Gowa to Hold First International Golf Tournament ... and It’s Here to Stay

Indonesia adds another international golf event with the launching of the 2012 Gowa Classic, and the organizer is pledging to keep the event around for a long time.

The $100,000 tournament will be held on Nov. 14-17 at the Padivalley Golf Club in Gowa, South Sulawesi, and is sanctioned by the Asean PGA Tour.

“As the course was constructed, we were also preparing for the event. We want to promote the course while also promoting tourism in Gowa and South Sulawesi,” the director of Padivalley Golf Club, Felix Tandiawan, said on Thursday.

The course opened earlier this year, with management saying it is receiving positive reviews from golf enthusiasts.

The Gowa Classic is the latest addition to a number of international golf events in Indonesia. In 2012, Indonesia hosted the Indonesia Open (OneAsia Tour), Indonesian Masters (Asian Tour), Ladies Indonesia Open (Ladies Asian Golf Tour) and Palembang Musi Championship (Asean PGA Tour).

In recent years, Indonesia has hosted many golf events that are now defunct due to lack of sponsorship. The Indonesia President Invitational ran for two years before being canceled in 2010, while the Kariza Classic in the Asian Development Tour was disbanded after just one year in 2010.

Felix promised that the Gowa Classic will continue annually as they want to help develop the sport in Indonesia, especially in the eastern part of the country.

“On paper, we have a one-year commitment with the Asean PGA. After that, we will review the event. We plan to make a three-year commitment with the tour and may consider taking a step to the next level,” he said. “We’re here to stay.”

Patrick Feizal Joyce, vice president for golf at World Sport Group, the tournament’s organizer, admitted that lots of events come and go in Indonesia.

“But, it also happens in the European Tour and the PGA Tour. Events depend heavily on economic conditions in the host country, as well as on the visions and objectives of sponsors. The simple fact is, as long as there are people supporting the event financially, it will survive,” Joyce said.

“It takes a long time for a tournament to gain major status like the British Open. But Indonesia has been a fantastic example for supporting sport in the region.”

Sourced: thejakartaglobe