By our Editor in Chief: Mark J Stradling
On Friday 20th September, the beautiful and picturesque Staffield Golf and Country Club in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan played host to the MBS Charity Golf event, which was another opportunity for the MBS to give something back to the community.
Organised by MBS committee member Mathew Tate and his team from Melbourne Capital, the golf day proved to be another fantastic sporting event in the MBS calendar, especially as we were honored to have MBS member and supporter Y.A.M Tunku Naquiyuddin playing on his home course. Would local knowledge give Tunku an advantage we thought?
Prior to the groups teeing off, I took the opportunity to do a few brief one-on-one off course interviews; including Tunku talking about his charity foundation, Yayasan Tunku Naquiyuddin that provides assistance to young students from poor families. I also spoke with event organisers, sponsors, golfers, and MBS members, and we will be posting these clips from time to time on the MBS social media channels.
When the groups started out, not everything went exactly according to plan as some were not familiar with the course and ‘deviated’ slightly. However things quickly got back on track, and some good opening scores began to emerge. As I was not playing, I first took the opportunity to drive around the course in a buggy with the Melbourne Capital PR team, to take photos and videos, and later switched buggy to join Mat, who was also not playing, but in charge of the very important ‘drinks buggy’.
As we were roaming around the course, I could not help noticing that Mat was very busy on his mobile phone. Thinking it must have been just a busy day at the office, I later realised that players were texting and asking us to go over to the hole they were playing ‘’as a matter of urgency’’ to administer ‘liquid sustenance’ as the sweltering heat was beginning to take its toll! Mat obligingly covered all parts of the course, changing his buggy three times in the process due to flat batteries! Syabas Mat!
After all the matches were concluded, with everyone back in the clubhouse safe and sound, there was much fun, goodwill and banter at the after-match dinner and prizegiving. Our congratulations to all the winners, and our thanks as always to Y.A.M Tunku Naquiyuddin, for joining us at the dinner, and helping give the prizes away:
Winners of Division 1: Alfred Johnny, Tom Henson, and Gary Couzin
Winner of Division 2: Matthew Levy, Jalaselan Kuppusamy, and Arun Venugopal
Longest Drive: Gary Couzin
Nearest the Pin: Tom Henson
Wooden Spoon: Mike Garcia
On behalf of the MBS, I would like to once again thank everyone involved in organising the day ensuring it was such a success. Mat Tate, Tom Henson and all the team from Melbourne Capital. Our other sponsors, ITA, Idad, Causeway, Hansard, API Global, Wedge, RL360, Trinidad Cigar Club, Peacock Golf Society, Sid's Pubs, Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur, Mandarin Oriental, Samadhi Retreats, and Eastern & Oriental Hotel. Thanks also to MBS President Amarjeet Ghai and MBS Vice President Dato’ Nick Pinder for joining us at the dinner; Dato’ Nick also for his tremendous contribution in securing so many of the sponsors prizes.
My final thanks must go to all the staff of Staffield Golf and Country Club, who apart from being so professional and courteous on and off the course all day, literally went ‘above and beyond’ to ensure the day ended smoothly.
The bus driver that took a small group of us to Staffield in the morning, either forgot, or could not be bothered to return in the evening to take us back to KL. With the club closing and F&B outlets shut, we were temporarily stranded facing a long and ‘dry’ wait. Alamak! However, a kind soul from Staffield staff offered to go to the village on his motorbike to buy some drinks for us while we waited. Malaysian hospitality at its very best. Terima Kasih from MBS!
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