Let The Game Begin!

Four more days, and hopefully I will be relieved of my current migraine-inducing stress. This thing has been sitting on my head for months and Saturday will see the end of it. For now, that is.

Granted, I am just a small cog in a very big wheel. I am talking about the annual youth golf championship, TSM Golf Challenge - In Search of Malaysian Tiger, for which I handle the organisers' public relations needs.

The tournament, now into its third year, is the premier event of a non -governmental organisation (NGO) called TSM Charity Golf, which was founded by Cabinet Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in 2003.

TSM Charity Golf was established primarily to raise funds for charity; in aid of underprivileged children, the destitute and the elderly, victims of natural disasters, and needy students studying abroad.

It has been in existence for five years and has disbursed a fair bit to a myriad of causes. It has also chosen to remain low-key about its charitable activities; truly, there is no need to blow one's trumpet when doing good work.

In 2006, TSM Charity Golf went a step further by organising the inaugural TSM Golf Challenge - In Search of Malaysian Tiger, aimed at identifying and honing the skills of local young golfers in the hope of producing a 'Tiger' or two from our neck of the 'Woods'.

We have had a good run since. This year's championship is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Saturday (12-14 June 2008) at Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS).

Some 100 youngsters age 21 and below from all over the country have confirmed their participation. They are expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon for registration and practice rounds.

They are the creme de la creme of the local youth golfing fraternity, hailing from the various state golf associations, MGA, MALGA, Sukma, Sports Excel and the like.

The Secretariat has been busier than bees these past weeks and the strained look is de rigueur for the moment. It is getting harder to see a smiling face, but I can well understand the pressure.

Putting together a premier golf championship, like any event organising job, is tedious and exacting, with hardly any margin for error.

But TSM Charity Golf has an efficient team in place and participants can look forward to a memorable outing. Happy golfing kids, may the best Boy and Girl win!

PS: I forgot to add that the the champions will each receive a three-month, all-expense paid golf training at the PGT Golf Academy in Thana City, Bangkok. This is over and above other prizes, of course. The training package is worth RM40,000 each.