Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Thousands Observe Tsunami At Seulawah Golf Club

Aceh Besar, 26 December 2011 - Thousands of people gathered at Seulawah Golf Club in the city of Lho'nga, Aceh Besar regency in Indonesia's Aceh to observe seven years of major tsunami disaster in the province that claimed hundreds of thousands lives.

People who observed the tsunami disaster incited by a 8.9 magnitude earthquake in the Indian ocean off Aceh province on December 26, 2004 solemnly delivered prayers for the victims of tsunami that reached more than 200,000 people.

Lho'nga was among several cities in Indonesia's northernmost province of Aceh hit the most by the tsunami. Eighty percent of the city's population perished in the tsunami, the Antara news service reported.

The observance ceremony on the golf course was attended by thousands of students, civil servants, the military as well as Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf.

Tourists and the scholars from Japan also took part in the observance. The scholars distributed yellow papers for those attending the observance, encouraged them to express their feeling on the deadly tsunami disaster.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Indonesia Featured on World's Stage for New Year 2012

A Two-Unit Rose Parade® Float Celebrates Indonesia and Welcomes Visitors


PASADENA, Calif., Dec 21, 2011 - Indonesia, one of the trendy new travel destinations, will delight millions viewing the Tournament of Roses® New Year's Rose Parade on January 2, 2012.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is promoting the incredible diversity of the world's largest archipelago. "We want the world to know that Indonesia offers something for everyone: from the finest luxury vacation spots to the most rugged eco-adventure travel," remarked Minister Mari Elka Pangestu. "The Rose Parade is seen by millions around the world. It is the perfect way to start the new year for 'Wonderful Indonesia.'"

The two-unit float features a Sumatran princess in a gesture of a traditional welcome dance, followed by a stately Garuda, the mythical bird-like creature that is Indonesia's national symbol. Indonesian dancers accompany the float.

The Sumatran princess showcases the city of Pagar Alam in South Sumatra, an eco-adventure travel destination with ancient megaliths.

While many Rose Parade floats represent various Asian cultures of the world, Indonesia's float is the only one sponsored by the nation itself.

"Indonesia is proving to be the hot new destination for U.S. tourists," said Sapta Nirwandar, Vice-Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. "Indonesia offers everything, from award-winning golf courses and spas to marvelous cultural attractions and natural wonders. We see the sponsorship of international events as a unique opportunity to promote our islands and introduce travelers to all we have to offer."

Indonesia, with its 17,000 islands, is strategically located south of China, north of Australia and is as wide as the United States. Because of her location and geology, Indonesia is blessed with the most diverse landscape: fertile ricelands on Java and Bali, abundant rainforests of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi and savannah grasslands of the Nusatenggara islands. The prehistoric giant Komodo lizard finds its home here as well as the Orangutan, Java Rhino and Sumatran Tiger, with a rich and unique flora and fauna.

Indonesia is the third largest democracy in the world. With a national motto of Unity in Diversity, it celebrates religious tolerance and women's rights, even as it is the largest Muslim country in the world (by population). It has hundreds of distinct ethnic cultures, each with their own dance, textiles, music, visual art and ceremonial traditions.

More information: www.indonesia.travel

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia promotes Wonderful Indonesia as a memorable tourist destination.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

OneAsia Raises The Bar Further With 2012 Schedule

Hong Kong, December 20: OneAsia's ascendency will continue in 2012 with an expanded schedule featuring at least 14 events, three of them new tournaments, and an overall purse of nearly US$16 million.

An impressive line-up of million dollar events, including five national Opens, will be staged starting with the US$1 million Indonesia Open, to be played from March 15 to 18.

OneAsia will also welcome on board for the first time, the China Classic, the Guangzhou Open and the PGA Championship of Malaysia.

The Guangzhou event will be the final tournament of the season and be staged from December 13 to 16.

Returning to the schedule having successfully been staged in 2011 are Korea's three leading events the Kolon Korea Open, the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and the SK Telecom Open.

The Nanshan China Masters, the Thailand Open and the Volvo China Open, joint sanctioned with The European Tour, will also be back in 2012.

OneAsia will once again head to Australia for the Emirates Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

The dates for the two Australian events, the Kolon Korea Open and the Nanshan tournament will be confirmed shortly.

The High 1 Resort Open in Korea, which had to be cancelled this year due to inclement weather, will also be held next season as will the Dongfeng Nissan Cup, a team event between Asia Pacific and China.

This exciting new team tournament was inaugurated at the weekend and saw Asia Pacific beat China by a single point at Tycoon Golf Club in Shenzhen.

"We have been able to increase our number of events and prize money in 2012 which is something we have done every season since we started OneAsia in 2009. We had five events in that first year, held 10 tournaments in 2010, and featured 11 this season. It has been a rapid growth which provides endless opportunities to our members," said Sang Y. Chun, Commissioner and Chairman, OneAsia.

Added Chun: "OneAsia was founded by the PGA of Australia, the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour and the Korea Golf Association and we are delighted that our schedule features tournaments spread across all of the respective regions. It is also extremely rewarding to stage events in places like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia and we are confident that further additions will be made to the schedule in 2012."

The 2011 OneAsia season came to an exciting conclusion earlier this month when Australian Greg Chalmers won the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola. The lefthander also won the Emirates Australian Open to become the first player to win back-to-back titles on OneAsia.

American Tiger Woods competed in the Emirates Australian Open contributing to record television ratings and the attendance of nearly 70,000 spectators during the week.

Andre Stolz from Australia claimed the OneAsia Order of Merit title. He earned US$464,811 in nine events, including victories in the Indonesia PGA Championship and Thailand Open, with Korean Kim Kyung-tae in second place after banking US$327,178.

With an exciting and lucrative year of tournament golf ahead in 2012 the OneAsia Qualifying School has been inundated with entrants.

The Qualifying School's First Stages are taking place this month and in January in Melbourne, Australia, and in the States of Johor and Sabah, Malaysia.

Competitors will head to the Final Stage which will be held at the prestigious Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

A total of 144 players will compete for over 20 OneAsia cards through four rounds of golf from January 10 to 13.

2012 OneAsia Schedule:

Qualifying School, Final StageSutera Harbour G&CC, MalaysiaJan 10 to 13
Indonesia OpenVenue TBCMar 15-18US$1 million
Volvo China OpenBinhai Lake GC, Tianjin, ChinaApr 19-22RMB 20,000,000
(Joint sanctioned with The European Tour)
GS Caltex Maekyung OpenNamseoul G&CC, KoreaMay 10-13KRW 1,000,000,000
SK Telecom OpenPinx GC, KoreaMay 17-20KRW 900,000,000
Thailand OpenSuwon G&CCAug 16-19US$1 million
High1 Resort OpenHigh 1 CC, KoreaAug 23-26KRW 1,000,000,000
PGA Championship of MalaysiaVenue TBCSep 13-16Prize money TBA
China ClassicVenue TBCOct 11-14US$1 million
Guangzhou OpenVenue TBCDec 13-16US$1 million
Nanshan China MastersNanshan International GC, ChinaDate TBCUS$1 million
Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-ColaHyatt Regency GC, CoolumDate TBCAUS$1.5 million
Emirates Australian OpenThe Lakes GCDate TBCAUS$1.5 million
Kolon Korea OpenWoo Jeong Hills CCDate TBCKRW 1,000,000,000
Dongfeng Nissan CupVenue TBC, ChinaDate TBC
(Specially approved team event sanctioned by OneAsia and China Golf Association)

Dates subject to change.

For further information please email OneAsia's Tina Lee at tlee@oneasia.asia

Friday, December 9, 2011

Martin Luther King Charity Tournament

Launched in 2009 by expats, the Martin Luther King Charity Tournament has grown from 42 players in 2009 to an estimated 180 in 2012. This charity event features sponsors from all sectors of society, participants from the diplomatic community, foreign expats, and both the public and private sector in Indonesia. This event, like years past, is a random pairing based on handicaps. A great day to network, share stories, indulge your senses, and this event is about giving back and having fun doing it, knowing it’s going to the right causes.

The Martin Luther King Charity Scramble is raising funds for the Yayasan Balita Sehat and Yayasan Yayasan Pendidikan Pelita Harapan.

Monday, January 16, 2012 Imperial Klub Golf, Lippo Karawaci

Registration:
Seats are limited, and pairings are random based on handicap. Email notification will be forwarded for registration confirmation.
INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION Rp 1,500,000. (Includes Welcome Bag, Breakfast, Golf, Caddy, Cart, Lunch, Beverages, Awards, Lucky Draw)
Be prepared to participate in the charity auction for great vacations, gifts, equipment, and others.

07:00am Registration/Breakfast
08:00am Shotgun

All questions regarding registration should be sent to MLK.GOLF.COMMITTEE@GMAIL.COM with “MLK REGISTRATION/YOUR NAME” in the SUBJECT LINE.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is,
"What are you doing for others?"

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Indonesia's Reza Targets Repeat Faldo Series Success

8 December 2011: Fahmi Reza will be targeting a successful defense of his title when the fifth Faldo Series Indonesia Championship returns to Damai Indah Golf’s BSD Course on January 16-17, 2012. The 20-year-old from Jakarta followed last year’s six-shot victory with a top-20 finish in the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, the best performance by an Indonesian in the 80-strong field.

Reza will join more than 70 of his country’s leading golfers aged 12 to 21 in the 2012 Indonesia Championship at the BSD Course in Jakarta. With the field divided into five age-groups – three for boys and two for girls – the winner of each division over two rounds will join Sir Nick Faldo for the sixth Grand Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in China on March 14-16, 2012.

In a bid to further support golf development in Indonesia, competitors will also receive expert advice from guest speakers during the tournament, while an audience of younger children from the local community will receive free golf instruction and then watch the competitors in action.

The 2011/2012 Faldo Series Asia schedule features 17 tournaments in 13 different countries including five in mainland China plus others in The Philippines, Vietnam, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Brunei, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Thailand and Indonesia.

The Faldo Series Asia is supported by major partners ISPS, Mission Hills and The R&A, official golf wear partner UFL and official suppliers TaylorMade and Tricor. It is endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Federation (APGC).

Established in 1996, 37 Faldo Series tournaments now take place in 27 countries worldwide with more than 5,000 golfers participating each year. Past winners include Major Champions Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.

Golfers born in 1990 or later wishing to enter the fifth Faldo Series Indonesia Championship at Damai Indah Golf (BSD Course) on January 16-17, 2012, should email agus.effendi@damaiindah-golf.com or visit www.damaiindah-golf.com.

For more information on the Faldo Series visit www.nickfaldo.com. You can also follow the Faldo Series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/faldoseries and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/faldoseries.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

2011 Ancora Family And Friends Christmas Golf Day

On Sunday 11 December 2011, Ancora Golf Institute and Bali Golf and Country Club organize the 2011 Ancora Family and Friends Christmas Golf Day.
This 4 person scramble event is in a 4 person best ball format over 9 holes. Each team should have minimum 3 people - 1 adult and 2 kids.
Registration fee is Rp 995,000 per team.
Under 10 and Ladies tee off from the Red Tees, 11 and over from the White Tees.

The activities start at 13.00 with Tee Off at 14.30:
  • Donate a Gift for Charity
  • Club Demo, by "Just Golf"
  • Putting Competition
Night Time Driving Range:
  • Unlimited Driving Range until 20.00 for the price of a bag of balls

After the game there's BBQ and Drinks at the Bunker Bar.

For reservations and further information contact Bali Golf & Country Club at (0361) 771 791 or reservation@baligolfandcountryclub.com

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Special Promotions At Pakuwon Golf & Family Club

Pakuwon Golf & Family Club, managed by Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, has recently been expanded with an additional 9 par-3 holes, so that the course is now a full 18-hole par 54 course.
To celebrate special promotion rates are applicable for green fees and driving range:
  • Course Promotion: 50% off on green fees
  • Driving Range Promotion: Buy One Get One
Both promotions are valid Tuesday-Friday between 5am-3pm, excluding public holidays.

For more information and reservations contact Pakuwon Golf & Family Club at (031) 739 0888.

Open Letter To Minister Mari Pangestu

The Jakarta Post, 3 December 2011 - My name is Dennis G. Kloeth and I am the founder of Golf Promo Indonesia. For the past 12 years, through our website indogolf.com, Golf Promo Indonesia has been actively and globally promoting Indonesia’s fabulous world of golf and leisure, which also includes Indonesia’s hospitality and spa industry as well as its rich and diverse world of art and culture. Our website attracts more than 55,000 visitors a month.

Globally, golf tourism is a US$30 billion industry (2011 figures). In Asia, Thailand attracts roughly 200,000 foreign golfers each year, while Indonesia attracts no more than 5,000.

In Asia, Thailand is the undisputed leader, and earns more than $500 million in revenues from inbound golf tourism. Knowing all that, for the past 12 years we have attempted to create synergy and cooperation between us and the Ministry of Tourism, but these attempts have been unsuccessful so far.

Lately and ever since your appointment as Indonesia’s new minister for tourism, much has been said about boosting tourism in Indonesia and making it one of the main contributors to Indonesia’s economy.

In an article printed in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 22, 2011, on boosting tourism, it was stated that to support tourism development a total of $13.74 billion was needed. Given what we know about Thailand’s inbound golf industry, one important sector that could boost tourism (and hard currency income) could definitely be inbound golf travel to Indonesia.

Moreover, with perfect infrastructure in place, not much money has to be spent on the development of such and improving ways of getting foreign golfers to our fabulous courses.

For the past three weeks, daily and relentlessly, I have tried to contact your office in order to request an audience to discuss with you sustainable and affordable plans to promote Indonesia as one of the world’s best golf destinations.

Getting past your electronic telephone operator, however, has turned out to be utterly impossible and in the end, and after three weeks, I have had to give up. Therefore, allow me to (respectfully) approach you through this open letter.

With hard work, together we can do a lot in the coming three years. What we ask from you is to give us a chance to present to you our elaborate plans with respect to the promotion of Indonesia as the world’s next golf destination. We have clear ideas as to how to creatively and affordably promote Indonesia Golf and transparently run and manage a reasonable budget as well as preventing it from being misused.

Finally, we clearly see experts and professionals from your ministry working closely with experts from the golf and travel industry as well as from the creative publicity industry. In doing so, we surely aim at finally creating a long overdue synergy between government and private enterprise.

I am looking forward to hearing from you or from your staff in the not too distant future.

Dennis G. Kloeth
South Tangerang, Banten