From left: Tham Onn Chuan, CEO, IROAS; K P Low, director, Taylormade; Soraya Nadia Munday, deputy general manager, corporate marketing, Desaru Coast; Chong Lay Hun, head of credit & COO, Mercedes-Benz Financial; Valerie Yee, director of sales & marketing, Crestlink; Elaine Hew, general manager, marketing communications, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia; Datuk Ho Kay Tat, publisher & group CEO, The Edge; Datuk Raffiq Md Ariff, managing director, 100Plus; Harris Abdullah, general manager, The Els Club Desaru Coast; Sean Soh, commercial director, Luen Heng; and Kevin Koh, managing director, Dr Med, commemorating the start of MercedesTrophy 2026 at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club (Photo: Patrick Goh/ The Edge)
The evergreen popularity of golf is perhaps perplexing to outsiders. How much fun can swinging a club and hitting a tiny ball across the fairway towards a hole on the green, over and over again for hours on end, really be? While the sport’s relative lack of high intensity movement and colliding bodies might lead some to write it off as tedious and even boring, there are few other games with the same social prominence and rich history.
It turns out that there is a good reason why those who catch the golfing bug rarely go back. While there is no definitive answer for how long ago humans started playing stick-and-ball games to make the hours go by, the earliest record of modern golf as we know it comes from 1400s Scotland, where it was so popular that it was reportedly banned to keep men focused on their military duties. Luckily for avid players in the 21st century, such prohibitions no longer exist. In fact, golf’s reputation has gone from being a commoner’s distraction to a favourite pastime of the wealthy and discerning — and we have professional and amateur championships all over the world to show for it.
The annual MercedesTrophy is one that stands out on that list. Returning for its 36th edition in Malaysia, the amateur tournament is organised and hosted by the famed German car manufacturer. It draws more than 60,000 players from 60 countries every year. Participants are split into four groups: Category A (handicaps 0 to 12), Category B (handicaps 13 to 20), Category C (handicaps 21 to 24) and Category D (women with handicaps 0 to 36).
The three players with the highest Stableford scores at the National Final go on to represent the country at the World Final in the birthplace of the luxury automobile — Stuttgart, Germany. At the world-class Der Öschberghof golf course, finalists get the rare opportunity to put their skills to the test against the crème de la crème at this level of sportsmanship.
Although winning is always sweet, the event is more than just competition as it provides Mercedes-Benz clientele with an experience that goes beyond the road, enriching their engagement with the brand and the passions that make long drives worthwhile. “It’s a signature event for us and has been really popular among our customers. The minute the registration link goes live every year, it fills up almost immediately. There are always people waiting to get a slot,” says Elaine Hew, general manager for marketing communications at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
The camaraderie formed among the contestants is a key factor that makes the tournament so highly anticipated. Last year’s Category B and C winners Muhamad Khairi Zakaria and Chong Mun Hoe recall making several new friends through the local rounds and more from all corners of the globe in Germany. Months later, they all keep in touch and continue to bond over a shared fervour for the game and exceptional motoring. A particularly special acquaintance was German golfer and two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, with whom they got to face off on the 16th hole at Der Öschberghof.
While winners are not allowed to compete in the tournament again, most return in the following years just to play for fun, joining new and returning participants as they try their luck. There are irresistible prizes announced at the national final too — the “Drive to Major” title, which recognises the golfer with the straightest drive closest to the centre line with an all-expenses-paid trip to The Open in the UK, and a Mercedes-Benz E 350 e for the first player to score a hole-in-one at either of two designated par-3 holes at each tournament venue.
As a sedan that does it all, the E 350 e is particularly coveted. “There’s plenty of space for two golf bags and then some, making it practical for a day on the course. It’s a smooth, comfortable drive, whether you’re behind the wheel or just enjoying the ride. It’s also perfect for everyday use, like commuting to the office,” says Hew, who is particularly excited to see if anyone will drive the car home in 2026 following several dry years.
Winner or not, golfers return time and time again to catch up with old pals, make new ones and just have a good time doing something they enjoy. “Over the past 36 years, MercedesTrophy in Malaysia has really grown into something quite special. It’s no longer just about the game — it’s about the people, friendships and experiences we create together as part of the Mercedes-Benz family. For me, it has always been about creating memorable moments, whether it’s that great shot on the course or the conversations and laughter after the game. Those are the things people remember, and that’s what makes this tournament meaningful,” she adds.
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Something else Hew has noticed, with much pleasant surprise, is how an event of this nature has attracted an increasingly youthful audience, depicting Mercedes-Benz’s shifting customer base and growing interest in activities once considered to be for an older demographic. For many enthusiasts of the sport, tagging along on their parents’ weekly driving range sessions was their earliest exposure to the game, much like how most people’s first driving teacher was a family elder. The tournament’s lasting popularity and influx of fresh faces is an indication of knowledge and taste being passed down through the generations.
To Hew, who has watched this change happen gradually over the years, each edition of the MercedesTrophy becomes that much more heartwarming. “We now have a wonderful mix of long-time participants and younger customers joining us, which keeps the energy fresh and exciting. It’s a nice reflection of how the brand continues to stay relevant across generations,” she says.
With the first qualifying round of the MercedesTrophy 2026 set to take place on May 12 at Tropicana Golf & Country Club in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, players are, no doubt, sharpening their game in preparation and searching for advice to get them in tip-top swinging shape. The best guidance, perhaps, comes from last year’s winners, who agree on one thing — to play for yourself and for the love of the game.
This article first appeared on April 6, 2026 in The Edge Malaysia.
