The Macau Professional Golfers Association (MPGA) has appointed Hong Kong actor and lifelong golfer Michael Wong as its new president. The move comes as the association sets out on a five-year plan to promote the SAR internationally through golf.
At a media event yesterday at the Macau Golf and Country Club, the association unveiled several initiatives for the year, including a new tuition program for students, tailored golf days with PGA professionals and celebrities, the first annual MPGA Ladies Day and the first MPGA Pro-Am.
In 2025, Wong is also set to host the MPGA’s first Pro-Celebrity golf event, which would include PGA golf professionals and celebrities.
The association says it hopes to change the sport’s elite image and make it open to all. “The goal is to work with the community and introduce Macao to a solid understanding of professional golf,” Wong explains. “We’ve talked about bringing programs to schools as well and making it available for those with a dream to come, learn and play the game.”
[See more: The International Series golf tournament is ready to swing into Macao]
Ian Roberts, chairman of the MPGA’s supervisory board, told Macao News that the school programme was part of the “broad approach” taken by the association. “Once a child has an idea of how to hit a golf ball, they’ll think ‘Wow, I think I should play this game’ and it will not be an exclusive game anymore but will be opened up to everyone.”
The MPGA was founded in 2006 by the late Charles Lo – who was also the president of the Sports and Olympic Committee of Macau – and the current chairman of the member council, Keith Lawson.
Lawon explained that getting a celebrity like Wong onboard was a new approach for the association.
“It’s not only about golf but also about promoting the game to a wider audience,” he said. “Of course, we want more homegrown professionals and with Michael and up-and-coming local professional golfer Ronnie Hun involved, they can inspire the younger generation.”
