The document discusses the need for a golf manager position to be created and filled by the governing body in Malaysia to oversee the development of golf in the country. It argues that appointing short-term coaches in the past has not led to the desired success. A golf manager would be given long-term responsibility and full authority to make decisions regarding the national team, planning, and development of the sport. The manager's role would be separate from leaders on the governing body who would focus on strategic direction rather than interfering in the manager's duties. Filling this golf manager position is hoped to improve development of the game and help emerge world-class Malaysian players.

1. JUNE 2014 GOLFDIGESTMALAYSIA 35PHOTO: CORBIS
WHYWENEEDA
GOLFMANAGER
by V. RAVINDRAN
V.RavindranistheGeneral
ManagerofSamarahan
CountryClubinKuching
andhasservedtwonational
golfassociationsin28years.
matters and get the necessary
approval from the leaders.
Themanagerisresponsible
toleadthenationalteamfor
alltournamentsalongwith
theappointedcoachandmust
beauthorisedtogivepress
statementspertainingto
playersandtheirperformance.
Theleaderswhoaccompanythe
teamshouldonlybeinvolvedin
theassociation’sadministrative
mattersandnotinterferewith
themanager’sduty.
The appointed manager
should be given a long term
contract to fulfil the vision
and directions set by the
leaders. If there is a change
in the ‘leaders’ the manager
should go on without
any interference and this
clause must be stated in the
employment contract.
The new leaders should only
look into the ‘Key Performance
Index’ and carry on with the
program until the expiry of the
period and thereafter gauge the
success of the program.
Fortherecord,thegoverning
bodyhasneverappointeda
specificmanagertooverseeand
managethedevelopmentof
golfinthecountry. Inthepast,
onlycoacheswereappointed
tolookafterthedevelopment
oftheteamonashortteam
contractbasis.
In my opinion, I feel that
this is more like a stop-gap
measure and has never really
brought the desired success
as we had hoped for.
It is my fervent hope that
the “future” appointment
of this manager, will greatly
improve the development of
the game to another level.
Then, and only then, will
the government’s great
support and aspirations for
junior golf development see
fruition and the emergence of
world class players. GDM
D I G E S T T H E O B S E R V E R
of his role from a business or
financial perspective.
One of the most successful
individuals thus far is Sir Alex
Ferguson (below), who turned
Manchester United FC into
one of the richest football
clubs in the world.
Now let’s take the role of
the manager in the Malaysian
Golf Association (MGA). How
are we going to do it and apply
the job scope effectively?
Forastart,theappointed
managermustbegivenfullscale
responsibilityforanumberof
yearstodevelopandgrowthe
nationalteam. Theleadersin
thiscase,theCommitteeofthe
MGA,shouldonlybeinvolved
ingivingvisionanddirectionsto
themanager.
The role of a manager
is to maximize the output
of the organization in
organizing, planning, staffing,
maintaining direction and
coaching responsibilities.
The manager should be given
full power to decide on all
THE GOVERNING BODY NEEDS TO
FILL THIS POSITION IN ORDER TO
ACHIEVE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES
Thetitleof
‘manager’
inBritainis
distinctfrom
thatofcoachandiscloserto
thatoftheresponsibilitiesheld
byaHeadCoachorAthletic
DirectorintheUnitedStates
ofAmerica.Theprocessof
managingpeoplewhetherin
sportorbusinessisacomplex
taskandrequiresasympathetic
appreciationofthemulti-
dimensionalrolesrequired.
Traditionally, a coach has
a prescribed number of roles,
which typically includes a
planned, coordinated and
integrated program of athlete
preparation. In contrast,
the modern manager must
acknowledge the importance