SOME are content to leave their hobbies for the weekends.

But not Nicklaus D'Cruz.

First, the 41-year-old made his love for golf a million-dollar business, with Organisation of Asian Amateur Golfers, a golf club which gives its 10 million members access to golf courses across the world without needing individual memberships.

This company had a $10-million turnover last year.

Now, he has started The Flying Club, as a hobby for the well-heeled - "people who are 43, own a Porsche", he said.

This is also that time of their lives when they are looking for something more "exotic", he said. He thinks flying is it.

Not only can they get private pilot licences, but they can also make full use of them and fly around the region in small Cessna planes for a leisurely day on the beach or a round of golf.

While it will start off with eight aircraft, including the four-seater Cessna 172S Skyhawk and the eight-seater GA8 Airvan, members can also buy and house their own personal planes through the club too.

The planes will be at Senai, Malaysia, and Seletar Aerospace Park.

The former photojournalist with Singapore Press Holdings, who also helmed a golf column for eight years, said he was inspired during a trip to Brazil two years ago.

"You think of parties and carnivals when you think of Brazil. But it wasn't till I reached Sao Paulo, an industrial town, that I realised the party was in Rio."

He was resigned to his fate of being stuck in Dullsville, but not six of his fellow travellers. They hired a cab, then a plane, and for about US$150 ($212) each, they flew themselves to Rio, and "partied like mad".

That's how the idea struck him.

The president of the Entrepreneurs' Organisation hasn't always been so good with money though. He once walked out on a $1-million investment in a Malaysian country club, after quarrelling with his partner. He then scraped by on about RM10 ($4.38) a week.

Mr D'Cruz's advice: Look at your hobbies for business ideas.