Few golf clubs can come close to matching Kota Permai Golf & Country Club’s trophy cabinet, which is virtually spilling over with awards for its sublime golf course and superb facilities.

It’s not just the hardware that makes Kota Permai – an Asian Tour Destinations partner – one of the great success stories of Malaysian golf. Driving the venue’s rise to the pinnacle of the industry in this region is a talented and highly committed management team, helmed by the visionary leadership of Gamuda Land Executive Director Tang Meng Loon, writes Jonathan Ponniah.

“The human element plays a crucial role in keeping Kota Permai at the forefront of the golf industry. While the course design, maintenance, facilities and other infrastructure are obviously important, it is the people who bring life and character to the club and contribute to its success,” said Tang, who has been with Kota Permai since 2007.

“We have a competent and visionary management team who help set the club’s strategic direction, while making critical decisions and ensuring efficient operations. We empower them and give them a free hand to showcase their abilities. Once you set the goals and empower the department heads, they feel engaged, motivated and committed towards achieving those goals. They don’t just come to work … they come here filled with passion and with a sense of ownership. That’s the key to success,” he elaborated.

Kota Permai’s stunning Ross Watson-designed layout is always in pristine and tournament-ready condition

Tang was quick to point out that teamwork was another key element. “Collaboration and coordination among all the departments and individuals is crucial. Everyone plays a unique role in creating a welcoming, enjoyable and top-notch golfing experience for members and guests. Everyone’s important. Everyone plays a part, and we appreciate and acknowledge that,” he noted.

“We always push our team beyond boundaries and encourage them to strive for even higher standards. No doubt we are up there now, but it’s not easy to stay at the top … so we have to keep on pushing forward.”

And the awards continue to pile up. Recently, Kota Permai was voted Golf Club of the Year for Malaysia at the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Awards in Abu Dhabi.

Indeed, It’s hard to believe that Kota Permai only celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. In the space of slightly over a quarter century, the club is already an icon of the Asian golf industry and is invariably the first choice when it comes to international tournaments in Malaysia. Among the marquee professional events that have been played on its pristine fairways and super-slick greens are the Malaysian Open (2008, 2020), Selangor Masters (2011, 2012), Volvo Masters of Asia (2002-2004) and Volvo Masters of Malaysia (1997-2001).

Kota Permai will once again be in the limelight this November when the 2024 season-ender of the local professional circuit, the Toyota Tour Championship, tees off as a co-sanctioned event with the Asian Development Tour.

“We always push our team beyond boundaries and encourage them to strive for even higher standards” – Tang Meng Loon

Tang stressed that the hosting of big events enhances the club’s reputation and serves as an effective branding platform.

“Hosting these events enhances the reputation of Kota Permai and establishes the club as a premier golfing destination. They also provide the opportunity for us to showcase our golf course, facilities and hospitality to a wider audience,” he said.

“The events also bring significant media attention and exposure to the club, generating positive publicity and coverage locally and internationally. This definitely helps attract new members and corporate partnerships, as well as additional revenue streams.”

The big events also serve as additional fodder for the fire of continuous improvement. “When we host a major tournament, our maintenance team will strive to keep the course in top-notch condition. We undergo inspections by agronomists from the tours and they will give feedback on any areas that need improvement, and we also work closely with the tournament directors and referees on golf course set-up and markings,” Tang shared.

Having said that, Kota Permai’s Ross Watson-crafted course is always in tournament-ready condition. Long-time course superintendent Lee Chee Keen, aka ‘Bunker Lee’, is one of the best in the business – and it helps that Tang himself has an agronomy background, having started out in the industry as a greenskeeper.

“I always stress to the team that they must look at the details, especially the greens. We have to keep the greens healthy and the speed must be a minimum of 10.5 for normal play, pushed up to 11 to 11.5 for tournaments. That is the benchmark that we set,” Tang stressed.

“When I play golf, I will also look at the details. If I observe certain things that are not right, I will immediately tell the team.”

Kota Permai’s swanky new cigar lounge

Golf aside, Kota Permai is very much a social hub, offering the full range of sports and recreational facilities. These are also continuously improved on and enhanced, with recent developments including a swanky new cigar lounge.

“Our on-going projects are a new two-storey gym and the upgrading of the badminton courts, and we also going to create two new F&B outlets – a seafood restaurant and a poolside café,” Tang revealed.

There’s thus always something new or improved each time one pops by Kota Permai. And a new award or two in that already over-crowded trophy cabinet!