Love at First Sight for Superintendent Farhana

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Just over 15 years ago, a landscape architecture undergraduate from Malaysia’s MARA Technology University joined a field trip to Kota Permai Golf & Country Club - and it was 'love at first sight!'

Now the Golf Course Superintendent at Saujana Golf & Country Club, Farhana A. Safian recalls how she was smitten by the idea of working in the wide open spaces of a golf club.

“I was in my first semester at university, and it was the first field trip we had for the golf course maintenance subject. It was love at first sight for me! I knew immediately that I wanted to work in the golf course industry,” said Farhana, who joined Saujana in November last year.

Post-graduation, Farhana spent a year working as a landscape architect before spamming her resume to 'almost every golf club in the Klang Valley'. She secured the Assistant Course Superintendent role at Rahman Putra Golf Club and gradually worked her way up to Course Superintendent.

“After I got promoted to Course Superintendent, I worked towards getting certification from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America for Class A membership. I had to take some exams and fulfil certain requirements in order to keep the membership. It's been six years now since I've been a member,” she added.

A three-year stint at Sarawak Golf Club in the East Malaysian state of the same name followed, before the opportunity to join Saujana – one of Malaysia’s premier clubs – came up. Farhana settled down quickly and was warmly lauded by players and officials for the mint playing conditions of the Palm Course during the Asian Development Tour’s ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A in May.

Farhana’s love for her profession is plain to see in the animated gestures she makes while speaking of her duties.

“The best part of my job is the early mornings with the smell of fresh cut grass. I love sunrise, and I love sunset, but I love sunrise the most because it represents hope. The most satisfying moment for me is when I get to turn a course around, from a certain condition to a better one. And also after the successful completion of a tournament, such as the recent ADT event. I'm very happy with that,” said the mother of two.

The toughest part, Farhana added, is managing expectations of the various stakeholders. “It's not easy managing the expectations of the owners, the members, and also balancing between managing the staff and the environment. But I always try my best – I give my 110% every time,” she said.

That passion has helped Farhana carve her own niche in the male-dominated field of greenskeeping, although it did not come easily.

“The toughest part about being one of the very few women in this industry is trying to earn the respect of my own staff, which is almost entirely male. But if you do your job with integrity and if you do it correctly and with respect, you will earn the respect back,” Farhana added.

Farhana also enjoys being part the golf industry as a whole. “The best part about being in the golf industry has to be meeting a lot of people; the players, members, tournament directors, etc. You get to learn something from them, share their experiences, and get to know their points of views, so it's very interesting.”

Asked if she would encourage young girls to go into greenskeeping, Farhana responded with a resounding ‘yes’. “If you love the outdoors, if you love science, if you love sports itself, this is the path for you. For me, it's very rewarding and you're not confined to a space – the entire 18 or 36-hole course is your office. Every day is a new challenge for us!”