TODAY marks a significant and emotional moment for about 70 caddies at the Penang Turf Club Golf Section (PTCGS), as it is the final day the Batu Gantong golf course is open to club members and visitors.
Starting tomorrow, their services will no longer be required, as the 161-year-old Penang Turf Club, also the landowner, will officially cease operations after its final horse race meeting.
The closure comes amid hard times for the club, which has been operating at a loss due to dwindling interest in the sport and financial challenges following the Covid-19 pandemic.
While many caddies have already sought other employment opportunities, a few were seen at the clubhouse today, offering their services one last time to golfers.
Buletin Mutiara spoke with several caddies to hear their experiences and reflections on the club’s impending closure.
Suhaimi Masjoe, 67, who has served as a caddy at PTCGS for the past 50 years, expressed deep sadness over the closure.
“I remember earning RM1 for nine holes back in the 70s. Today, club members pay us RM35 for nine holes and RM70 for 18 holes. For non-members, it’s RM50 and RM100 respectively,” Suhaimi recalled.
“What I treasure most is having had the honour of caddying for three golfers who scored a hole-in-one — Datuk Edmund Arthur, Yeoh Kin Nam, and a visiting player. I don’t know what I’ll do now without this job. I hope the golf section will consider offering some form of goodwill to us caddies.”
Muhammad Moralidaran Abdullah, 48, worked as a part-time caddy for 20 years.
“We could earn RM50 for about one-and-a-half hours’ work. Now, with the closure, half of my income is gone. So yes, I’m very, very sad. Luckily, I’ve found a job as a security guard,” he said.
“In my experience, golfers have different preferences. Some don’t like you to talk, others don’t want you standing in front when they’re putting. When we help them succeed with a putt, we feel happy too.”
He added that caddies were fortunate to be allowed to play on the course every Thursday for free, and they even had caddy competitions twice a year.
Veteran caddy Hanafi Hassan, 71, began working at the club when he was just 12 years old, after finishing Standard Six.
“Caddying has been my full-time job all my life. Of course, I’m sad. All of us are affected by the closure,” said Hanafi, who lives in Batu Maung.
Chandran Ganesan, 48, is relatively new to the trade, with about two years of experience.
“The money I earned from caddying helped support my family. I took a break but returned over the past three days. I specifically came back today because I have good memories here, and I wanted to support my friends,” he said.
“Some of the older caddies are like uncles to me. They taught me how to be a good caddy. I’ve gone for two interviews to be a gardener at a factory and am waiting for their reply.”
Golf has long been part of the Penang Turf Club’s identity, complementing its rich horse racing heritage. And while the fairways may soon fall silent, the contributions of these caddies – quietly supporting the game from the sidelines – have played a vital role in the club’s development and success.
Story and pix by K.H. Ong