Local tournaments have recently seen a surge in younger participants
Golf has long been seen as an excuse for a group of older men to catch up and discuss their scores, often with little awareness of the interest brewing among the younger generation.
However, golf, once dominated by an older demographic, is now attracting younger players who bring fresh enthusiasm and perspectives.
This shift was evident at the recent 26th Baiduri Masters 2024, which marked the rise of a new local golfing hero, Irwan Hamid, who became the latest recipient of the coveted Green Jacket.
The annual long-standing competition, arguably the biggest local golf tournament in the country, has recently seen a surge in younger participants, with past winners including Qawim bin Haji Aslimon, Mohd Aritz Maldini bin Haji Abdul Majid, and last year’s champion Awangku Muhammad Syakir bin Pengiran Haji Alli.
Continuing the trend of youth dominance in the sport, Irwan catapulted to golfing supremacy after clinching the Baiduri Masters, subsequently serving as an inspiration by breaking the barriers that once attracted only the middle-aged demographic.
Bursting into prominence a few years ago, he positioned himself for glory last year with a third-place finish behind national golfers Awangku Muhammad Syakir and Lai Suan Loong.
Dubbed ‘King Kong’ for his powerful driving range, the youngster has been tipped as the new face of golf and a future champion.
Surrounded by a field boasting a wealth of experience, Irwan cemented his place among the greats in the country by edging past runners-up and 2016 winner Tony Haji Karim.
He entered the final round of the tournament in scintillating form, having carded an impressive 5-under to move into the title decider as a favourite.
This was not unfamiliar territory for the young golfer, who has drawn plaudits from his peers not only for his unique style but also for his distinctive attributes and maturity at a young age.
The star has flirted with success in the past, notably securing a third-place finish in the Pusat Ehsan Charity Golf Tournament two years ago, a competition won by Awangku Muhammad Syakir.
Widely tipped as one of the front-runners for this year’s Baiduri Masters, Irwan netted the decisive birdie to clinch the title, ending Tony’s hopes of becoming a double champion.
His victory underlined the power and influence of youth in the golfing circle, with the country also showcasing the talents of Bryan Chiew Chun Hao, the winner of back-to-back Rotary Charity Golf Tournaments.
In 2017, Qawim, who had built a reputation as one of the country’s rising stars by winning the Pusat Ehsan Charity Golf Tournament and the Pantai Mentiri Golf Open, completed the top three of domestic titles by etching his name in the Baiduri Masters record books.
The golfer-turned-coach set the tone for the emergence of youth in the country.
In 2019, Mohd Aritz Maldini stunned the local golfing community by winning the Baiduri Masters crown as the youngest ever winner amid a competitive field.
In a promising chapter for the sport, the last few years have seen a healthy rivalry developing between Awangku Muhammad Syakir and Mohd Aritz Maldini as the close duo battled for the top tournaments in the country.
Indeed, the pair, who are friends and national teammates, helped create one of the iconic moments in local golfing history when both players forced the Pusat Ehsan Charity Golf Tournament into a playoff. Both players were only separated when Syakir putted the decisive hole to end a nerve-wracking clash.
The pair would continue to exchange blows in the domestic golfing circuit, bringing a fresh outlook to the sport after a lengthy period of misconceptions that it only had room for the middle-aged.
In recent years, Awangku Muhammad Syakir has been the dominant figure in the sport, and if a ranking system were in place, there would be no argument about his undisputed number one status.
With Irwan now in the picture, the future of youth in golf is bright. Initiatives by the national governing body, the Brunei Darussalam Golf Association, aim to increase the pool of young talent. – Fadhil Yunus
