{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1749257,
        "msgid": "medco-pondok-indah-golf-2026-returns-as-a-platform-for-young-golf-talents-1779546179",
        "date": "2026-05-19 17:23:08",
        "title": "Medco-Pondok Indah Golf 2026 Returns as a Platform for Young Golf Talents",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Regulation",
        "summary": "The Medco-Pondok Indah International Amateur Golf Championship 2026 will be held at Pondok Indah Golf Course from 14\u201316 July and aims to nurture Indonesia\u2019s young golf talents toward international competition. The event, which can host up to 124 players with strict handicap criteria, seeks to attract international participants and strengthen the tournament\u2019s prestige in the Asia-Pacific region.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta \u2013 The Medco-Pondok Indah International Amateur Golf\nChampionship 2026 is not merely a contest for amateur golfers, but also\nenvisaged as a platform for the emergence of Indonesia\u2019s next golf stars\non the international stage. The tournament, which will take place at\nPondok Indah Golf Course from 14 to 16 July, has again been included in\nthe Asian-Pacific amateur golf calendar as recognised by the Persatuan\nGolf Indonesia (PGI) and the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). \u201cWe are\nnot chasing the number of participants, but the quality of players who\nmeet the criteria to enter the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR),\u201d said\nDeputy Chairman of the Pondok Indah Golf Club, Herry Winarno, at a press\nconference at Pondok Indah Golf Course on Tuesday. The tournament can\naccommodate 124 participants with handicap limits of eight for men and\nten for women. To date, 53 golfers have registered. Registration for the\ntournament has been open from 1 May to 15 June 2026. The championship is\nopen to male and female golfers aged 13 to 30 as of 14 July 2026. In\naddition to having a World Handicap System (WHS) handicap index,\nparticipants who do not have a handicap card are required to submit six\nscoring cards from rounds played between November 2025 and April 2026\nfor processing by the organisers. According to Herry, the presence of\noverseas golfers is important to enhance national players\u2019\ncompetitiveness while also strengthening the tournament\u2019s status as one\nof Asia-Pacific\u2019s prestigious amateur events. \u201cWe hope there are still\nother Asia-Pacific countries that will register as there is about one\nmonth left until the event,\u201d he said. The event will also feature\nseveral prominent national amateur golfers. Defending men\u2019s champion\nRandy Bintang is expected to return to defend his title, while defending\nwomen\u2019s champion Elaine Widjaja (2023 and 2024) will make a comeback\nafter missing last year\u2019s edition. Coordinator for Regions Java,\nKalimantan, and Bali, Organisation Division of the PGI, Budi Mangundap,\nsaid the tournament plays an important role in regenerating national\ngolf athletes. \u201cThis tournament provides an excellent competitive\nexperience for young players to improve their quality. From competitions\nlike this, many potential players are produced,\u201d said Budi. He cited a\nnumber of young Indonesian golfers who have progressed through amateur\ncompetition and are now starting to make their mark at the international\nlevel, including contributing silver and bronze medals at the SEA Games\n2025. Meanwhile, MedcoEnergi representative Ervan Tedriyal emphasised\nthe company\u2019s commitment to continuing supporting the development of\nyoung athletes through the tournament. Pondok Indah Golf Course Director\nErry Arsyad added that they would prepare a more challenging course to\nprovide a competitive experience for all participants. \u201cWe want this\ntournament to be an impressive experience for amateur golfers and to\ncontinue developing into a prestigious event in the region,\u201d Erry\nsaid.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/medco-pondok-indah-golf-2026-returns-as-a-platform-for-young-golf-talents-1779546179",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}