Indonesia Open expects huge turnout<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Golf lovers, enjoying the rare chance to see the sport's top
\nnames, are expected to turn out in droves for the Standard
\nChartered Indonesia Open in West Jakarta later this month.<\/p>\n
The March 24-27 event at the Cengkareng Golf Club Jakarta has
\nthe goods to draw all the attention.<\/p>\n
It is the first sanctioned European Tour stop to be held in
\nthe country and a field of 144 -- including Colin Montgomerie of
\nScotland and Asian player of the year Thongchai Jaidee -- will
\ncompete for a total purse of US$1 million.<\/p>\n
Organizers estimate the cosanctioned European Tour and Asian
\nTour event will draw 20,000 spectators, a figure based on the
\nturnout for similar golf events in Malaysia and Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"If the neighboring countries are able do that, so are we,\"
\nCengkareng Golf Club Jakarta general manager Mark Williams said
\non Sunday.<\/p>\n
An estimated 600 million more TV viewers around the world are
\nexpected to watch as coverage of the tournament is beamed into
\ntheir homes by sports channels.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia will be in the spotlight of golf in the world for
\nfour days,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"It will be a fantastic event for Indonesian people as the
\nfirst time they will see this caliber of golf players come here.\"<\/p>\n
The European Tour committee and Cengkareng Golf Course began
\ntalks about the possibility of having the event here about seven
\nmonths ago.<\/p>\n
\"But the confirmation to hold the Indonesia Open as a fully
\nsanctioned European Tour event only arrived three months ago.\"<\/p>\n
The course is strategically located in the Soewarna Business
\nPark in the the compound of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.<\/p>\n
The 18-hole par-72, 6,031-meter golf course was designed to
\nchampionship standard by San Francisco-based Walter Raleigh
\nStewart, a multidisciplinary design company specializing in golf
\ncourses and country clubs.<\/p>\n
\"I think that the good access of our venue to the airport, it
\nbeing close to a big hotel (the Sheraton Bandara) and the good
\ncondition of the golf course led us to being selected as a
\nEuropean Tour event this year,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The club is preparing spectator stands and a media center, the
\nlatter with 60 work stations for journalists.<\/p>\n
\"The necessary preparation and renovation are still under
\nway,\" Williams said.<\/p>\n
As a precaution, the club is also hiring a rainman to avoid
\nweather delays during the tournament.<\/p>\n
\"Our club usually hires a rainman in every tournament held
\nhere. But we are optimistic that the weather would be friendly to
\nplayers as the event will be held at the end of the rainy
\nseason.\"<\/p>\n
Williams said there were allocations for local players to
\ncompete with the sport's leaders.<\/p>\n
\"The selection of players is conducted by the Indonesian Golf
\nAssociation (PGI),\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"It will be a good experience for Indonesian players to
\nparticipate in such a big event.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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