a session to meet and inform members on the outcome of the meeting and actions initiated by the LC to date. And we are happy to inform you that we have arranged to  hold this session on Friday, 20 Jan 2012 at 8pm at the coffee terrace.

    Letters to BJ UT 0112

    NOTICES

    (1) Revised Sequence of Play

    The management has informed that members will be playing  a new sequence of 9 holes golf, a combination of 4 old and 5 new holes effective from Saturday, January 1, 2012.

    The sequence of play is: Holes # 10, 11, 12, 13 then followed by Holes # 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.  In other words, Holes # 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18 be replaced by Holes # 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 .
    1. Players must play the 9 holes in sequence, no skipping of hole is allowed.
    2. Tee-off time is 7.00am. Teeing off before 7.00am is strictly not allowed. Players must start from the 10th tee. They shall not commence play from any other holes.
    3. Buggies are allowed to go onto fairways unless management announced otherwise.
     The above course control is being implemented during this interim period until the renovation of all the 1st Nine Hole is ready for play.

    Disciplinary action will be taken against any players who infringe any of the local rules and regulations above.

    (2) With effect from February 1, 2012, the 1st Nine Holes will be opened for play
    1. Golf Registration counter will open at 7:00am daily.
    2. Tee off time is 7:30am daily. Players must commence play from 1st Tee and not from any other holes.
    3. Buggy is compulsory for all players, not for free but at a fee ranging from RM37.10 to RM95.40 with 6% Govt Tax, depending players are members, guests/visitors, playing 9 holes or 18 holes.
    4. Caddy Fee - Monday~Friday: RM35.00 + 6% Govt. Tax (RM47.70); Sat, Sun. & Public Holidays: RM50.
    5. Walking Golfers are allowed to play from Monday to Thursday. The tee off time is 5:00pm. Players are required to register themselves personally and to collect their starter chits. Booking can be made from 4:30pm onwards on these days (Monday to Thursday except on Public Holidays)
     (3) To cut cost effective from Monday, January 9, 2012, service at golfers' changing rooms (shower toilet) shall be closed at 8:30pm daily instead of 10:00pm normally due to few golfers using them
    Members and guests who want to use shower and toilet facilities may go the swimming pool complex.
    Notes: Interesting news:   
      
    LIAISON COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 2012

    AGM 2011