As part of the R&A Women in Golf Charter, the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) today unveiled a new program to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and encourage more opportunities for women to work within the golf industry.
YAM Tunku Puteri Dato’ Seri Jawahir, the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (MALGA) president, third Vice President of the MGA and Chairperson of the MGA Women in Golf Charter Subcommittee.
As part of this drive, the MGA made several significant changes to its constitution by including a third Vice President who must be a woman as its office-bearer. The MGA appointed YAM Tunku Puteri Dato’ Seri Jawahir, the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association’s (MALGA) president, as the third Vice President of the MGA and appointed her as the Chairperson of the MGA Women in Golf Charter Subcommittee.
Several golf clubs across Malaysia have agreed to come on board and adopt the Charter, which requires them to build on current initiatives and develop new projects that will focus on encouraging more women and girls to play golf and stay within the sports as members of clubs while empowering women to enjoy successful careers within the golf industry.
The MGA Women in Golf Charter specifically aims to:
- advocate and support all measures to increase the number of women; girls, and families playing golf;
- support calls for positive action to encourage women to pursue careers connected with the golfing industry;
- develop and implement internal strategies to enhance gender balance at every level in the work place and within the golfing industry.
Tunku Puteri Jawahir, the Chairperson of the Women in Charter Subcommittee, outlined her subcommittee’s plans in collaboration with MGA affiliated clubs, key industry stakeholders and the golfing fraternity at a launch event at the Royal Selangor Golf Club.
“We would like to appeal to all clubs and partners across Malaysia to pledge their support and commitment to achieving this vision and provide a safe and productive environment for the ladies to thrive in the industry,” said Tunku Puteri Jawahir.
She added, “We would like to encourage more women to take up the game and work in the golf industry. Hopefully, there will be a woman president heading a golf club one day. Some 35 clubs have joined the Charter. The corporate clubs are a little difficult, but we hope MGA will convince them to join as well.
Representatives of golf clubs that have adopted and signed the Charter
MGA President Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor said, “The MGA is committed to creating an environment where women and girls can succeed at every level of the sport.”
He added, “We recognise that women play a pivotal role in all aspects of life, including the sport of golf. The Malaysian women have achieved a lot on the international stage, like Kelly Tan on the LPGA Tour, Alya Abdulghanny on the Epson Tour and Natasha Oon in the NCAA. I am sure with more support, we can see a lot more success for the ladies going forward.”
The launch also featured a presentation by Deborah Wong, the lady captain of Kota Permai Golf & Country Club and Rules of Amateur Status Chairperson on Rules Seminar and Referees. There was also a short presentation by Zulaikah Nasser, a Malaysian player studying Mass Communication at Sam Houston University. Zulaikah, who was part of the recent Queen Sirikit Cup team, spoke about the three ingredients needed when playing college golf: discipline, independence, and self-strength. Before she turns pro, she hopes to intern with the golf channel.
