APGC, the Masters, and The R&A Announce Creation of the Asian Amateur Championship
Inaugural Asian Amateur Championship will be played in October 2009 at Mission Hills Golf Club
- Winner receives invitation to compete in the 2010 Masters
- Winner and runner-up will earn a place in International Final Qualifying for The Open
The Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the Masters Tournament, and The R&A announced the creation of the Asian Amateur Championship as part of a partnership committed to promoting the game of golf in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Masters Tournament and The R&A will financially underwrite and provide support to the APGC in the running of the championship. In addition, the winner will receive an invitation to play in the 2010 Masters Tournament, and, together with the runner-up, will earn a place in International Final Qualifying for The 139th Open Championship at St Andrews.
“Golf continues to grow in this region and what better way to stimulate that growth than to enter into this groundbreaking agreement with the Masters and The R&A,” said Tommy Lee, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation. “This is an exciting partnership for golf in Asia-Pacific and the APGC is proud of its new affiliation. This initiative will help bring the game to new audiences in Asia-Pacific and will give aspiring amateur golfers a special opportunity in the game.”
Billy Payne, Chairman of the Masters Tournament, added, “We are extremely proud to announce that the winner of the Asian Amateur Championship will receive an invitation to compete in the Masters Tournament. This is an extension of the initiative we announced last April regarding the use of the Masters name, and reputation, to help grow the game of golf around the world.”
The R&A’s Chief Executive, Peter Dawson, said, “Throughout our 250-year history, The R&A has worked hard to act in the best interests of the game of golf. The potential to grow the game in Asia-Pacific is very large and the creation of this championship represents a wonderful opportunity to see the region’s talent flourish. The R&A is delighted to partner with the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation and the Masters Tournament in this important initiative for golf in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The inaugural Asian Amateur Championship will be held at Mission Hills Golf Club’s World Cup Course from 29 October to 1 November 2009. In future years the event will be played in other countries affiliated to the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, with the 2010 event scheduled to be played in Japan.
Asian Amateur Championship Format
The inaugural Asian Amateur Championship will have a maximum field of 120 amateur players. The field will be selected by the following criteria:
1. The top two ranked amateur players from each of the APGC member countries plus the four top ranked players from the host country, as ranked on The R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) as of August 14, 2009. If there is not a sufficient number of players ranked from that member country, the member country may nominate a player(s) from their country with an established handicap of less than 5.4, to be approved by the APGC, to fulfill the two positions eligible from that country.
2. The remainder of the field (maximum 120 players) will be filled taking the next highest ranked players of APGC Member Countries, not otherwise qualified from the WAGR as of 14 August 2009. The maximum number of eligible players from any APGC member country, with the exception of the host country, will be six.
3. The AAC reserves the right to invite additional players at its discretion.
Asia Pacific Golf Confederation
The APGC is the representative body for 32 national golf associations throughout Asia-Pacific, operating from its headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. Golf in the Asia-Pacific region is growing at a considerable rate. There are approximately 18 million golfers and 4,000 golf courses in the region. The APGC assists member organisations in the development of golf in their respective countries, works to ensure adherence to the Rules of Golf as approved by The R&A, and partners with the International Golf Federation in the promotion of golf.
The Masters
Inspired by its founders, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, the Masters Tournament has embraced its obligation and seized opportunities to promote the game since the tournament’s inception in 1934. The efforts of the Masters on behalf of the game of golf are aimed to preserve its integrity, celebrate sportsmanship, applaud champions, positively affect people in need through philanthropy, and give all that is possible back to the game. The Masters is focused on providing stewardship for the game, especially for amateur players and youth around the world.
The R&A
Based in St Andrews, The R&A is golf’s governing body and organiser of The Open Championship. The R&A is committed to working for golf and operates with the consent of 136 organisations from the amateur and professional game and on behalf of over 30 million golfers in 121 countries. Using funds generated by The Open Championship, The R&A promotes golf development, rules education and best practice for sustainable golf course management throughout the world.
Mission Hills
Mission Hills Golf Club is the world’s largest golf complex as accredited by the Guinness Book of World Records. Its twelve 18-hole golf courses are designed by the game’s greatest players and course architects, and spread across an area of over 20 square kilometers from Shenzhen to Dongguan in Southern China, just 30 minutes outside of Hong Kong. Mission Hills has made a name for itself in the world of premier golf through its pioneering role in developing golf in China and the region, and being host to some of the continent’s most important golf tournaments.
Source: APGC; the Masters Tournament; The R&A
The World Premiere of the Million Dollar Putt Thrills the Crowd at the Snowgolf World Championship 2009
This weekend the Snowgolf World Championship 2009 teed off a new dimension in golf. This first-class event and its climactic putting competition attracted personalities and golfers to Obertauern ski resort from all over the world – even as far afield as the Philippines, Australia and the UAE. The event was sponsored by PNYG, a visionary organisation that delivers marketing-driven luxury lifestyle projects. PNYG also conceived the “Million Dollar Putt” for the tournament.
Despite overwhelming applications, the field was tightly restricted to only 100 amateur golfers. Olympic champions, world champions and celebrities all took the honour in the adapted Obertauern snow. The event took place on a purpose-made 9-hole course (Par 36, 2.700 metres in length). Snow machines were used to prepare the fairways, with out of bounds set by natural deep snow and putting surfaces, “whites”, prepared by hand.
Adi Hengstberger (D) retained his 2007 title. The runners-up were Tristan David (Philippines) and Peter Dobrowolsky (Austria). The new women’s World Champion was Sarah Holzl (Austria).
At the climax of the Snowgolf World Championship 2009, the largest amateur prize in the world was up for grabs: The “Million Dollar Putt”, a world premiere in Obertauern. Participants at the event got a one-off chance to putt for a million US dollars from a distance of 18 metres. Media interest for this phenomenon was enormous: dozens of camera teams relayed pictures all over the world.
Alongside amateur competitors, many big names from sport and showbiz were trying to sink their “Million Dollar Putt” for important causes – “Wings for Life” (Spinal Cord Research Foundation) and “Eagles Charity Golf Club”. There was a breathtaking atmosphere as DJ Otzi, Air Race World Champion Hannes Arch, boxing champion Axel Schulz, football stars Alex Zickler and Rene Aufhauser, FIFA World Cup winner Rainer Bonhof (GER), Austrian Golf Association President Franz Wittmann and actor Sascha Wussow gave it their best shot. Twice the ball seemed destined for the hole. In the end nobody could pull off the big putt, and the prize remains unclaimed until the next championship.
Source: PNYG MAC SL.
Travelers Championship Generates More Than $760,000 for Charity
The Travelers Championship, Connecticut’s PGA TOUR event, announced that the 2008 tournament generated more than $760,000 for charity and produced millions in economic development for the region. The charitable contributions will benefit more than 120 charities throughout the state of Connecticut and represent an increase of more than 15 percent over the tournament’s 2007 donation.
“As title sponsor, Travelers is proud to lead an event that has the resources to positively impact so many people and organizations in our community through financial contributions and increased awareness of these charities,” said Andy Bessette, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Travelers. “We are pleased to have delivered a successful event for Connecticut again this year, and we look forward to growing the tournament and ultimately its charitable impact on the community each year.”
Primary beneficiaries of the $760,000 were the Travelers Championship co-charities, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and the Greater Hartford Jaycees. In addition, more than 120 Connecticut charitable organizations benefited from the event through a variety of fundraising programs and donations.
“We are immensely grateful for our partnership with the Travelers Championship. This donation provides vital support to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, enabling us to offer children facing serious illness the chance to build self-esteem and restore joy,” said Ray Lamontagne, chairman of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. “In addition, through this event, we have been provided excellent media opportunities to increase awareness of the Camp’s remarkable programming.”
Located in Ashford, Conn., The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is a residential summer camp and year-round center designed to serve children and families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses. At the Camp, youngsters with diagnoses including cancer, sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS and hemophilia have the time of their lives, while participating in boating, crafts, swimming, performing arts and more. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp offers additional programs in the off-season for campers, their families and healthcare professionals. The Camp serves 15,000 children annually, all free of charge. In the words of one young camper, “I love it here. Sometimes you think being sick gives you limits, but the Camp helps you try anything.”
The Greater Hartford Jaycees is a membership organization for 21 – 41 year olds with a mission of leadership development through community service. Members of the Greater Hartford Jaycees are regularly seen in the community building playgrounds, delivering Thanksgiving turkeys to those in need, distributing Easter baskets to underprivileged children and facilitating youth leadership programs for high school students. In addition, the Greater Hartford Jaycees annually distributes thousands of dollars in scholarships and grants throughout the region.
“The Greater Hartford Jaycees is grateful to the thousands of fans, sponsors and volunteers who were part of the 2008 Travelers Championship, all of whom played a direct role in generating this donation,” said Joseph Pompei, president of the Greater Hartford Jaycees. “Through our involvement with the Travelers Championship, members of the Jaycees are able to develop leadership skills by organizing volunteers. With this donation, the organization will positively impact the community through scholarships for young people, grants for various charitable organizations and important community programming, such as Thanksgiving food baskets for those in need.”
More than 120 additional Connecticut charities were beneficiaries of the 2008 Travelers Championship through thousands of dollars raised in the Birdies for Charity pledge-based fundraiser and the Chip In for Charity ticket sales fundraiser. Additionally, the Travelers Championship made contributions to the World Golf Hall of Fame, as well as numerous product donations to regional fundraisers.
New this year, Haggett Longobardi, A Division of J.H. Cohn partnered in the tournament’s charitable giving mission as presenting sponsor of Birdies for Charity, by supporting administration of the program and generously providing a bonus fund for the charities that raised the most money.
“Haggett Longobardi, A Division of J.H. Cohn is proud to be a partner in this important community event. The Travelers Championship’s mission of giving back to Connecticut is complementary to our firm’s values, and we were pleased to find a way that we could support so many charities in our community,” said Frank Longobardi, managing partner. “Our Firm is committed to supporting Birdies for Charity by providing all administrative support and Birdies Bonus Bucks again in 2009. We urge all Connecticut nonprofits to explore this program and hope to see the funds raised continue to grow each year.”
This year’s donation included the tournament’s most successful Birdies for Charity campaign since the program was launched in 2004. The 2008 tournament included more than double the amount of charities participating in the program as compared to 2007.
“The program was so easy. In our first year participating in Birdies for Charity, we raised more than $11,000, plus we earned an additional $2,500 bonus. The funds we raised are going to help us provide our students with updated software needed so each child may continue to improve academically and socially,” said Sally McClure, director of development for the Intensive Education Academy.
Planning is well underway for the 2009 Travelers Championship, which will be held June 22 – 28, 2009 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. In addition to generating major charitable contributions, the tournament is a noteworthy economic driver for the state of Connecticut, annually attracting more than 220,000 fans and featuring four days of national television broadcast. Hosting an event of this magnitude results in extensive utilization of area hotels, airports and transportation providers; increased spending in local restaurants and stores; and significant operational expenses invested with a variety of local business to build the Travelers Championship site.
“Based on our investment in the local economy and the funds we raised for charity, the Travelers Championship is truly an event that Connecticut residents can be proud to have in their community. We are grateful for the many companies who supported us as sponsors and the thousands of fans who witnessed the tournament, making it possible for us to generate more then $760,000 for charity,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “We look forward to another successful tournament in 2009, and encourage everyone to consider how they can play a role in this event. Be it a new charity participating in a tournament fundraiser, new sponsors utilizing the tournament to grow their business, or fans and volunteers coming out to be part of the excitement, this event is truly a community partnership and offers a role for everyone to be involved.
Travelers Championship
The Travelers Championship will be held June 22 – 28, 2009, at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. As the only PGA TOUR event in the Northeast in early summer, the Travelers Championship is one of the region’s premier sporting events. Primary beneficiaries of the Travelers Championship are The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, serving children facing serious illness, and the Greater Hartford Jaycees, a leadership development and community service organization. The event is sponsored by Travelers, a leading provider of property casualty insurance for home, auto and business. Travelers has been doing business in the community for nearly a century and a half, and today has more than 6,000 employees in the Greater Hartford area. The Official Property Casualty Insurer of the PGA TOUR, Travelers has been a sponsor of this event each year since its inception in 1952, becoming title sponsor in 2007. Complete details are available on www.TravelersChampionship.com.