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Haze will not darken competition

ORGANISERS of the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM have assured golfing fans that the adverse weather conditions that have affected the country the past few months will not take the shine off the inaugural Europe versus Asia showdown on March 27-29 in Shah Alam.

    EurAsia Golf senior director Charlie Tingey said the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club (GGCC) course remains in pristine condition despite the drought that subsequently led the country being covered in haze.

    "Preparations have gone well. The captains arrive later this week while the players on Monday and the course is fantastic condition," said Tingey, when met at the tournament trophy launch in Shah Alam yesterday.

   "Credit must be given to GGCC (for keeping the course in shape) as it has not been the ideal climate over the past four or five weeks with water shortages and the smog.

   "With the wet weather over the past few days and more rain forecasted I think we are confident the conditions will be a fair reflection of what Malaysia is -- a wonderful tropical country.

   "However, the weather is what the weather is and we will just have to make the best of it and play within parameters that are safe (should the haze persist). We will be taking air pollution index ratings and if it does reach unsafe levels we will have to suspend play.

   "We will manage it just like we do rain or thunder and have contingencies in place."
   Intermittent spells of rain since Friday have seen the haze fade a little but it was still apparent in the Klang Valley earlier yesterday.

   Tingey added that he hoped the EurAsia Cup would one day be viewed in the same light as the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

  The sterling silver centrepiece, made at a cost of RM59,000, was designed by Professional Golf of Malaysia chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid with the support of Mior Adlizul Jazmi of Permodalan Nasional Berhad.

   It was then produced by master craftsman Hassan Mat Jusoh of silversmiths KB Permai Krafperak Kelantan Silver.

   "(It is) fantastic. Tun Ahmad Sarji has really done a fantastic job and I love the fact that it was crafted here in Malaysia. A huge deal of work went into it.

   "What we want going forward is that it becomes an iconic symbol and I generally feel it will. Hopefully, it will sit alongside the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup."

From left: Senior director of EurAsia Golf Charlie Tingey, Professional Golf of Malaysia chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid and chief operating officer of DRB-HICOM Datuk Mohamed Razeek Md Hussain at the launch of the EurAsia Cup yesterday. Pic by Hasriyasyah Sabudin

Read more: GOLF: Haze will not darken competition - Other - New Straits Times

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