The development of the RSGC would not have reached the dizzy heights of today if not for the dedication of many Members and other personalities who had devoted a major part of their lives to selflessly putting their shoulders to the wheel, to see to the wellbeing of the Club. There are many such individuals to whom the Club owes a debt; some whose contributions have been well-documented and many more whose hard work and toil though known to all and sundry, have gone unrecorded.
Short of writing another book to thank them all, and even then some might still be inadvertently omitted, the only alternative, “to put things right,” as it were, is to have on record here and now the Club’s profound gratitude to all those whose names did not appear in this book and a sincere apology for such omissions even though many of them had never expected any recognition or expression of indebtedness in the first place.
However, a history, however informal, of our Club would be incomplete without the mention of a few ladies and gentlemen who had in their own inimitable style put the name of RSGC on the world’s golfing map. They are not presented here in any particular order of priority or importance (lest umbrage be taken by some).
Tommy Lee, of “EJH Yong and TML Lee” fame in tennis circles of the early to mid-sixties, is one of Edmund’s closest friends, whose sporting interests and ability were similar to Edmund’s in many ways. “Besides being articulate and witty, what Edmund had in him was guts, grit and perseverance” said Tommy and he went on to describe one incident when Edmund won a tennis tournament in the scorching midday sun after having had a nightmarish drive from Kuala Lumpur to Penang (which took nearly half a day in those days) and only a few hours sleep before the match.
Another gutsy display took place on an idyllic English summer day a few years earlier in the late 1950s, when both he and Tommy who were sharing an apartment then, while diligently pursuing their studies, noticed an attractive bikini-clad sunbather on the balcony below. Edmund gallantly volunteered to invite her to continue her sunning ritual on their “sunnier” upper floor. That petite lassie accepted his invitation with alacrity and subsequently enjoyed many more sun-bathing sessions in England and Malaysia, eventually becoming Mrs. Glennys Yong. And what a lovely couple they were, with common interests ranging from playing tennis and later golf, to having a few beers together with friends, usually on our Club verandah, where they would witness the daily transition from dusk to nightfall.
On a personal note, one of the most treasured reminiscences of my schoolboy days was when Akbar Baba and I were offered a lift by Edmund to our Royal Military College in Sungei Besi after a tennis tournament in Port Dickson. When we finally alighted at the doorstep of our barracks after a thrilling ride in a Jag, and in the company of our tennis idol and role model, and his pretty English girl-friend (then), we were the envy of everyone.
It was a poignant moment when I finally held his hands and exchanged a few meaningful words with this gentleman whom I have grown to respect so much over the years. Indeed, on many occasions, in the face of adversity, I have always asked myself, “What would Edmund have done?” As he gazed weakly into my eyes from his hospital bed, a week before he succumbed to his year-long battle against cancer, I had a lump in my throat, as I realised that even his brand of courage and tenacity might not be enough to see him through. The nation and our Club in particular were robbed of an illustrious and respected personality with his passing.
One of the reasons why the RSGC can lay claim to the status of a premier Club is that we have had a number of distinguished and eminent VIPs as Club President.
Edmund with Glennys
Hashim Mohd Ali is undoubtedly an outstanding example of such a personage. A polished officer and a gentleman who graduated from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, “Freddy” Hashim had an illustrious career in the Malaysian Defence Forces where he distinguished himself, eventually becoming the Numero Uno – the Chief of Defence Forces.
During his tenure as Club President from 1989 to 1998, while still very active in service, he led by example like a true general to ensure that everything was shipshape. And he did not need to bark out orders like an RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major) to attain his objective, and neither did he need to resort to armed combat. In his own ingenious way, he discreetly and delicately manoeuvred the restoration of reciprocal arrangements with an esteemed golf club in England which had earlier terminated the relationship due to the irresponsible behaviour at that club of one of our Members.
It is therefore significant that the flag raising ceremony a minute or so into New Year’s Day on 1st January 1993 to herald the Centenary Year could not have been more momentous – with the Club President, the Chief of Defence Forces no less, standing tall, raising the RSGC flag to add that extra touch that only he could provide, to the pageantry of that historical event.
When questioned as to what he felt was the most memorable event or achievement during his Presidency, he never touched on his many contributions to the Club but instead confessed that he was humbled on the occasion of the Affiliated and Royal Clubs Centenary Week which was graced by the presence of the many club presidents and captains, notably that of the Hon. John Lindesay-Bethune of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and Tadao Yamaoka of Biwako. And they came bearing all sorts of commemorative gifts, all tastefully chosen for the occasion – and meticulously planned as exemplified by the Herculean effort on the part of our Biwako friends who shipped over a solid Garden Stone Lantern weighing a few hundred pounds that had to be handled with care all the way from Kobe, Japan to Port Klang and then conveyed by special transport (after going through all the hassle of Custom’s clearance), to the doorsteps of the RSGC. The Lantern was accompanied by a team of skilled masons who installed it by the lovely pond near the 18th green of the Old Course adjacent to the Garden Terrace. Upon the closure of that pond about 12 years ago, that magnificent work of art now stands majestically in the little garden area at the main entrance of the Clubhouse.
On a lighter note, he added that he could not have hoped for a more delightful start in his rookie year as Club President when he played host to the incomparable Bob Hope one evening. He went on to explain with a grin: “Having arrived at the Club at about 5 p.m. and as Bob had only limited time, he suggested that we play only nine holes. I offered him the Old Course and gave him the option to choose the 1st or 2nd Nine. He wanted to know the difference between the two Nines and I told him the 1st nine is fairly flat and no water. The 2nd Nine is almost similar but there are two ponds and lots of monkeys. His response was : “Let us play the 1st Nine. I do not want the monkeys to recognise me!” So the 1st Nine it was and the monkeys missed out on the opportunity to meet the World’s Greatest Comedian!”
Upon his retirement as Club President after nine years of exemplary service, Freddy was accorded, befittingly, an Honorary Membership.
It is not by accident or by design that the name “Tommy Lee” or “TML Lee” is scattered omnipresently throughout this book. It is purely a true reflection of Tommy Lee Mun Lung’s involvement in, and contribution towards, the RSGC in particular and the game of golf in general.
Shortly after his return home in the early sixties upon graduating as a lawyer from Cambridge, he became one of the country’s top tennis players in doubles, winning tournaments for fun, teaming up with the likes of Edmund Yong, S.A. Azman and his brother Alex. But it was as an administrator and leader that he really stamped his mark, initially as a Committee member and then as Club Captain when he was only in his early thirties. He was invited to join the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) in 1974 as Vice-President (even before he became Club Captain in 1975) a position he held until 1988. From then on he held the Presidency right up to 2007 when he decided to pass the baton.
An amiable and dependable sort, Tommy made many friends at work and through golf and became the cohesive force behind many a reciprocal tie-up with prestigious clubs all over the world. To this day, the atmosphere and camaraderie in many of the inter-club matches are just not the same without the presence of the core group of which Tommy is one of the pillars. His clubbing spirit even extends across the shores to the R&A Golf Club of St. Andrews and Pine Valley in the USA, of which clubs he is a proud member.
His involvement in the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) began in 1989 when he attended his first APGC Biennial Congress. By that time, he was already well-known and well-liked by many of the delegates. Within three years be became the President, a position he held when the Nomura Cup was played at the RSGC in the Centenary Year.
1997 was an annus horibilis for Tommy. One of his best friends, Edmund Yong, who was then the APGC Secretary General, sadly succumbed to a year-long battle against cancer. To cap it all, his cousin David Lee (who had earlier taken over Edmund’s post) passed away through illness as well, within that same year.
It was under such tragic circumstances that Tommy had to play a greater role sooner than he had expected. Despite his legal background which stood him in good stead whenever he became involved in lengthy discussions about the future of the Asian Golf Circuit (AGC) which was previously promoted and run by the APGC, he could not save the AGC from dissolution because some of the golf associations comprising the AGC allowed their tournaments to join the new tour organised by the professional promoters. That was truly a diabolical period for the APGC.
Subsequently, the APGC, through Tommy, implemented a more effective management structure, adopted a new constitution and formed an executive committee with Tommy appointed as the first chairman.
The “reinvented” APGC is now not only financially secure but is also responsible for running a number of major tournaments in the region and is the international body overseeing golf for the Asian, South East Asian and South Pacific Games. The Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy, a new event, which brings together the best amateurs of Asia Pacific and Europe is exciting and extremely promising as is the APGC Amateur Open. With 29 member associations in 2008, the APGC has come a long way in the past decade, in no small way through his dynamic leadership. Even so, Tommy’s proudest achievement was putting the MGA on the world map when they successfully hosted the 2002 World Amateur Teams Championship for the Eisenhower Cup at Saujana, an event considered by many as the best organised in its history.
He has also been involved in the Malaysian Open for more than forty years from its inception in 1962. Today the Malaysian Open is one of the biggest and most successful national Opens in Asia.
Tommy Lee Mun Lung
It is quite amazing that with his full-time commitment towards the MGA and the APGC and his ongoing solicitude for the RSGC, all in the spirit of volunteerism, he could still manage to excel in his demanding role as a senior partner of a leading law firm. His impeccable reputation in the sporting and legal fraternity also made him an ideal member of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport which saw him officiating as an arbitrator in the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. And Tommy still finds time to be active in the corporate sector, being the former Chairman of a Malaysian bank and a director of several companies.
One can go on and on and write a book on him. Suffice it to say, few if any in the RSGC, can hold a candle to the man. The Club is indeed proud to have Tommy as an Honorary Member whose input and advice are well sought and respected to this day.
Credit to YK Liew – Excerpt from the book ‘The RSGC: Veritably A Royal Heritage’
