Brunei’s palatial Empire Hotel & Country Club is reinforcing its reputation as one of Asia’s premier golf destination resorts with the addition of the ‘Faldo Series Asia’ to its prestigious golfing events calendar that already includes the Brunei Open, on the Asian Tour, and the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters.

For the first time, Sir Nick Faldo’s global golf development programme for talented young golfers, the ‘Faldo Series Asia’, introduces the Empire Hotel and Country Club with its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, to its 2011/2012 calendar.

The Faldo Series Brunei Championship is being inaugurated into the schedule of 18 tournaments in 14 countries across Asia and the Middle East from November 23 -24, 2011.

Over 1,500 Asian golfers aged 12 to 21 are set to take part in the season while countless other younger children will be introduced to the game through grass-roots activities at the venues.

The Faldo Series Asia, which started in 2006, follows the success of the Faldo Series Europe, established in 1996, with former winners including Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.

“I am delighted that more Asian golfers than ever before will benefit from the Faldo Series this season and we look forward to welcoming new competitors from Brunei,” said Faldo.

Up to five players from Brunei will qualify for the sixth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, to be hosted by the six-time Major winner in March 2012 at Mission Hills Golf Club in China.

Empire Launches New Executive Golf Academy   
Meanwhile, the Empire Hotel & Country Club is also celebrating its leading role in Asian golf with the launch of an Executive Golf Academy to hone skills of aspiring golfers.

Just a short 3-hour daily flight from Hong Kong, instruction is on offer for groups of 3 to 6, or for those seeking a more personalized learning experience with a one-to-one or two-to-one student-coach ratio.

Personalised lesson plans are formulated following evaluation and consultation with an instructor. The academy runs from 10am to 4pm daily with three hours of morning instruction followed by lunch and an optional on-course playing lesson.

Packages include luxury accommodation with daily breakfast and welcome dinner along with all green and buggy fees plus unlimited use of the practice facility.

For groups of 2-6 players, rates for 7 nights / 6 days of instruction are B$3,733 (approx. USD 3,100) for full days and B$2,593 (approx. USD 2,160) for half days based on single accommodation, and B$6,213 / B$3,933 (approx. USD 5,160 / USD 3,270) for couples.

For 4 nights / 3 days of instruction, the rates are B$2,026 / B$1,456 (approx. USD 1,690 / USD 1,210) for full/half days for single bookings and B$3,336 / B$2,196 (approx. USD 2,770 / USD 1,830) for doubles.

Individual rates with single accommodation start from B$2,207 (approx. USD 1,840) for two days to B$5,039 (approx. USD 4,190) for 5 days, or B$1,538 / B$3,502 (approx. USD 1,280 / USD 2,910) per person for double occupancy.

Corporate Golf Clinics can also be tailored to an organisation's requirements for 6-10 students.

At Brunei's most prestigious course, a Junior Academy welcomes young golfers under 18 of all skill levels with lessons in both group and individual settings.

The opulent “crown jewel” of the Sultanate of Brunei was voted one of Asia’s leading golf destinations in the World Travel Awards and Asia Pacific’s Best Golf Resort in by Asian Golf Monthly in 2010.