When we read in the Golf's 2020 Vision (by HSBC) report about the rise and importance of Chinese and Indian golf market, we should not neglect such golf markets like the Malaysian one. The Malaysian golf market's value in 2011 was 94 million USD. Probably this figure also justified the foundation of the Malaysian Golf Tourism Association in 2011 plus the fact that Malaysia is Asia's second most important golf tourism market. As the world's 9th most visited country (in 2011 Malaysia received 24.7 million tourists according to UNWTO), golf tourism should be part of the national tourism strategy like in Vietnam, Cuba and Abu Dhabi to attract more golf tourists in the country. There are signs of such strategy as Malaysia is cooperating with companies like Golfasian and Diethelm.
Although HSBC sees that golf will continue to move towards shorter formats due to increasing time pressures and shortage of space in cities, Ernie Els has just built 2 golf courses in Malaysia: a 18-hole championship course at Teluk Datai located on the island of Langkawi and a 27-hole design at the highly-anticipated Desaru Coast, located on the South China Sea in south eastern Johor.
A hidden opportunity for growth of golf in Asia is the rising number of women golfers. Golf is becoming less male sport. This can create new expectations about golf courses. We also have to think how to develop a platform for golf as a family game.
