History

The Vision by the late Tun Mustapha bin Datu Harun

The concept of building a golf course of international standard was first mooted in the early seventies by the then Chief Minister of Sabah, Tun Mustapha bin Datu Harun. He set up the Tun Mustapha Golf Trust with an initial grant of RM2,000,000.00 from the state government to develop such a course.

Many sites were considered including one in Menggatal and another in Petagas, near the
present airport. The decision was made however with the enormous contributions by the late Datuk Khoo Siak Chiew (father of the past President, Datuk Peter Khoo) and Tan Sri Lim Ching Wah, both of whom owned the land now occupied by the course. Back then, the course was called the Bukit Padang Golf Course Complex.

Funded by the Tun Mustapha Golf Trust the golf course was nearing completion with most of the site preparation and club house in the final stages when a change in government in 1976 brought Tun M's successor, Datuk Harris bin Mohd Salleh, into the picture.

Datuk Harris, a keen golfer himself, carried through his predecessor's vision for a premier golf course in Sabah when the Trust realized that it was no longer possible for it to continue with the development of the course.

The driving Force behind ...Datuk Harris bin Mohd Salleh

Datuk Harris entered the scene facing many challenges, the most dire being financial capacity in completing the course. Although the state government gave considerable grants to assist, there were unanticipated delays and stumbling blocks.

The contractor, being an English golf course construction company, had misread the weather conditions in Sabah. They spread out the topsoil and seeded the course just before the monsoons came and sure enough, the rains washed the soil and seeds into the lakes, requiring them to redo the work. Then the grass failed to grow for some reason or other, despite considerable effort in fertilizing and watering the course, until they realized chicken manure made an excellent growth stimulant.

Operational problems notwithstanding, Datuk Harris ensured that the committee accounted for every cent and that no money was wasted. Whatever works that could be done directly by club labourers, under the voluntary supervision of club members, were carried out to conserve funds. Suppliers and non-club labourers were paid directly instead of through the contractors.

Datuk Harris, also a keen gardener, brought in many varieties of plants and trees and spent considerable time supervising the layout and planting of the trees. The hardy Acacia Mangium was planted in many areas with the intention of replacing these trees once the club could afford to.

The club owes a big debt of gratitude to Datuk Harris whom was not only the driving force behind the committee and largely responsible for the beautification and landscaping of the club house and golf course but also gave the club its present name, the Sabah Golf and Country Club.