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PDGA Tour Arrives in Singapore, Malaysia

PDGA Tour Arrives in Singapore, Malaysia

First sanctioned events take place this weekend

Thursday, January 31, 2019 - 12:26

Singapore Sling Tournament Director Lance DuBos, left, gathers tee signs for this weekend's event. Photo: Brian Hoeniger

This weekend is looming as a historic milestone for disc golf in southeast Asia, as the first PDGA Tour events will be held on the island city-state of Singapore and in neighboring Malaysia, two countries only separated by the one kilometer-wide Singapore Strait.

The inaugural Singapore Sling will take place on Saturday in this world-renowned business hub and tax haven, featuring a 13-hole temporary layout in West Coast Park. On Sunday, the Bale Equestrian and Country Club in the nearby town of Johor Baharu, Malaysia, will play host to the Attack of the Chains. These two groundbreaking C-Tiers have attracted players from seven countries, including Vietnam, China, and Australia. Next week many of them will travel on to Koh Samui, Thailand, for the Samui Swine Classic VI and Hyzenbrownie Open events.

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Building baskets in Malaysia  Photo: Dominik Poignee

As was the case in Thailand and South Korea, the introduction and development of disc golf in these lands is being led by American expatriates. I had the privilege of accompanying Singapore Sling Tournament Director Lance DuBos on his pre-event rounds to pick up the tee signs, dry-fit shirts, and crystal trophies before checking out the course. A transplanted Louisianan and long-time Singapore Ultimate League organizer, DuBos and his wife Regina work at local universities. Across the strait, bodybuilder Eric Grover is the main sparkplug behind the emergence of disc golf in southern mainland Malaysia.

It’s no wonder more and more western disc golfers are choosing to call this part of the world home: With its tropical climate – there will never be a polar vortex here! – awesome local food culture, and affordable cost of living, this trend is only bound to increase. There is little doubt that southeast Asia has become the prime winter destination for, and the next hotbed of, disc golf.

Add to these events the second Ethiopian Open, which also runs this weekend, and it's a great time for international disc golf.

Keep an eye on the southeast Asian events this weekend here and on social media:

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Comments

I met Eric Grover just 6 weeks ago when he was at the Bale Club in Johor, Malaysia, to set up a course there. It didn't take him long to drag me onto the course for a round to try out, AND I was immediately hooked! Eric is such a motivator who just loves the sport. He himself only moved to Malaysia 10 months ago and has since set up five disc golf courses in Malaysia and found enough volunteers to set them up and maintain them. I had the pleasure of helping out at one of the many disc golf clinics/introductory sessions at Raffles American School organised by Eric and his lovely wife, where the students had a chance to throw some discs and get to know the sport. With people like Eric the sport will grow!

It is exciting to see tourneys in Asia. I spent 2 years in China with many trips through Singapore to Indonesia for business. I played ball golf many times, but basically had to put my discs up for those 2 years. I hope to get back to Asia once the kids are older and help continue the building. Great work Eric and everyone supporting!