Ron Pate Contributor Jakarta

Golf, business and politics go hand in hand

Golf is a game that is popular around the world. And Indonesia is no exception.

A survey of business executives and affluent residents of Asian capital cities conducted in 2000 by ACNielsen found that 13 percent of Jakarta's elite claimed to be interested in golf, with nine percent saying that they played the game and five percent holding golf club memberships.

In the Greater Jakarta area, there are 32 golf clubs listed in Golfer's Guide Indonesia. And Farquhar Stirling, the managing director of ACNielsen, suggests that there are as many as 50,000 to 60,000 active golfers playing on those courses.

These courses provide a diverse selection of venues for the elite of Jakarta to conduct business. Investors investigate new business opportunities, salesmen meet and entertain customers, government officials discuss political developments and economic positions, tycoons plan takeovers and small business owners worry over new tax laws.

But primarily, the courses provide a place for men and women who really love the game to get away from the daily grind and pit their skills against their opponents, the golf course and themselves.

In developed countries where incomes are much higher, the game is vastly more popular. There, golfers pay more attention to their golf equipment than to the automobile they drive. They are constantly on the lookout for the new driver that can add 10 meters to their drive, the new set of irons that are more forgiving to not-so-perfect swings and the magic putter that will reduce their putting stroke average.

When they are not practicing or playing, they are watching. Professional competitions are held every week and tens of thousands turn out to watch how the pros do it; millions more watch on TV. The popularity of the game has grown exponentially over the last few decades and if you look back down that curve into the past, you might be surprised at how long the game has been around.

While some people think the game of golf was invented by a guy named Eldrick Woods -- popularly known as "Tiger" -- and even though there are some misguided historians who believe golf evolved from the French game jeu de mail or the Dutch game kolven, among golfers, it is common knowledge that the game developed from a Scottish pastime.

Malcolm Campbell in The Illustrious History of Scottish Golf said: "... golf was played at St. Andrews before the founding of the University there in 1411". And the word "golf" is not, as many believe, an acronym for Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.

The first recorded reference to the name is found in statutes of the Scottish Parliament, where, in 1457, the game of golf was banned because it interfered with archery practice.

However, back in present-day Jakarta, despite the wonderful golf courses available, this ancient game is not for everyone. Golf can be frustrating and humbling, and for many whose skills or temperaments are unsuited, golf is nothing more than a good walk spoiled.

But even for golfers with limited skills like myself, when, on infrequent occasions, the left arm is kept straight, the desire to over-swing is controlled and the body somehow responds to the admonition to stay down through the shot, the resulting flight of the ball down the fairway sets off the tuning-fork effect described somewhat indelicately by Roy McElroy in the movie Tin Cup.

One of those magical shots is worth at least 30 of the ones where things didn't go right. And two or three good shots will provide the worst duffer with all the reason he needs to arrange the next lesson or plan the next golf outing.

And speaking of lessons, beginners should not go to the golf course to learn to play. Beginners should go to a driving range first. Most driving ranges have swing instructors and some of the more prestigious clubs have teaching professionals. They can help correct that glitch in the back swing and improve a slightly incorrect grip or poor hand position at address. The lessons are inexpensive and well worthwhile.

What else should beginning golfers do before venturing out on the course? Learn the rules of the game. Buy a book of rules and learn from that. Don't expect to learn from other golfers; you would be surprised at how many "experienced" golfers ground their clubs in hazards and take improper drops.

Golf is a wonderful game and Indonesia has courses suited to challenge scratch golfers and more forgiving courses where higher handicappers feel more comfortable. The poorer courses are little more than cow pastures with ill-kept greens, but the best are "world class". That was the consensus of expatriate and Indonesian golfers queried in a recent survey conducted by yours truly.

Respondents to that survey had handicaps ranging from five to 36 with playing experience levels from three to 46 years. Those who have golfed in the U.S., Canada, UK and Europe rated their favorite Indonesian courses as "world class". The best are challenging, well-maintained, have beautiful vistas and excellent facilities.

Astonishingly, there were 11 courses in Greater Jakarta receiving votes as the most favorite golf venue. And, including courses receiving second and third place votes, there were 19 different courses receiving votes. That is a wonderful endorsement for golf in Greater Jakarta.

The two courses receiving the most votes, Riverside and the Jagorawi-old course, were only separated by one point. And in the all Indonesia voting, Jagorawi-old course proved once again to be popular with golfers, receiving the same number of first place votes as the most popular course, Bali Handara.

For those of us expatriates who enjoy playing these marvelous courses, we selfishly hope the rest of the world will be slow to learn what we already know: Golf on these scenic, world-class courses is comparatively inexpensive and can be enjoyed year round. See you on the links.