Golf Pros and Amateurs Come Together for Charity

THE Maybank Foundation today organised a “Star Experience for Charity” event where golf enthusiasts were invited to take part in a charity golf game with four star players of the Maybank Malaysian Open which begins at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Thursday.

With a minimum contribution of RM5,000 each, participants received the opportunity to get up close and personal with internationally renowned golf professionals Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Matteo Manassero and Thongchai Jaidee.

Funds raised from this event will be channelled to the United Nations International Children’s fund (UNICEF). This year’s event saw a sum of RM50,000 donated by 10 generous individuals for this unique opportunity. This was then matched ringgit-for-ringgit by the Maybank Foundation, making the total an impressive RM100,000.

Maybank Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor said that the ‘Star Experience for Charity’ came about when Maybank wanted to include a philanthropic element to the Maybank Malaysian Open, in line with its mission to humanise financial services.

“We felt it would be a great idea if avid golf fans could be given the opportunity to have a bit of fun hitting balls with renowned golfing professionals – all in the name of charity,” explained Tan Sri Megat Zaharuddin.

“We are very humbled by the support we received this year and we hope the funds will go a long way in helping the less fortunate enjoy better education and healthcare facilities.”

The funds raised will be used to support educational initiatives run by UNICEF for underprivileged children in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The special golf game was set in a designated area which resembled a dart board. Points were awarded depending on where the balls landed.

Manassero’s team, comprising Datuk Kumar Prabakaran, Datuk Siew Ka Wei and Bernard Loh, won the charity event and each member took home a Ricoh digital camera.

Apart from the experience of teeing off with a top professional, there was an opportunity for the first player in the ‘Star Experience for Charity’ to win two return business class tickets to London if they shot a hole-in-one.

None of the participants managed to score an ace.

This is the second time the “Star Experience for Charity” event was held in conjunction with the MMO. Last year’s event raised RM40,000 which was channelled to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

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