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ndonesia will host its first ever OneAsia Tour-sanctioned Indonesia PGA Championship 2011 in March and expects 144 golfers to vie for more than US$1 million in prize money.

“The PGA championship, which is one of 13 OneAsia golf tournaments scheduled for this year, is expected to promote the diversity of Indonesian culture and beauty,” promoter Martha Silalahi Sidebang told a press conference at the Imperial Golf Club in Karawaci, Tangerang, on Tuesday.

Following the PGA championship in April, Indonesia will organize six series of Indonesia PGA championships in different locations. The events have been dubbed “The Journey of Feeling”.

“We have chosen seven courses to host the PGA championship and the series to offer the country’s richness and beauty to participants from Asia-Pacific countries and Australia,” Martha said.

The organizers will offer $365,000 in prize money for each Indonesia PGA championship series.

Martha said she hoped the events would help Indonesia to promote golf and to develop tourism and the economy.

Indonesian Professional Golf Association representative (PGPI) Nursalam Tabusalla said it was time for Indonesian golfers to prove their skills to the world.

“Our athletes need opportunities. The PGA championship and the series will give them such a chance,” he said, adding that the PGI has scheduled 18 golf tournaments for 2011 and 26 tournaments for 2012.

The Indonesian Golf Association (PGI) has urged national golfers to exercise more instead of just taking lessons to be better golfers, Nursalam said.

“We have numerous young golfers who work as golf coaches. Now we urge them to do more exercise,” he said.

OneAsia chief Ben Sellenger said Indonesia has become one of the most important destinations for golf tournaments because the nation has grown into an industrial country for tourism.

“The PGA championship and the series will be significant events for OneAsia and we want to return to similar events in the coming years,” he added.