From the dance floor to the greens

A thumping beat so catchy is ringing in your ear and your feet just can't resist the temptation to dance and bounce on the dance floor. The lights flash and you just get lost in the musical atmosphere with your friends.

If it was a decade ago, it would have been highly likely that the person responsible for your ecstasy in the club every weekends to be the famous DJ Daryl Bosswell.

Fast forward to 2014, here we are at the Saujana Golf & Country Club, Saujana Resort, Shah Alam. The weather is sunny, but not too hot. The green landscape and calmness of the lake is a nice change compared to the bustling city of which many of us are used to.

An unusual setting to interview a DJ. This may surprise his fans but as much as Daryl loves spinning at the table, he can also be seen swinging his golf clubs at some of the most prestigious venues in Malaysia and around the region.

After a quick buggy ride to the first hole, I ask him, "Why golf?"

The 39-year-old DJ-turned-golfer received his Diploma in Golf Business Management in Australia and is a fully certified instructor from the Australian Golf Teachers Federation. Daryl is currently based at the KLGCC as a Senior Golf Instructor.

Since 2007, he has been a full playing member of the Mercedes Benz Tour, ASEAN PGA Tour and the Malaysian Tour.

Daryl B

NOMADIC LIFE: Daryl travels extensively around Southeast Asia.

Daryl explains that golf is not a game against an opponent.

“It’s how you get on the golf course and play your best against the golf course,” he says.

While we have Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Datuk Nicol David excelling in badminton and squash respectively, no household names actually pop to mind when it comes to golf in Malaysia.

Nevertheless, the likes of Danny Chia and Iain Steel rank high on Daryl's list of those he looks up to.

Danny Chia, Iain Steel

GREAT GOLFERS: Danny Chia (L) and Iain Steel flying the Malaysian flag high in the golfing arena.

“He (Danny) is the first Malaysian to play all four rounds of the British Open. He is a hard-worker at his game.

"They travel a lot. They are on the road. Life is not easy. They travel from one venue to another trying to make money for the next week and the week after. It’s a tough life," he adds.

Many people seem to associate golf with big bucks, fame and some glory.

A quick glance at the ESPN.com's PGA Tour Money Leaders for this year, the top five leaders earn more than $3 million. They are Bubba Watson ($4.53 million), Jimmy Walker ($4.23 million), Dustin Johnson ($3.36 million), Matt Kuchar ($3.12 million) and Patrick Reed ($3.05 million).

The ladies may not earn as much but it's still good money. The same website reported that Stacy Lewis earned $833,976 so far, followed by Michelle Wie with $738,693.

However, that's the PGA and LPGA tour. What about the ASEAN and Asian tour?

Daryl explains that it's expensive to be on tour and players are expected to fork out thousands of ringgit for accommodation and flight tickets.

Being sponsored is crucial to cover the costs and he is thankful to be an ambassador for Callaway. Not many golfers in this region have the privilege of being sponsored.

By this point, Daryl asks for a two-minute break from the interview to hit a shot. He takes a strong a backswing and we have a hard time tracking the ball.

Daryl B

SHARP EYES: The interview takes a quick break as Daryl tries to locate the ball.

We hop on the buggy and Daryl's sharp eyes spots it at a nearby brush area, but definitely not in the lake.

We return to the interview. This time, I inquire what Daryl is like off the golf course and you can bet he loves his time as a full-time dad, he runs his own company and also teaches golf.

As we’re about to wrap the interview (the afternoon heat is getting unbearable on the course), I just have to ask Daryl that one question: whether he would still DJ and play music.

"Some people find it amazing that I’m teaching golf full time. It surprised many. To me, I don’t feel any lost. I've moved on to bigger, better things,".