PGPI accepts GIN role in local golf with caution<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Pro-Golf Association (PGPI) has adopted a cautious
\nstance on PT GIN (Golf Indonesia Nusantara), a commercial body
\nrecently established by the PGPI's amateur counterpart, the
\nIndonesia Golf Association (PGI).<\/p>\n
GIN was set up only last June with its founders saying it
\ncarried the vision of promoting Indonesian golf through a
\ncommercial and professional approach.<\/p>\n
PGI, which used to manage amateur golfing, has now expanded
\nits scope of activities to professional golfing through its
\ncommercial involvement in GIN.<\/p>\n
Apart from the controversy it brought with it, which resulted
\nin the resignation of the then secretary-general Taufik Aziz, the
\nexistence of GIN has also raised suspicions among the pro-
\ngolfers.<\/p>\n
However, the PGPI has adopted a soft stance mixed with
\ncaution. \"As long as it complies with the PGPI's rules of the
\ngame in the recruitment of pro players, we don't need to be
\nsuspicious about GIN,\" Avie K. Utomo, the PGPI's executive
\ndirector, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"Otherwise, any tournament it holds will be excluded from the
\ngolf tour PGPI has planned for 2002,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Avie said that GIN would not pose any threat to golfing
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
\"They are partners as well as competitors in the sense that we
\nwill have to compete in seeking sponsorship,\" Avie said.<\/p>\n
He added, however, that his real concern was that GIN might
\nreduce its role to a mere commercial carrier for personal
\ninterests and that it diverge from its golfing mission.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the PGI brushed aside allegations of monopoly and
\nviolations of amateurism.<\/p>\n
\"That's not true. GIN has been established to help promote
\ngolf among the public as well as to boost the achievements of
\nplayers,\" Haryanto Dhanutirto, the newly installed PGI chairman,
\ntold reporters here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"They argued that by having GIN stage golf competitions, the
\nPGI has violated the amateur code. We don't think so. Look at
\nAmerica. This is the way they manage the tournaments,\" Haryanto,
\na former transport minister, said.<\/p>\n
Haryanto added that GIN would pursue sponsorship and seek
\nprofits, to be apportioned among the PGPI (Indonesian Pro-Golf
\nAssociation), APLGI (Indonesian Golf Course Owners Association)
\nand the PGI.<\/p>\n
But he stopped short of explaining about the percentages
\ninvolved in the profit sharing.<\/p>\n
\"No. We have not gone that far yet,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Avie also admitted to not having been informed about the idea.
\n\"The subjects of our discussions so far have been how we arrange
\nthe tournament schedule so that tournaments don't clash with each
\nother,\" he said, adding that the PGPI has planned between 8 and
\n10 international tournaments next season.<\/p>",
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