Bali Junior Golf Championship Cup

Mountains, Lakes, Kids & Golf

Bali August 19th 2011 - Before the Bali Junior Golf Community (BJGC) was first founded in late 2010, I asked why are there so few children playing golf in Bali? Depending on who I spoke to I would receive a different range of answers: not many kids like to play, too expensive, too hot for the children ; so after loitering at the some of the courses here in Bali ( which I would most likely be arrested for doing this in a developed country) I began to approach some adult golfers whom I knew had children, the coaches, the kids themselves and found that there in fact there were some children who played.
I think I totaled about 12 names after the first week. Having two children myself I know what a great social network and grapevine they have so I asked my husband Agoes for his support and started to think if we could put some well run tournaments/programs together the kids would find us and the word would spread.

At the time PGI in Bali had no program or structure in place for the kids that I was aware of and it seemed like it was the same four or five juniors I would see at the course or at the driving range.
It was very difficult to get any information from PGI Headquaters Jakarta, whose website leaves a lot to be desired and who obviously are struggling with their own issues. Calls never returned, emails not answered so I knew I was on my own.
Luckily for me my husband had some good contacts as and so we launched the Bali Junior Golf Community Tournament 5 Series & Championship Cup with support from his old school friend Eddy Panca who also was on the PGI Bali Board and Yuda Putra.

Owning an IT company came in really handy so Agoes set up the website, Facebook site as well as the other online systems which we would require to help us run the membership database and tournaments.

As far as I knew about the junior golf in Bali really had no history and the 5 courses on the island had never worked together to grow and support the juniors as one. So I went knocking on the doors of the General Managers of all five courses- Was it easy? - no - Did I get their co-operation? - you bet! Did I ever feel like giving up? - you bet! Did I give up? - never! Did I have the support of the parents - you bet I did! I networked away calling on my clients, peers, friends and family and other parents who had kids who played golf - some who thought I had gone crazy - let you in on a little secret here I DONT PLAY GOLF!

BJGC's aim was to grow the number of children taking up golf in Bali and to promote sound honest play and good judgment based on international tournament standards for juniors. We wanted to provide a positive experience for all concerned and to allow our juniors to grow as a player and a person and of course to have a fun. Did we succeed – You make up your own mind up…..just read on.

Fast forward to August 2011 and Bali Junior Golf's 5th Series is to be held at Bali Handara Koisaido Country Club. We had our biggest field of players - 50 juniors that would be starting - now remember those early numbers of juniors just over a year ago 4, 5,12.

Many juniors and their parents drove up the hill from the south and stayed the weekend. Practice day there was a TaylorMade demo organized by the Energizer Bunny a.k.a. Mr Mark Isley the new General Manager of Bali Handara Kosiado Country Club (BHKCC).
One of the junior parents and recreational golfer Benny Raj who runs Bali Catering Company organized the amazing BBQ & Bonfire for Saturday night, where the junior golf community came together like never before – remember it’s all about the kids and supporting them. Mark and his great team ran the Putting and Chipping competition. Prizes were donated by Golf House, BHKCC and Ruci Golf. The guys that run Ruci Sport & Golf who are aged in their twenties are great ambassadors for junior golfers as well as good role models. Unfortunately - some of the better junior golfers who are on the national team were no-where to be seen!

Sunday morning - tournament day, juniors turned up collected their player badges just as the fog was rolling up the 18th fairway which was a stunning site, they were briefed by Mr Eddy Panca our Rules Official and off they went to face tee placements and pins positions which would prove a challenge during the day. Once again the field's pace of play was great and the juniors did not hold up any of the regular members and guests who were out there playing. Fifty juniors out there playing golf on a spectacular course showing good sportsmanship and discipline and most importantly having fun.

Another successful day - you bet! We now have 77 juniors on our database – so we hope PGI will now take note. These juniors do not expect goodie bags and lucky door prizes they just want to play golf and have fun in a safe and nurturing environment with a people who care.

The 2011 Championship Cup will be held back at New Kuta Golf on Sunday 25th September where we will crown our inaugural Boys Champion (A & B) , Girls Champion (A & B) and Mixed Champion (C & D) as well as player of the series.

Click here to see the winners and their scores.
Click here to see all the photos on Facebook

Bali Junior Golf Community
www.balijuniorgolf.com | info@balijuniorgolf.com

writer is Melina Caruso - Bali Junior Golf Community

Playing Under Harsh Conditions - Kids & Golf

This past weekend forty two junior golfers took their A game to Balibeach Golf Course to compete in the PGI Bali Junior Golf Tournament Series 2

Dark clouds awaited the Junior Players on Sunday morning as they arrived at 6am at Balibeach Golf Course Sanur. It looked like the rain may disappear by the time the juniors were ready to tee off at 7am, but not long after the shotgun start the heavens opened up and 42 junior players whose ages ranged from 17 – 8 years old took their umbrellas out and soldiered on under difficult conditions.

This series introduced for the first time the 3 hole challenge which was open to boys and girls across a range of age groups who have been having lessons at various courses and driving ranges such as: Balibeach Golf Course Sanur, Ancora Golf Institute at Bali Golf and Country Club Nusa Dua and New Kuta Golf Pecatu, for children who had never played 9 holes of golf. There were 12 juniors who teed off in this open division showing tremendous effort while facing a few challenges with the wet weather that would have sent the average Sunday golfer running for cover.

Heavy rain soon interrupted play with Tournament Director Eddy Panca suspending play for about 1 hour. The 42 juniors taking cover at the club house were soaking wet but their spirits were not dampened! They waited it out until Panca announced play would resume at 9.30am.

Balibeach Golf Course presents a great golfing challenge and is more about being accurate with your shots and on a day punctuated with heavy rain and winds, we still had some great scores returned.

The juniors from all Divisions displayed great stamina as play continued in water soaked fairways and heavy bunkers.

Trophies were sponsored by Raffles Golf Club based out of New Kuta Golf Course and were presented to all winners by Chairman Mark Watson at a presentation lunch which also included a fun quiz with lots of fun giveaways.

Bali Junior Golf Community wishes to thank PGI Bali, Balibeach Golf Course and in particular General Manager Made Suartana and his team. A big thank you for moral support from Raja Balasingham General Manager, Golf Pro / Coach Sean Williams from New Kuta Golf Pecatu. Coach Rob Turvey from Ancora Golf Institute at Bali Golf and Country Club Nusa Dua.

We would also like to thank those assisting with the event, as well as all of the players and coaches who competed in good competition and spirit.

The tournament committee are now planning Series 3 which will be held at Bali Handara Golf Course in early April.

Click here to see the winners and their scores.

Bali Junior Golf Community
www.balijuniorgolf.com
info@balijuniorgolf.com

Bali Junior Golf Tournament

PGI Bali together with Bali Junior Golf Community, will be holding the first Bali Junior Golf Tournament Series in Bali with the support of all five golf courses in Bali. Over 30 junior boys and girls aged from 8 - 17 are registered with players from Bali, Jakarta, Sulawesi, Surabaya and Perth - Australia will tee off at New Kuta Golf on Sunday 30th January 2011.

The tournament will be played on 18 holes Stroke Play Gross. The players will compete in 4 age group categories: 15-17 years old, 13-14 years old, 11-12 years old and below 10 years old.

We are encouraging juniors to enter all 5 tournaments which will earn them points towards the PGI Bali Junior Championship Cup to be held at the end of the five tournaments later in the year.

The PGI Bali Junior Golf Tournament 5 Series & The Bali Junior Championship Cup 2011 was initiated by PGI Bali as well as individual golfers who would like to see more children taking up the game in Bali. The concept behind the tournaments beside the competition aspect is also an educational one, where we be able to nurture some of the younger players in the area of rules, etiquette and sportsmanship at an international level whilst allowing them to experience playing at all five of the courses in Bali. With the collaborative effort by all five courses in Bali, as well as PGI Bali, The PGI Bali Junior Golf Tournament 5 Series & The Bali Junior Championship Cup 2011 will kick off on Sunday 30th January at New Kuta Golf.

Bali Junior Golf Community?s Mission is to provide a warm, caring, safe environment for young juniors in an ideal setting where they can gain social education, an understanding of Golf etiquette and sportsmanship as they grow. We want to be able to offer an opportunity where juniors can have inter school competitions as well as weekend club competition in addition to the tournaments and Family Fun Days and many other club programs for the juniors to participate in.

Any child that has a flair for golf needs to be given the opportunity to become another Aaron Bradley, Adam Scott, KJ Choi or Karie Webb or even Tiger Woods.

Parents have a major role to play and with their support and enthusiasm they can be a catalyst, ensuring a successful junior golf situation.

Sponsors are also an important element in the promotion of junior golf and we would like to acknowledge the support of our sponsors.

The involvement of all of these elements as critical to making Junior Golf a success in Bali.

For more information please see promotional material available on our website. You can also find us on Facebook.