Many people ask me how I came to be a professional golfer.  To be very frank, the decision was made only after I completed my National Service in 1983.

My family lived in the kampong along Island Club Road and I was exposed to the game of golf from a very young age not because my parents were members of a golf club but because of our close proximity to the golf course.  Some may think that it was just a kampong but now that I come to think of it, our home was like a golf course resort surrounded by lush greenery and the luxuries of nature like the sound of cockerels and birds in the morning, monkeys in our compound coupled with occasional encounters with creatures like monitor lizards and snakes.  We had a large compound that could be extended anytime we needed more space.  The 17^th fairway of the Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) old course was our backyard ……… who could ask for more?!!

Being the youngest in a family of 7 children, I spent most of my time playing with kids of my age from the neighborhood.  My brothers were much older and eventually, all but one decided to take on a career as a professional golfer.

As kids, we did not have proper golf equipment and we had to use borrowed or discarded clubs.  In fact, some of the clubs we used had “graphite” looking shafts… they were totally rusted and had a graphite look!  We played along the 17^th fairway when the last group had passed…… we were the “after 7pm members”.  We would share clubs, running across the fairway to pass the club to one another after hitting our shots and sometimes, when the sun set, we would light candles around the green so that we could putt.  We did not have the luxuries of selecting from a full set of clubs just to hit one shot and had to make do with whatever club we had.  I think this actually helped in our creativity and strengthened our imagination when required to hit shots in awkward situations.  

When I was still schooling, I would at times help my father to tend to the drinks at the halfway house and sometimes had the opportunity of watching prominent figures playing their game.  All this while, I only played golf for the fun of it and never took it seriously.  It was only after I completed my national service when I discovered that I was much stronger and could hit the ball a much longer way.  It then struck me that I could consider taking after my brothers and make a career of being a professional golfer.  I practised hard and took my Pro-Test in 1985.  I was very excited when I passed, as I would imagine myself playing in tournaments with a gallery watching. 

The starting years as a pro was not lucrative as tournaments were limited and I guess I was also not experienced enough then.  I helped out in my brother Eng Soon’s pro shop and driving range at the Seletar Country Club and spent my time learning to repair golf clubs and conducting lessons.  In 1993, a new driving range at Toa Payoh opened for business and I was engaged as one of the first pros there.  Then in 1995, when Seletar Country Club moved to its new premises and the old course was changed into a public golf course called Seletar Base Golf Course, our brothers pooled manpower and resources and started Poh Brothers Golf to manage the pro shops and driving ranges at both Seletar Country Club (SCC) and Seletar Base Golf Club (SBGC). We all worked hard, gaining experience along the way and building a good following of students.  It was not easy but I feel that whatever we gained was well deserved.

In 1995, I won my first professional tournament, the Evergreen Group Golf Championship held at the Safra Resort Golf and Country Club.  It was a real achievement for me and the considerably large gallery was very supportive.  The final two holes were exciting as I dropped a shot on the 17^th after my ball hit a sprinkler on the apron and bounced away from the green.  However, with my family and friends amongst the gallery, I had to show them what I’ve got and with adrenalin flowing, sheer determination and a cool composure, went on to make the final putt to win.  It was my maiden win and it meant a lot to me.  Opening the papers and reading about myself the next morning gave me a special feeling, I guess I was proud of my achievement.  

I spent several years playing on the Asian PGA Omega Tour and Davidoff Tours together with my brother, Eing Chong.  Playing on tour is not easy as the standard of golf is very high.  I have an equipment sponsor, Transview Golf,  that supplies me with all my equipment needs, which I am very thankful for.  However, without a sponsor in terms of monetary support, I had to carry the burden of trying to cover expenses for every tournament I played overseas as missing the cut at times would mean going home empty handed plus expenses to be paid, not taking into consideration loss of coaching income when out of town.  Then again, though money was an issue, the experience gained on tour is something money cannot buy so I have totally no regrets.  In fact, it was good to be away for a week each time, doing nothing but practicing, playing in the tournament and catching up with fellow pros from other countries, many of whom have become good friends.

Then came a time for us to give up our business at Seletar in May 2001.  We were disappointed but I guess it was a blessing in disguise.  We were later offered the opportunity to operate a brand new driving range, which we now call the Queens Golf Range.  Starting off was not easy as most of the faces were unfamiliar but we have now established ourselves at Queens and have made many new friends.  I must give credit to my brother, Eng Teck, the brains behind our humble organization.  With his foresight, we now have a much stronger foundation than we did before.  I believe that there is no end to learning and I hope that we will continue to gain experience as a company.  For me personally, I hope to continue to learn so that I can impart my knowledge to my students to ensure their satisfaction.  When my students play well, win a golf competition or hit a good shot and think of me, that will be my biggest achievement.

I have always been a very quiet and reserved person, basically a man of few words.  However, I have now learnt to develop and treasure friendship, thanks to a very supportive wife and family.  Life has changed for the better along the way and I hope it will continue to improve.  One thing for sure though is I will never forget where I started.