Malaysia Emerging as Leading Golf Destination

With the addition of PGA and LPGA tournaments, Malaysia is set to become even more of an attractive destination. Malaysia’s Tourist Authority reports the country made history recently when both the PGA TOUR and LPGA announced tournaments to be held in Malaysia in October.

The PGA TOUR will introduce the Asia Pacific Golf Classic, Malaysia 2010 at The Mines Resort & Golf Club from October 28 - 31, the first multi-year agreement in Southeast Asia. The inaugural event will feature 40 international players with a $6 million purse, with another $1 million going to the winner.

The LPGA inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia will be played at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) from October 22 - 24. The three-year agreement tournament will feature the top 50 LPGA members from the Official Money List and 10 sponsor exemptions in a 54-hole, no-cut tournament.

Malaysia has an array of golf courses spread throughout the country, from city landscapes surrounded with gleaming skyscrapers to lush jungles—monkeys and exotic birds included, Malaysia reports. Many of these courses were created by world-renowned designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent-Jones, Max Wexler, and Ted Parslow.

"Malaysia is rapidly emerging as Asia's leading golf destination, with over 200 golf courses currently available around the country. It has bloomed as the ideal destination for combining a memorable vacation with an exciting game of golf; and the hosting of a PGA TOUR event is testimony to Malaysia's strong golfing heritage," said Prime Minister Y.A.B. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.

Visit www.tourism.gov.my.