From left: The Els Club Desaru Coast golf operation and service manager Vijay S Divakaran, Oppo head of marketing Monica Chin, Desaru Coast head of sales and marketing Zamsuzliana Ahmad, Dr Med (Felco Medical Supplies Sdn Bhd) director Kevin Koh, Carlsberg Malaysia board director Eric Ooi, ATG Watch CEO Tham Onn Chuan, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia CEO and president Amanda Zhang, Mercedes-Benz Card managing director Anamika Talwar, The Edge Media Group publisher and group CEO Datuk Ho Kay Tat, Precise Rehab founder Ong Lip Qin, MST Golf Group Bhd executive chairman K P Low (representing TaylorMade), Crestlink director Raymond Yee and Luen Heng F&B Sdn Bhd brand manager Matthew Soh (All photos: The Edge Malaysia)
The verb “drive” can mean several things; from being propelled by an often-positive force to operating to controlling the direction and speed of a vehicle or, in golf stroke mechanics, a long-distance shot played from the tee box. It also encapsulates all the qualities Mercedes-Benz wishes to convey as it reignites its long-running and hugely anticipated MercedesTrophy golf challenge for the 34th time.
In its continuous quest to attain driving perfection in every sense of the word, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s annual staging of the MercedesTrophy tournament series allows customers to experience the quality and excellence of the great German marque through one of the world’s most skill-intensive sports.
It has been over three decades since Mercedes-Benz adopted golf as one of its channels by which its passion for precision and perfection may be shared while infusing it with the essence of luxury. An international amateur tournament series, it is open to customers of Mercedes-Benz who share an enthusiasm for golf and hosts over 60,000 golfers worldwide in over 60 countries annually.
The MercedesTrophy generally consists of four qualifying rounds. Last year’s National Final took place at The Els Club Desaru Coast, Johor, with the top two winners going on to the MercedesTrophy World Final in Stuttgart, Germany, the home of Mercedes-Benz, on a luxurious all-expenses-paid trip. Last year’s World Final was held, for the first time, at the five-star Der Öschberghof hotel, which overlooks Lake Constance and is close to the famous Black Forest and Swiss border.
“Golf is a sport that embodies athletic excellence and captivating allure, qualities that are inherently aligned with the Mercedes-Benz brand. At Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, our commitment lies in curating a tournament that not only pays homage to the esteemed sport of golf but also reflects the sophisticated essence of luxury and precision our brand stands for. We eagerly anticipate welcoming participants to this year’s MercedesTrophy, promising an unforgettable experience that delights and impresses our esteemed customers,” says Amanda Zhang, CEO and president, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
To kick-start the excitement for 2024, a recent golf friendly was held to open the call for registration for MercedesTrophy 2024, in which long-term and new sponsors took the chance to tee off for nine holes at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club together with a golfing pro and the top two winners from last year’s tournament. This year’s stable of sponsors include Carlsberg, Crestlink, Desaru Coast Johor, Dr Med, Epos, Luen Heng, Mercedes-Benz Card, Oppo, Precise Rehab, The Els Club Desaru Coast, TaylorMade and The Edge.
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Victor Lim, unit manager of AK Group and overall champion of the MercedesTrophy 2023, animatedly recounts his experience last October. “It is a tournament I eagerly await each year. Even registering for it brings me immense joy. I’ve played well before but to win it was unbelievable. I am indeed lucky to have been able to represent Malaysia in Germany and, as a golfer, it was such an experience playing for the first time on a European course. Not to mention the beautiful hotel and golf course, plus Business Class travel all the way. Of course, I tell all my friends to just sign up for the tournament. Whatever you get, from playing to the amazing hospitality and door gifts, is so much more than the few hundred ringgit you pay in registration fees. I mean, if you look at today, this friendly match alone at the prestigious KLGCC would cost you RM600 at least to play one round.
“The MercedesTrophy is a super-premium event! It is prestigious and every Mercedes-Benz owner who loves golf must try playing in this tournament. As a keen participant, it is something I look forward to every year.”
Ken Lee Chee Weng, executive director of Jurusteel Engineering and 2023’s first runner-up, adds, “It was unbelievable! My handicap is currently 15 although it was 20 last year. I’m not the best player but I love the game and decided to take a chance. It was my father who introduced me to golf and when I found out I won in my category and would be going to Germany, I called him immediately. He was shocked too but delighted with the good news. It was the first time I had ever travelled so far for a game. But it was a truly unforgettable experience. Everything was so wonderful and well-planned.”
To secure a spot in the competition, kindly log on to www.mercedes-benz.com.my/golf or call Mercedes-Benz Customer Care at 1800-88-1133 (press 3 for product inquiry). Registration is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
This article first appeared on Mar 18, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.
