Who are we?
BSGS is a group of people who love the game of golf. Based in Batam, Indonesia the group hosts golf tournaments on the last Sunday of each month at one of the 6 beautiful golf courses on Batam Island. Players of all abilities are encouraged to join.
The BSGS Board is a group of volunteers that give their time and energy to running the organization and putting on the monthly events.
BSGS – the Origins Story
The following account is largely based on anecdotal information gathered from past Presidents and Committee members and, interestingly, the Minutes of the first BSGS Committee meeting which are included below..
That first official Committee meeting under the name BSGS was held on 5th August 2004 and amongst other things, it was decided to hold their first ‘Medal’ Tournament on 29th August, the last Sunday of the month. Monthly events on the last Sunday became and remain the routine for BSGS.
Anecdotally we understand that BSGS, BOGS and BLGC may have all evolved from a social golf society known as the ‘Friendly Golf Society, formed around 1998 by McDermott. We believe John and Eni McDonald were instrumental in the beginning. It seems it was routine for many employees both Expatriate and local, to play golf on Friday afternoons.
Whether deliberately or inadvertently, McDermott instigated BSGS, the Friday group known later as BOGS (Batam’s Other Golf Society) and, BLGC (Batam Ladies Golf Community ) which continues today with regular events.
The Friendly Golf Society continued and was later re-named around 2010, under the care of Peter Williams, as Batam’s Other Golf Society (BOGS). Prior to that Dave Knapman and Steve Selby ran it and in 2019 Peter handed over to Stewart Leslie (RIP).
Over these years BSGS was developing the Sunday Events with Sponsors helping to fund the competitions and prizes and promote their businesses. In terms of participants, the numbers ebbed and flowed with the economic fortunes of Batam.
In 2020 an annual Order of Merit was started to find our best or most consistent overall male and female player of the year. In 2021, participation averaged around 60-65 players at each event and has been increasing. Overall we have around 500 subscribers in our database.
Sponsorship not only enables us to provide great value and fun events for our members but helps to fund the development and maintenance costs of the Society.
Today, BSGS still runs as a non-profit Social society with these goals;
- providing equitable and enjoyable competitions for all levels of players, open to anyone to join
- inviting corporate Sponsors to support our events while in return offering promotion and marketing to their clients and business partners
- To promote and support Golf in Batam
Batam may not be well known yet as a golf destination but, we are lucky to have seven superb courses to enjoy and BSGS hopes to help spread the word about this gem of a golf paradise.
While there have been many contributors and committee members over the years we note below some of the past Presidents of BSGS and, the current committee.
Past Members/Presidents
John Harrison
John McDonald
Jamie Kynock
Bart Ouwerling
Tim Polinelli
Otis Bourgeios
Pat Lewis
Current Committee 2022
President – David Upshall
Chairman/VP – Simon Davies
Treasurer/IT – Paul Sedgwick-Smith
Secretary – Richard Denny
Captain – Tony Hutchinson
Handicaps – Mike Fitzgerald
IT & Marketing – Brad Ker
Committee – Ziggy Lachs
Committee – Sean Dornan
Committee – Tom Moriarty
BSGS General Meeting – 05 August 2004
Minutes of Meeting:
BSGS Meeting Attendance :
- John Harrison
- Emmett Mc Henry
- John MacDonald
- Eni MacDonald
- Ken Rowe
- Allan Barrett
- Rustam Samosir
- Bart Ouwerling
Mr. John Harrison, President BSGS presided over the meeting that commenced at 7:00 pm.
Agenda :
1. Invitation to all potential members:
It was agreed that Mr. Allan Barrett will issue an e-mail to all potential BSGS Members inviting them to join. This will be done Monday, 09 August 2004 or upon determination of the location of the first golf tournament. The invitation will also include the venue and location of the first golf tournament tentatively set for Sunday, 29 August 2004, at 1:00 pm.
2. First Golf Tournament:
It was agreed that the First Golf Tournament of the BSGS will be held Sunday, 29 August 2004, at 1:00 pm. The venue will be Stableford with Mulligans. That is a normal Stableford Format with a mulligan allowed on the ‘T’-box of both the front and back nine. If the mulligan is not used on the front nine an additional point will be added to the overall score, if the mulligan is not used on the back nine an additional point will be added to the overall score and if NO mulligans are used during the course of the round an additional three points will be added to the overall score. All ladies will ‘T’ off from the Red ‘T’ Boxes and all men, regardless of handicap, will ‘T’ off from the White ‘T’ Boxes.
3. BSGS Fees:
It was moved by Mr. Emmett McHenry and seconded by Mr. Allan Barrett that the BSGS Joining Fee will be revised to S$ 25.00 (or the Rp equivalent based on the exchange rate of that day) effective from 01 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. This was voted unanimously. It was also discussed and approved that the fee for each golf tournament will be S$10.00 (or the Rp equivalent based on the exchange rate of that day) for members and S$20.00 (or the Rp equivalent based on the exchange rate of that day) for non-members. All members having previously paid S$50.00 will get a rebate of S$ 25.00.
4. Yearly Golf Tournaments:
It was agreed that an estimate of the quantity of members should be established by 23 August 2004 based on replies to the Invitation to Join. At that time Mr. Harrison, Mr. McHenry and Mr. Barrett will contact all golf courses in Batam to negotiate a fee schedule and to determine the location and dates of all golf tournaments to be played for the 2004/2005 season. This will be posted prior to the next general meeting to be held 02 September 2004.
5. Handicaps:
It was agreed that all handicaps previously established in the now defunct McDermotts’s Golf Society would be carried forward to the BSGS. It was also agreed that in the future handicaps will only be adjusted per golf tournament results of the BSGS. It was also agreed that new members, if possible, must provide a current handicap based on an established handicap in Batam with 10 cards submitted to one of the current golf courses in Batam. Failing that ¾ of the stated handicap will be used for BSGS tournaments. It was also agreed that the BSGS Committee has the final decision on a stated handicap at any BSGS Tournament prior to prizes or trophies being awarded.
6. Tournament Foursome Selections:
It was agreed that the following method will be utilized to select a foursome for each of the BSGS Golf Tournaments:
All ladies names will be placed in one hat.
All men with a handicap of 20 or lower will be placed in one hat.
All men with a handicap over 20 will be placed in one hat.
All pairs that wish to play together requested prior to the draw 3 days before the tournament be placed in one hat.
Option 1. One name from the ladies hat will be drawn, one name from the 20 or lower hat will be drawn, and two names from the over 20 hat will be drawn. This will form a foursome.
Option 2. One pair wishing to play together will be drawn from the hat and depending on the makeup of that pair one lady, or one 20 or under or one over 20 will be drawn from the hat to make up the foursome.
Requests for changes on the day of the tournament can only be honored by the BSGS Committee.
Additional discussions took place concerning the Rules of Golf, etiquette of golf and selection of foursomes for tournaments.
Basic meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.
THIS IS A DRAFT. IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES PLEASE REVERT BY TUESDAY 10 AUGUST 2004 TO ENABLE ME TO ISSUE.
John: Has Tering Bay been contacted for the first golf tournament to allow me to issue the letter of invitation?
Regards,
Allan Barrett