Ponderosa Golf & Country Club aims to spur interest in the game of golf among the younger generations and consequently boost the industry as a whole in the long-term.
Among the initiatives introduced by the club to achieve that aim was a special junior pass, priced at only RM250 per year. Pass holders are entitled to play on weekdays without any green fees.
The club’s general manager, Tan Kai Yang, noted that they were committed to building a larger base for golf at the grassroots.
“We introduced the junior pass last year with the purpose of trying to grow a new generation of golfers,” said Tan, himself a former competitive junior golfer who currently plays off handicap eight.
“Our strategy to attract juniors was to organise quarterly tournaments for those aged between nine and 18, which we hoped will spur them to take up the pass so they can practice and prepare for the tournaments,” he added.
Like many golf clubs, Ponderosa is faced with the problem of an ageing membership which could result in sustainability issues if not addressed now.
“We currently have 800 mixed memberships and about half of them are active. The juniors of today are our members of tomorrow, so it’s crucial for golf clubs to support the development of the game at the grassroots,” stressed Tan, who joined Ponderosa towards the end of 2018.
With the ongoing closure of the Singapore border for leisure travel, rounds at Ponderosa have dropped to about half of their pre-Movement Control Order volume. This mirrors the situation at many other clubs in Johor, with most relying heavily on golfers from across the Causeway.
“Most of our golfing traffic is by members, with about 30% consisting of walk-in traffic. 30% is made up of golfers from Singapore,” shared Tan.
Located in the suburb of Taman Molek just 15 minutes’ drive from the Johor Bahru CBD, Ponderosa’s pristine parkland course opened for play in 1993 and was originally designed by Max Wexler. The par-72 layout was later remodelled by Ronald Fream and is today one of the best golfing experiences in Johor.
In addition to a wide range of sports, recreational and F&B facilities at its Mediterranean-style clubhouse, Ponderosa offers spacious and comfortable accommodation at The Lodge, a boutique hotel just a short walk away.
For more information, log on to www.ponderosagolf.com
