The world’s largest amateur golfing tournament, World Golfers Championship, celebrated its 20th commemorative Opening Ceremony in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, 2 November.
Photo: Team South Africa with Mona Tumba, wife the late Sven Tumba who is the founder of World Golfers Championship.
Up to 300 golfers representing 24 countries in the Championship and 21 countries in the Invitational proudly raised their national flag and set the course for the best in amateur championship golf this week.
Golfing legend and patron of the World Golfers Championship, Arnold Palmer, commented on the hosting of the World Final in South Africa in his message to the golfers saying, “Not only does the host country, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, have a great golf legacy, but it also shares its own 20-year milestone of democracy, which highlights to the golfing world the friendship and love that was shared by the late Sven Tumba for South Africa.”
Annika Sörenstam, one of the most successful female golfers and Chairwoman of the WGC Advisory Board said in her address to the golfers, “The World Final is an exciting platform to challenge your golfing skills as you put yourself to the test against your fellow golfers. However, the legacy that has built this tournament into the world’s largest amateur event does not rest only in winning the title and trophy. It is the friendships and wonderful golfing memories both on and off the course that you will take home, that makes you a real winner”.
Commemorative World Final Opening & Flag Raising
Ceremony in Durban.
PGA Master Professional and Master of Ceremonies for the World Golfers Championship, Dale Hayes, emphasized the prestige of WGC as a global golf platform to represent your country. The golfers will also have a unique opportunity of experiencing the thrill of competing as a professional against competitors from all over the world while enjoying the very best of Durban’s warm hospitality and tourism highlights.
“The Sven Tumba Classic commemorative tournament, which was played over 2 days last week at Princes Grant Golf Estate and Beachwood Country Club, proved to be a great start to the 20th anniversary World Final celebration. The high spirits, excitement and national pride of the golfers as ambassadors of their countries can be felt on and off the course. New friendships and business networks are already being formed and we are looking forward to a competitive week of golf ahead of us with the Championship and Invitational tournaments up next,” concluded Craig Clay-Smith, spokesperson for World Golf Events South Africa.
This is the 4th consecutive year that the 20th World Golfers Championship and Invitational is being hosted in KwaZulu-Natal and is being played across four of Durban’s renowned courses – Durban Country Club, Selborne Park Golf Club, Mount Edgecombe Country Club Course 1 and Umhlali Country Club from 29 October to 8 November. Founded in 1995, it is designed to give all amateur golfers the thrill & prestige of representing their nation in a global championship against players of similar skill level.
For more information on the tournament, please visit www.wgesa.co.za.