Golf and the Exchange Rate

3.8

That's what our Ringgit's number against the U.S. Dollar.

Companies that deal with American imports are obviously facing a headache.

So how does it affect golf?

Most golf brands are American icons.

Retailers, already faced by the onset of the GST implementation, has some serious accounting to do.

And let's face it, the majority of the population has cut their spending due to the rise in the price of goods caused by the GST wave.

Consumers report that most goods and food items actually cost more than 6%.

It is still unclear why traders charge more, but some have reportedly blamed it on unscrupulous companies and opportunist owners.

At the CIMB Hari Raya Open House yesterday, I bumped into Mr. K. P. Low of MST Golf, Sylvester San of Fujitsu and Chuah Choo Chiang, the Director of Communications for the Asian Tour.

We discussed the downtrend of golf in the country caused by the effects of the GST on consumer spending and the weak performance of the Ringgit against the dollar.

What about corporate companies?

Most have frozen any spending on advertising and promotions, while an Asian Tour event, the Vascory Classic, has been postponed due to financial issues.

Even the CIMB Classic will be a lot more expensive due to the exchange rate, with the event being a PGA TOUR-sanctioned tournament.

K. P. has ridden many economic waves before but he did stress that these were uncertain times due to the GST and recent political developments plaguing the country.

Chuah has seen how the Asian Tour grew but laments that the current economic scenario in the region has put a dent in event sponsorship.

Sylvester's son Paul is aspiring to be a top notch professional and believes that the downtrend of the game can be reversed over the long-term with the right measures and people in place.

I couldn't agree with him more that going back to basics and re-educating the market holds the key to the game's reboot.

Being involved with the industry since 2000, I gave my view that many factors and forces have pushed the game into this downward spiral.

It is about the Malaysian people and culture I stressed when asked for my views.

Accountability, a lack of vision and focus are elements that causes any sport to drop off the radar.

Who promotes the game heavily? Is there any education campaign to drive Malaysians into the game?

That's where events like the CIMB Classic hold the keys of giving the game a shot in the arm it badly needs.

Youths who don't play the game need to be exposed to the sport. School children should be allowed to watch the tournament for free.

This will seed the interest and inspire dreams.

Only then will there be growth.