The name Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club is set to be closed in the annals of history as the club will rebrand itself as the new and improved, Tournament Players Club (TPC) Kuala Lumpur. The successful acquisition of the TPC licensing rights by the club will see the formation of Southeast Asia’s first golf facility to join the PGA Tour’s prestigious network.The club was officiated by Her Majesty the Queen of Malaysia Tuanku Hajah Haminah who managed a golfing putt to officiate the launch.
Speaking to reporters following the launch ceremony, Steven Thilke, CEO of the TPC Kuala Lumpur said that the club’s partnership with TPC would mean access to some of the greatest clubs in the world for its members. “There is the TPC network where our members could gain access to some of the greatest clubs in the world particularly in North America. Outside North America, there aren’t many just yet but we do anticipate TPC to do something about that in the many years to come,”
Thilke said. The TPC Network comprises of over 34 premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties designed by some of golf’s most elite architects situated in North America. The network currently has over 20,000 members which would potentially visit TPC KL in the future. Adding to Thilke’s comments, Deputy Commissioner of TPC Network, Jay Mohanan said that the branding opportunities that TPC offers will be no doubt be a source of great pride to both golfers and members of the club. “They (Members) will take great pride to be amongst those family of great golf courses that are hosting PGA tour events. Our players will be talking about TPC Kuala Lumpur in the context of the CIMB Classic and this will resonate with golfers throughout the world. People will now be more aware of this golf course (TPC KL) than they have in the past. We will use the horsepower of our marketing to tell the story of this great club.” Mahonan also pointed out the that the TPC KL would benefit greatly from the various expertise in the areas of agronomy and club operations which the TPC network would pass on.
Sime Darby Properties Sdn Bhd will also be launching the first phase of its property development, Senada near TPC KL mid September. The development is said to be worth RM 800 million in GDV. The rebranding of TPC Kuala Lumpur comes after recent news of Sime Darby’s rebranding of KLGCC Resort to ALYA Kuala Lumpur, the new master brand for the upcoming property development projects within the 61 acres surrounding the iconic world class golf course.