This article will take you on a trip through time.

Our journey starts in 1981, a year that saw the launch of the first space shuttle, Columbia; in January, 52 American hostages were released after 14 months in captivity in Iran; the Pope was shot by an insane Turk; Prince Charles and Diana Spencer married on July 29; the first IBM-PC's went on sale; US President Ronald Reagan confronted the Libyains and deployed ships in the Gulf of Sidra, which Libya claimed even though no one else recognized the claim; the first reports of homosexual men dying due to a mysterious illness that attacked the bodies' immune system, which is today known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, aka AIDS, surfaced; John Hinkley attempted to assassinate Reagan on March 30; and on August 1, MTV, the 24 hour-a-day music television station that is still with us in a slightly altered form, starting broadcasting. In the world of golf Jack Nicklaus was still a force, but his playing career was in its less productive years and he was becoming a name in the world of golf course design. The 1981 Ryder Cup, at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey England, had Nicklaus on the American team that defeated Europe 18.5 to 9.5. Dave Marr was the American captain and John Jacobs for Europe.

Additional notable players for the US included, Lee Trevino, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller. On the European side Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo and Peter Oosterhuis were a part of Europe's team.

The German Langer was the European's leading money winner with 134,387 euros.

It was also the year Golf Malaysia magazine appeared as a bi-monthly publication.

The first cover featured American golfer Tom Sieckmann surrounded by a bevy of Asian beauties. The edition spoke on the American's conquest on the Asian tour where he had recorded victories in the Philippines and Thailand. A preview of the '81 Malaysian Open, also, graced its pages, but perhaps the most important memorable feature of that inaugural issue was word "Complimentary" on the cover.

Initial reaction to that issue and the ones that followed was favourable. The publication's coverage offered a mix like no other at that time, as it featured local course reviews, profiles, tournament coverage, equipment write-ups, and articles by international writers, all backed by colourful photos.

Given this thumbs-up from the Malaysian golf community the publication went monthly in 1983. Over the first two years Golf Malaysia had filled a vacuum and the catch phrase, "The Golfer's Voice" was being connected with the publication. The magazine give readers what was new, what was hot, where to play, which clubs to join and how to improve their game. Said another way, the magazine was hot!

By the late 80s, Golf Malaysia had already become an authority on all matters regarding golf in the country. The hard-cover Golf Malaysia's Directory of Golf Courses in Malaysia & Singapore and later a South-East Asian golf directory were well-received books used by the golf industry as a worthwhile authoritative compilation of golf courses for the region.

At this time more golf-related ventures were unveiled. Golf Malaysia entered the golf tournament market. The Champion of Champions, a premier two-day championship for club champions was first. The tournament was to see a number of its winners move on to greener pastures in the professional arena. The Ace of Aces is an exclusive event for the magazine's Hole-in-One Club that was started in 1986. Two other novel competitions followed: the Eagles Championship for registered players in the Eagles Club and the Irons Challenge, an irons-only golf tournament open to all players.

The magazine has, also, moved into a prominent place in golf's retail sector. In nearly every issue golf equipment is featured. The newest innovations in the market place are discussed. Interviews with the industry's movers and shakers as wells as the technical "gurus" in manufacture and design are printed.

Nearly two decades ago 'The Top 20 Golf Course Poll' was introduced. Every two years readers are invited to vote to rank their favourite layouts in the country in a wide array of categories. Every two years, a six-month-long voting process determines the leading 20 golf courses. Saujana's Palm Course was the overall winner of the first five polls. After it was retired to Golf Malaysia's Hall of Fame, recent winners that have emerged were Clearwater Resort in 2003 to hold the crown for year 2004 and '05 and Kota Permai Golf and Country Club is the No. 1 golf course in Malaysia for 2006 and '07.

With all of this activity the publication has grown from an 80-page bi-monthly to a 140-plus page monthly that touches all aspects of golf and we are poised to continue to expand as we offer Malaysian golfers something to bolster their love of golf.

1981
2nd Issue
The "Royal Single Handicapper" was an exclusive for this issue, as His Royal Highness Tuanku Jaafar the Negri Sembilan Ruler, a the single-handicap player at the time, granted a 30-minute interview for the magazine.

This issue, also, moved the magazine from a free publication to a subscription publication, with a cover price of $3.00 for Peninsular Malaysia and $3.50 for East Malaysia.

1983
This was the year the magazine expanded to 12 issues, a frequency that remains today.

1984
LPGA Tour star Jan Stephenson, then the pin-up girl of golf was our cover-girl for the August.

1985
The stand-out issue for the year came in September and it featured the redoubtable Edmund J.H. Yong, the secretary of the Malaysian Golf Association who served for 22 years and eventually became the Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (PGC). The lawyer, who was also a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club's Rules Committee, worked tirelessly to advance the cause of golf and was renowned for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the rules.

1986
Our beloved 'Bapa Malaysia' Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, our first Prime Minister was on the cover during this year. The charismatic prince and leader was a true-blue follower of the sport and his passion for the game led to the founding of Putra Cup, otherwise known as the South-East Asian Golf Championship, and Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS).

The year saw the introduction of the Mid-Year Equipment Guide, has remained a staple of the magazine. It was, also, a year when the Hole-in-One Club was created to recognise golfers who scored aces on Malaysian golf courses. At last count there were 14,079 members with an average of 50 signing up monthly.

1990
A watershed year when the publication went full colour and through sheer grit and determination had become part and parcel of the golf fraternity. In our Course Poll in 1991 Saujana Golf and Country Club and Singapore Island Country Club's Bukit Course were selected as the best courses in Malaysia and Singapore respectively after a six-month poll that attracted some 3,000 votes. Two of Malaysia's best-known names in golf - Wong Hong Nung and Lim Siew Ai emerged as victors in our Champion of Champions and adorned our February 1993 issue. Both players became national amateur golfers and later joined the professional arena.

1995
Our 15th Anniversary issue was designed thanks to the new technology in publishing with a new high-tech look.

Three years later in 1998 our panel of golf instructors was expanded to include eight teaching professionals, namely, Mike Forrester, Jun Ojima, Louis Esselen, Graeme Ball, Lawrence Lau, Andrew Farrow, Andrew Argus and Glenn Roberts.

In December 1998, the first double cover bumper issue was published.

2000
The new Millennium was greeted by Golf Malaysia with a bold new look and more pages. And, it is no surprise that one Mr. Tiger Woods had more covers than any other golf as he posted win after win in his effort to better Nicklaus' 18 major titles.

2005
When the 25th Anniversary issue was unveiled it revealed a catchy image of Australia's Craig Parry raising his hand in celebration after defeating compatriot Nick O'Hern in a playoff. Perhaps Parry was also celebrating Golf Malaysia's two and half decades in publishing the magazine without interruption.

2008
Wow! Reaching our 28th year in circulation has been a long journey but one well worth the effort. This Anniversary issue unveils the results of the 2007 Course Poll that rankings the top 20 golf courses in Malaysia and names the golf course that will reign as Malaysia's best for the next two years. It is a must read issue!