The Malaysian Golf Association, (MGA) is one of the oldest sporting bodies in Malaysia. It is the governing body responsible for the development of golf in the country.
MGA for Malaysian golfers
The MGA is an NGO (non-government organization) that was started back in 1929. Having been around for almost a century has provided MGA the experience and knowledge to promote golf in the country and abroad. What makes MGA so unique is that the organization is run by volunteers who are passionate golfers themselves.
It is often said that golf came into Malaysia around the same time when the rubber tree was ‘imported’. However, golf tournaments started before 1929. It was around 1894 when a few golfers decided to hold the Straits Championship. This is often regarded to be the earliest edition of the Malaysian Open Amateur Championship, the oldest tournament in Malaysia which has been run each year except during the first and second world wars.
Promoting and developing the game of golf in Malaysia
Basically, MGA handles all golfing issues in the country. From policy making and input to organizing events, the association has grown. From its inception, the MGA has grown in terms of responsibilities and network. It had 15 members in 1953 and has to date 175 affiliates nationwide. This includes the International Golf Federation (IGF), The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A), the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC).
Today, the MGA organizes the top golf tournaments in Malaysia including the national amateur open and close competitions as well as the state amateur opens. It is also involved in processing the National Handicap System that manages handicaps for Malaysian golfers. Besides that, the MGA carries out programs for nurturing young golfers and training golfers in international tournaments.
Tournaments organized by MGA
- The Malaysian Amateur Open – The oldest golf tournament in the country, it has been held annually since 1894 besides 1917, 1918, 1941 to 1948. As such, it has more been run for more than a hundred times. This was the departing initiative of Major-General Sir Charles Warren, the Commander of the Troops in The Straits Settlement then.
- The Malaysian Amateur Closed – This event started in 1966 and is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the Malaysian golfer’s calendar. In 2009, a ladies category was included and the player’s performance contributes to the WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking).
- Putra Cup – This is a competition that was envisioned to foster better friendship and relationship between the countries in South East Asia and has been well-received since 1961. Today, this tournament has grown where it has other categories including the Lion City Cup for the Junior boys, Santi Cup for the ladies category and the Kartini Cup for junior girls.
The MGA or Malaysian Golf Association is one of the most influential bodies in Malaysian golf. It is the agency that governs and promote the game of golf in the country for almost a decade now.
Maintaining the traditions
Throughout the years, MGA has been working tirelessly to ensure that the integrity of the game is maintained and preserved. Entrusted to develop the game of golf in the country, MGA is a non-governmental organization.
It is run by a team of highly capable management staff together with a group of volunteers who are committed and passionate about golf and who work towards the betterment of the game in the country.
Changing the portfolio through the years
Over the years, the Malaysian Golf Association has evolved and increased its portfolios and responsibilities. What started out organizing competitions like the 14 state amateur opens, the national amateur open and amateur close and the highly prestigious Malaysian Open has since moved towards managing the National Handicap System.
Apart from that, the MGA is also imperative to build and promote programs from the grassroots levels and develop golfers to prepare them for events on the international stage.
The commitment that MGA brings is to withhold the responsibilities and to grow the game in the country while ensuring that the Rules of Golf have adhered to.
Background of MGA
The game of golf in Malaysia goes back a long way. While there was no definite date as to when golf came to Malaysia, it is widely believed that golf dates as far back as when the rubber tree was imported into Malaysia.
According to known records, several golfers had in 1894 discussed the merits of some players that they liked which prompted them to organize an 18-hole competition that would then be known as the Straits Championship.
This was seen as the predecessor of the Malaysian Open Amateur Championship which would then be an annual event except for the war years (1917-1918 and 1941-1947).
A mutual agreement between the golf clubs in Singapore, Penang and Kuala Lumpur at that time determined the venue of the prestigious event while the host club would be the main organizer.
1929 saw the formation of a national body to organize the amateur championship for Malaysia and that was when the Malayan Golf Association was formed. This organization would then be responsible for coordinating golfing events for Singapore and the then Malaya.
The Malayan Golf Association would grow in size and by 1953, there were 15 member clubs coming from the states of Perak, Penang, Kedah, Johor, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Singapore.
The Association would then change its name to the Federation of Malaya Golf Association in 1962 without Singapore but would then join again in 1965 and thus forming the Golf Association of Malaysia.
This would then change again with the cessation of Singapore from Malaysian and the Association formally became the Malaysian Golf Association or MGA in 1965 which will then grow in size and stature from then on where the MGA today has more than 175 affiliates.
