by Dr. Iain Corness
The
MD of Thai-Ger Line Golf is a young German, Fabian Arp. He is one of the
more happy people in town and works by the principle “I will get what I
deserve”, and he means that in all ways – both positive and negative.
He was born in northern Germany, between the North Sea
and the Baltic Sea, called “Fish Heads” by other Germans, but Fabian
doesn’t mind. In fact, the more you talk to this young man, there’s
not much he minds at all!
He did not do well at school. In fact he loathed it.
“I thought children should be paid to go to school,” he said.
Fabian’s interests were more football and fishing, neither of which was
on the school curriculum. He was 16 years of age before he had completed
basic schooling, “They liked me so much I had to repeat two classes!”
After leaving school, he found he didn’t like work
much either, but he was stuck. With his poor grades and minimal education,
there were no interesting well-paid jobs. He was certainly getting what he
deserved.
He also found that compulsory military service was
beckoning, but joined the coastguard, part of the police, to avoid this.
However, after six months, the young coastguard was given a rifle and a
hand grenade. “I was trapped,” said Fabian. Not only was he trapped,
but the system trapped him even further. Instead of being able to leave
the coastguard after two years, they kept on upping the length of service,
until he ultimately served seven years!
By this stage he also knew that he was going to get
nowhere without an education and went to night school for four hours a
night, Monday to Friday, for three and a half years, gaining A levels in
mathematics, German and biology. He did also find the time to continue
playing football, and was picked for an international side that came to
Thailand in 1990, his first experience of the Kingdom.
After successfully passing night school he then went to
university to study teaching of Home Economics, German literature and
Culture and Physical Education. However, I got the feeling that Fabian did
not fit the teaching mold. His interests were boxing, football and
reading. “My parents were very diverse in their interests. Father loved
boxing, and Mother was religious. I grew up between a nun and a boxer. It
gave me a wider perspective,” said Fabian.
His perspective was so wide, that when someone in
Bangkok offered him a position in an import/export business, he took it,
leaving university after only 12 months. He also got to play football with
the German All Stars in Asia, which appeared to have tipped the balance.
Chatting with the other members of the team, Fabian
found there was one who wanted to start a fish farm, and Fabian was
convinced to join the project. Remember that Fabian was a self-confessed
“fish head” and had done some part-time work on a fish farm. He was
also young and self-confident. “I went back to Germany and sold
everything, and came back. After six months I had lost everything. I had
told everyone (in Germany) that I would be coming back in five years as a
multi-millionaire!”
With his tail between his legs, Fabian returned to
Germany. For a month or so, he could only see the dark side of life, but
then his innate positive nature came through again. He needed to work, any
work, and spent the next 18 months on building sites as a carpenter or
concrete mixer. It is also of interest to know that by this stage in his
life, he knew nothing about golf, and had never even met anyone who played
golf!
Now able to hold his head up financially, when he
received another job offer in Bangkok, he took it. The position was to
maintain mobile cranes; the salary was good and he had the opportunity to
play sweeper for the German All Stars! For Fabian, it was a no-brainer!
“I was a quick learner,” said Fabian. “I was not afraid to work hard
and long.”
Of course, people who work hard and long also need
spare time relaxation, and this is where he encountered golf. He also met
a club-maker in Bangkok who sparked an idea in Fabian’s head. “There
was no proper golf shop in Pattaya in 1997,” so he moved here and set up
in business. He had a little (very little) money of his own, and with
350,000 baht scraped up between his family and himself, established
Thai-Ger Line Golf.
“The first two years, I just wanted to survive,” he
said. He moved from manufacturing clubs to golf tours, which has been very
successful for him. He now employs six people and has two minibuses.
I asked him if this was his last business venture, but
it was obvious that he was keeping his options open. Jokingly, he said he
would sell the business when he has 20 minibuses, but he already has plans
for the third bus in 2006. “I might even do a fish farm again,” said
our jovial Fabian!
His hobbies are constant, however. Reading and playing
football. “I play for the Eastern Seaboard, but I’m 40 now and the
worst player in the whole team!” He also plays golf and had previously
set himself the goal of having a single digit handicap. “My handicap
used to be nine, and I’ve had two hole-in-ones, but golf now has to be
‘fun’. To be a happy golfer, don’t be too serious about it,” said
the man who has been there and done it!
I asked Fabian if he had a 10 year plan or similar. “I had one, but I
updated it on a yearly basis. Things can change overnight, what with Bird
Flu, so I am prepared for a change if necessary. I could always turn the
shop into an indoor aquarium and breed fish,” said Fabian, laughing
again.
