As the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) prepares to host the prestigious World Amateur Team Golf Championships (WATC) at Tanah Merah Country Club this October, former national golfer and now R&A Director of Golf Development, Asia Pacific, Jerome Ng reflects on his WATC journey.

With more than two decades of his life dedicated to golf, former national golfer Jerome Ng’s commitment to the sport is unquestionable. The 36-year-old’s affinity with golf began when he was 12, after picking up a club at his father’s urging at the Toa Payoh driving range.

The precocious teen swiftly rose through the ranks of the amateur golfing scene and went on to set a record for most consecutive appearances in the first seven editions of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), where he made the cut every year.

The 2013 Philippines Amateur Open champion joined the play-for-pay ranks for six years. He oversaw SGA’s high-performance program in 2016, where, together with national coach Andrew Welsford, he led the national team to a then-record highest finish at the 2016 World Amateur Team Championships (WATC). Ng would then assume the role of SGA general manager from 2018 to 2021.

Ng recalled the contrast between his playing experience and his later leadership role, especially following a disappointing campaign in the 2012 edition in Antalya, Turkey.

“Two different experiences, one as a player and then bringing the team to Cancun in Mexico. The key thing was that in Turkey, we really got beaten down. I think the three of us didn’t perform as well as we thought we could or should… But I think it was a real eye-opener for us.”

“It wasn’t just the exposure from competing in a marquee tournament that Ng took away, but the realisation that there was a pressing need to match the growing standards of international golf.

“It really helped us see how different teams train and prepare. And more importantly, the team that they bring to the WATC – sports science (professionals), psychologists, you’ve got a proper team. You can see that the level that these countries were at versus where we were.”

The revelation inspired Ng and Welsford to build a strong supporting cast around the players that were once only chaperoned by a manager or a coach.

“We eventually have to ensure that our team has this wider team around them with these professional services to help elevate, stay relevant and competitive,” he added.

Eventually, Ng was able to lead the 2016 team to a historic 23rd-placed finish in the Eisenhower trophy.

“I think we broke that record again in subsequent years, which shows that participating and playing at WATC doesn’t just help players gain experience—it helps the federation or association see what the global best practices are and how they can benchmark themselves against others. It’s about preparation—because if you’re preparing blindly and don’t know where to benchmark, you’re only bound for failure,” said Ng.

His successful exploits in sports administration and his passion for developing the sport has led him to a new chapter at the premier global golf governing body, The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (The R&A).

With more than a decade since his sole appearance at the Eisenhower’s trophy, Ng is looking forward to seeing the community of avid and passionate golfers descend upon the Tanah Merah Country Club to experience the tournament on local shores.

“It’s a different experience from the professional events of the established players that (fans) have seen on TV or have been following on social media. These are players that are probably as good as some of the professionals (and) they play in some PGA tournaments here and there but (people) may not have seen them before. But that doesn’t mean they are not great players.”

The former national golfer also fancies the home team’s chances ahead of the October 1-11 showpiece.

“The SGA has invested a lot of work into their high-performance program and are in the midst of evolving it. They have expanded the programme over the last few years. The key is really to continually build and strengthen the competitive culture of the teams, with clear ownership and accountability.

“They have a big chance, especially on home ground, at Tampines. And it’s great that Tanah Merah Country Club has given the national team a lot of access to prepare themselves for the WATC.”

Ng also shared a nugget of wisdom from his wealth of competitive experience.

“A lot of it really comes with them not putting too much pressure on themselves during the week, but putting a lot of pressure on themselves in their preparation. I think that’s the only way they would stand the best chance,” he said

“If they could finish in the top ten, I think that would be a great result for both the men and the women. And I think they can definitely achieve so.”

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The International Golf Federation (IGF) was founded in 1958 and is the recognised International Federation within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The headquarters of the IGF is located by the shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IGF promotes integrity, inclusivity, and clean sport through governance, development programs, and anti-doping initiatives.