Talking about the growth of golf in the Asian region, Malaysia is a very interesting example of golfing success. At present, there is not one player from Malaysia who is in the higher rungs of Asian golf, forget world golf.

However, if one country has been consistently part of the golfing landscape in Asia, it has to be Malaysia.

Just last week, the country completed another successful edition of the Malaysian Open, which has undoubtedly established itself as one of the biggest tournaments on the Asian Tour. Back in 1999, it became the first tournament in Asia to be co-sanctioned with the European Tour and it was big news back then.

Since then, we have had a lot more tournaments that have earned the co-sanctioned tag but the Malaysian Open still continues to hold its own. Our man from Kolkata—Arjun Atwal—has had the distinction of winning the tournament twice.

The country has close to 240 golf courses, which, on last count, is a figure that is slightly higher than the number of courses in India.

And with sponsors like Maybank coming forward, not only to associate itself with the biggest golf tournament out there, but also to spread its wings by tying up with the Malaysian Golf Association for providing a fillip to junior golf, the chances of champion golfers also emerging from the south east Asian nation has become certain.

With the PGA Tour announcing a deal to bring to Malaysia Asia’s first PGA Tour event for the next seven years, you know for sure that the country has found its place in the world of golf.

It was perhaps the great benefit of golf tourism that has spurred on this massive growth of golf courses in the region and that is something that the government has also caught on to.

Recently, the prime minister himself, impressed by the great conduct of the Malaysian Open, took the initiative in extending a helping hand to the industry by offering great tax cuts.

This cut, which is applicable on the import of golf machinery, makes it especially easy for the courses to import items like the golf carts and other things required for the maintenance of the golf course.

This will definitely give a further boost to golf courses hoping to attract foreign tourists to their shores each year.If there is one area where India has managed to establish itself as a superior golfing power, then it is purely in the realm of professional golf where a proper structure has allowed for competitive golf to flourish and produce champion golfers.

We, however, cannot sit back on that achievement and ignore all other aspects of the golf industry. We need to be a vital cog in the wheel of Asean golf and must be thought of whenever a tourist looks to make the famous Indonesia-Thailand-Malaysia golf trip.

Perhaps work out our own India-Sri Lanka-Bhutan leg. Whatever it is, it needs to match the push that the game is getting in the other regions of Asia.

The writer is president and CEO, Tiger Sports Marketing, New Delhi