The single-handicapper followed another path, becoming a businessman. The Bachelor of Marketing Communication holder talked to OB about his experience of training in Thailand, his golf vision, and Indonesian amateur players.
How did you get into golf? I met golf in 2004. My mother, who introduced golf to me, asked me to join Aspirasi 8 (a junior golf club) in Pondok Indah. I spent a year there, then I moved to a few places: Rawamangun and BSD. Early in 2006, I went to practice golf in Thailand.
How did playing golf in Thailand come about? At the end of 2005, I went to Singapore, playing in a junior tournament. I play with my friend. I happened to get acquainted with a Thai coach, Natpasitt Choktanasart, who later became my coach. We were chatting and I asked him to see my little shot. Apparently, we were a match. I went to Thailand, but still back and forth. Once a month I went to Thailand. It lasted for a year. Then, my dad finally sent me to live in the dorm there. Practicing with my coach Natpasitt.
Which Thai player’s was he coaching? At that time, my coach held Kiradech (Aphibarnrat) and Prom (Meesawat), while in the national team he trained Pavit (Tangkamolprasert), the 2016 Venetian Macau Open winner.
Why did you feel Thailand was a good place to train? The golf atmosphere in Thailand is great, dominating golf in Southeast Asia. The number of good golf players is high. I had many friends to practice with.
