At This ‘World Top 100’ Golf Course, Maybank Feted Its Clients with Fine Dining, Cultural Experiences and Game Improvement

The recent Maybank Wealth Golf Tournament whisked over 50 of its wealth clients from across Malaysia, Singapore and China to the Spring City Golf & Lake Resort in Yiliang County, Kunming. Here, at one of China’s top courses—widely considered to be among the World’s Top 100 Greatest Courses—the clients and their family members enjoyed a luxurious itinerary offering memorable experiences on and off the course.

More than a client appreciation initiative, the tournament reflected the way affluent clients increasingly live, invest and do business across borders. For Maybank, golf offered a natural setting to bring together a regional wealth community, where personal relationships and business conversations could unfold in a unique and exotic setting.

On tournament day, Alvin Lee Han Eng, Country CEO, CEO of Maybank Singapore Limited and CEO of Malayan Banking Berhad Singapore, thanked participants for making time to be part of the event. Although play was delayed by inclement weather, conditions improved for participants to take on all 18 holes of the beautiful Lake Course, designed by renowned American architect Robert Trent Jones Jr.

The amateur event was played in Stableford Double Peoria format, with the men playing off the white tees and the women playing from the red tees. The top three amateur players would earn exclusive Pro-Am slots to play with one of the stars of the LPGA-sanctioned Maybank Championship 2026, which will be held from October 29 to November 1 in Kuala Lumpur.

While golf was the main agenda, participants also enjoyed an OPPO Photo Challenge as well as specially arranged golf clinics conducted by Jeff Noeske, PGA of America Professional, and Anita Chen, PGA of China Professional and a former winner of the Nick Faldo Series Asia (Yunnan).

A prize presentation ceremony was then held at the picturesque Nordisk Village Yunnan, which combines Scandinavian design, Danish hygge and Yunnan’s local culture. Guests also received traditional Yi ethnic minority attire, adding a distinctive cultural dimension to the evening.

The magical atmosphere at Nordisk Village Yunnan was aided by a surreal artistic lighting ambience as Maybank wealth clients and their family members dined on a sumptuous five-course meal. Adding to the ambience was soothing Chinoiserie music, as well as contemporary songs echoing into the night as golfers exchanged tales from the fairways and greens and built new friendships.

As the camaraderie flowed into the night, colourful local village dance performances and a local folk singer entertained guests with traditional songs. In addition to the main category prizes, a host of lucky draw prizes were also given out, including two all-inclusive golf travel experiences. One lucky winner and their golf partner walked away with a golf getaway to Pineapple Valley Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, while another lucky winner and their golf partners will return to the beautiful Spring City Golf & Lake Resort for another curated golfing journey.

The evening ended with a traditional candle lamp ceremony for hope, shared prosperity, health and peace. The participants were each given a candle to either light and to throw it into a bonfire or take it home with them before the evening closed on a high with the razzle and dazzle of a fireworks display, which made for a spectacular ending to the night.

A GOLF TOURNAMENT THAT BRINGS ROAR30 TO LIFE

The Maybank Wealth Golf Tournament 2026 was organised as part of Maybank’s five-year strategy known as ROAR30, which reinforces the bank’s purpose of Humanising Financial Services through values-based offerings, building businesses at scale and strengthening foundations for the future.

For Maybank Group Wealth Management, this means going beyond traditional wealth management to build a connected regional wealth ecosystem. In ASEAN, one of the world’s most dynamic wealth regions, wealth today extends beyond investments to business expansion, family succession, cross-border opportunities and lifestyle, and Maybank is positioning itself as a connector of these opportunities across ASEAN and beyond. Robb Report Malaysia speaks to Alice Tan, Head, Group Wealth Management, Maybank, for a clearer perspective:

“As clients become more regional in the way they live, invest and do business, our role is to ensure that Maybank can support them seamlessly across these different dimensions. 

This tournament brings that ambition to life. By bringing together clients from Malaysia, Singapore and China in Kunming, we are creating a shared experience that connects clients beyond borders.

Golf is a powerful platform because it creates trusted relationships, not just networking. On the golf course, clients spend four to five uninterrupted hours together. Conversations happen naturally, and that creates a different level of connection than what is possible in a formal setting.

That’s where the value lies: facilitating meaningful introductions and relationships between entrepreneurs, investors, business owners and families who may otherwise never have met. Lifestyle is part of the experience, but the deeper purpose is connection.

And with our regional presence, we can continue to deliver exceptional experiences like these that connect clients across markets, supported by the strength of our network and deep understanding of ASEAN.”

BUILDING AND PRESERVING LEGACIES FOR FAMILIES 

The journey to Spring City Golf & Lake Resort was designed to be more than a golfing getaway. Maybank wealth clients had the exclusive privilege and choice of travelling together with their immediate family members.

In Malaysia, the introduction of Maybank Premier Heritage extends the Maybank Premier relationship to a client’s spouse and children, recognising that wealth today—especially across ASEAN—is increasingly family-centric. At a setting such as the Maybank Wealth Golf Tournament, this philosophy came alive through parent-and-child pairings and families sharing meaningful moments throughout the journey.

Lim Eng Ping, Head, Wealth Management Malaysia, Maybank, shares the philosophy behind Premier Heritage:

“At its core, Maybank Premier Heritage aims to build long-term relationships with our clients, helping them pass on values and stewardship to the next generation.

In Malaysia, we bring this to life not only through advisory conversations and market forums, but also through curated client experiences such as this tournament in Kunming. It reflects how we bring together wealth, advisory, lifestyle and family moments into one unforgettable Premier experience.

When families come together in a setting like this, it creates a natural opportunity to engage the next generation early. They can observe, participate and gradually build their own understanding of wealth and stewardship in a way that feels natural and informal.

Through Premier Heritage, we are creating a platform that supports continuity, not just of wealth, but also of relationships, values and trust across generations.

To make this a differentiated experience, we placed strong emphasis on the end-to-end journey. The destination itself added a sense of uniqueness, while the hospitality, golf clinics, cultural experiences and family participation were designed to make clients feel valued and recognised throughout.

Events like this complement our advisory-led approach with clients. Across Malaysia, we continue to engage clients through market updates, advisory conversations as well as focused sessions across key regions, including Penang, Ipoh, Johor, Sarawak and Sabah. This balance allows us to deliver both depth and breadth in our client engagements.

In addition, as a leader in Islamic finance, Maybank also integrates values-based finance into wealth management. To meet growing interest from clients who want their wealth to be aligned with values, ethics and purpose, while still meeting their financial objectives, we offer comprehensive conventional and Shariah-compliant structures and solutions, tailored to the client’s individual needs.

Looking ahead, affluent clients are becoming borderless, multi-generational and experience-driven. By connecting wealth advisory with family engagement and cross-border connectivity into one seamless journey, we aim to be a trusted partner across every stage of our clients’ wealth journey, while creating moments that they will remember.”

Maybank

Photos: Courtesy of Maybank

Cover image: Spring City Golf & Lake Resort