New Record-breaking Golf Pro at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Brunei

Record-breaking Canadian golfer Ahmad Dan Bateman has been appointed as the new Golf Professional at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Brunei.

The veteran professional is in the record books for the longest number of consecutive sub-par holes in pro-golf history. In the 1996 Utah Nationwide Classic he carded seven birdies and an eagle over eight consecutive holes.

Originally an ice-hockey player, he turned professional just over 20 years ago and was involved in golf instruction preceding 12 years competing on the US secondary tour and Asian Tour – including the last two Brunei Open events at The Empire’s championship Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

In the Brunei Open’s debut on the tour in 2005 he finished 7th, carding a nine under par over four rounds.

Ahmad was desperately close to earning his US PGA Tour card in 1997, finishing 16th on what was then the Nike Tour order of merit. But only the top-15 players qualify.

From 2000 to 2002 his steady game and reliable broom-handle putter put him into contention for titles on several occasions in Asia and overseas – including 3rd in the 2000 Volvo China Open, 5th in the 2000 Casino Filipino Open, 2nd in the 2000 Omaha Classic, 3rd in the 2001 Carlsberg Malaysian Open, 4th in the 2002 Maekyung LG Fashion Open and 8th in the 2002 Macau Open.

“Brunei has great potential for the development of golf,” he said. “Conditions are ideal, with such a superb championship course, and there are many more enthusiastic beginners than I imagined.

“My ambition is to reach out to children and top amateurs to make golf one of the top sports in this country. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity as full time resident club professional.”

Ahmad joins The Empire with his wife Shinta and two children, Aneesah and Adam.

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