Golf
takes Cambodian Officials by Storm
It
was 1997 and Cambodia was desperate to join Asean after its induction
into the group was delayed because of factional fighting that broke out
in July of that Year.
There were various official criteria that Cambodia still had to meet to
join the regional alliance and then there were the informal
preconditions: knowing how to play golf, sing karaoke and eat durian.
"We already knew how to to sing karaoke and eat durian,
"Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said. "The only thing we
couldn't do was play golf, so we had to learn."
Cambodia became a member of Asean in 1999 and golf has now become a
popular sport among Cambodia's elite, with Prime Minister Hum Sen
leading his own golf league, the Dragon Team.
The prime minister even wrote a poem about golf, which was sent to
Senate President Chea Sim, who is also the president of the CPP.
The Dragon Team, if not a sporting powerhouse, is definitely a political
force. It includes Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, CPP Cabinet Chief
Tep Ngorn, National Police Chief Hok Lundy, RCAF Deputy Commander in
Chief Pol Saroeun, Cham Prasidh, Phnom Penh Governor Chea Sophara,
Customs Chief Pen Siman, Finance Ministry Secretary of State Ouk Rabun
and Hun Sen adviser Suos Yara.
Hun Sen's team will be competing against ambassadors and guests from
Asean countries, who are scheduled to participate in the Hun Sen Golf
Premier Open this weekend at the Royal Phnom Penh Golf Club. The event
is sponsored by mobile phone companies Mobitel and Alcatel CIT.
Participants will compete for two days, starting Saturday, on the
18-hole course. the top prize is $1,300, with a second-place prize of
$789 and a third-place prize of $526.
"This tournament presents the strength of solidarity and peace in
the Kingdom of Cambodia, " Hun Sen said in the Souvenir Golf
Magazine, which will be given to participants.
In a country with virtually no sporting facilities, save for dusty
football field, the lush green expanses of a golf course may seem
eccentric.
The game is simple but difficult: players use a set of clubs to hit a
small ball from a stating point, called a tee, into a hole. Royal Phnom
Penh Golf Club has 18 holes, with the distances from tee to hole raging
from 120 meters to 452 meters.
The goal is to take as few strokes as possible to put the ball in the
hole. A golf course lists a suggested number of strokes a player should
need to complete each hole, called a "score. In reality only a very
good golfer consistently shoots a par score.
The Royal Phnom Penh Golf Club is a par-72 course.
"You learn how to keep your cool down and strategize, "Cham
Prasidh said. "It also helps relieve stress. I bring my golf clubs
wherever I go."
The game also brings out the competitiveness in everyone, Cham Prasidh
added, even when you are playing against Hun Sen himself.
"This is not diplomacy, : said Cham Prasidh, who usually scores
about a 90." The competition is teeth to teeth. We don't let Hun
Sen win, but he is very smart and has a very good memory. So sometimes I
lose and sometimes I win."
Hun Sen reports obtaining 2,295 pars and 375 birdies over, 4,616 holes
played, according to the Souvenir golf Magazine. A birdie is one shot
under par. He has played courses in Cuba, France, Malaysia, Switzerland,
Brunei, Thailand and the Philippines.
Pol Saroeun, who plays golf about once a week and averages a 76, said
playing the game helps him improve his English when he plays against
friends from Australia, South Korea and other countries.
"I want to pick up my language," he said. "And after
work, we can play golf and relax."
the game isn't cheap, as reflected by the $4,000 annual membership
fee for the Taiwanese owned Royal Phnom Penh club. A permanent
membership costs $25,000, although government officials do not have to
pay any fees. There are also individual daily fees.
"Golf is expensive and the only way I can play is because I don't
have to pay, "Cham Prasidh said. Chea Sophara, who shoots about 90.
considers himself to be a beginner safte3r having played golf for
only seven months. But he is trying to improve his game by playing
twice a week, usually on the weekend.
"Golf helps us make friendships with other people and it takes care
of our health especially for the old people, " he said " I
think more Cambodian people will play golf."
(Addition
reporting by Van Roeun) |
