junior golf
HKGA divots Handicapping and Course Rating Seminars The HKGA has invited Scott Hovde, the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) manager of course rating and handicap education, to conduct seminars on the 18th and 19th of May. Handicap Seminar: Olympic House, Monday 18th May, morning, HK$400 Course Rating Seminar: The Hong Kong Golf Club, Tuesday 19th May, HK$625
If you would like to attend please download the applicationfrom www.hkga.com and return to Dolla Chui before Monday 4th May.
HK National Junior Team Announced The following players have been selected as members of the National Junior Team: Tiffany Chan, Michelle Cheung, Jason Hak, Cheria Heng, Stephanie Ho, Nicola Inge, Marcus Lam, Steven Lam, Liu Loktin, Shinichi Mizuno, Terrence Ng, Oliver Roberts, Charles Stone, Anthony Tam, Kitty Tam, Sibo Yan, Sihao Yan.
MacGregor Continues Championship Sponsorship The HKGA is delighted to announce that MacGregor will be continuing their sponsorship of the upcoming Hong Kong Junior and Senior Close Championships as well as the Hong Kong Junior Open Championship, which is to be played in August. “MacGregor has proved to be an exceptional sponsor of HKGA championship events throughout the years and I’d like to thank them for their continuing support,” said HKGA chief executive Iain Valentine. MacGregor HK Championships 2009 HK Junior Close: Championship: HK Senior Close Championship: HK Open Junior Championship:
14-15 April, Discovery Bay GC 6-8 May, Discovery Bay GC 6-7 August, Hong Kong GC
AWA Charity Golf Tournament The American Women’s Association Charity Golf Tournament will take place on Tuesday 21 April at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen. Open to all, the event costs HK$2,200 for individual entry (HK$8,000 for a team of four) and includes a round on the Duval Course, breakfast, lunch, dinner buffet, awards ceremony and return transportation. Please visit www.awa.org.hk for more details.
Win HK$20,000 worth of AHEAD merchandise for your Golf Society With innovative and creative new approaches to ornamentation, Ahead has earned the reputation and recognition as the premier choice for headwear, apparel and accessories through its premium quality, attention to detail, value and innovation. Founded in the USA in 1995, golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player all wear Ahead headwear exclusively while on the course. US Open winner Retief Goosen wears Ahead apparel and Ahead headwear. Ahead is an official licensee for the Ryder Cup, US Open, US PGA Championship, Players Championship and the PGA Tour. Competition: Open to all HKGA-registered societies, answer the following questions correctly for a chance to win a range of shirts and caps* as giveaways at your next society golf event. 1.Which US Open winner wears Ahead apparel and headwear? 2.Ahead is an official licensee of which famous team matchplay competition? Send your answers to competitions@hkgolfermagazine.com Closing date of entries is 15 May.
*Value of the prize is limited to HK$20,000 worth of product 18
HK GOLFER・APR/MAY 2009
Sponsorship Boost for HKGA Juniors
WWW.HKGA.COM
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EFG Bank and HKGA partner up for youth success
o cal junior golf received an “enormous boost” in February with the announcement that EFG Bank will sponsor the HKGA’s Junior Development Programme to the tune of HK$3 million over three years. The sponsorship agreement comes after a year of outstanding results by young Hong Kong players, which includes Tiffany Chan’s tie for fourth at the Callaway World Junior Championship, Steven Lam’s second place at the R&A Junior Open and Jason Hak’s sensational performance at the UBS Hong Kong Open in November where he became the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at a European Tour event. “It’s an enormous boost for junior golf,” declared Iain Valentine, chief executive of the HKGA. “Hong Kong junior golfers have enjoyed spectacular success over the past couple of years and we will be able to build on that. The sponsorship will help increase Hong Kong’s exposure at international tournaments, both in Asia and further afield. It is tremendous news.” Mr Valentine added that the sponsorship WWW.HKGA.COM
money would also translate into more local competitions for less experienced juniors. “Tournament familiarity for young golfers is very important for the long term success of golf in Hong Kong, so we’re going to be increasing the number of events on the calendar thanks to the support of EFG,” he said. With the professional tours, particularly in the United States, witnessing a dramatic decline in sponsorship in the wake of the global financial meltdown, EFG’s support couldn’t have come at a better time – for both the HKGA and themselves. “This is a great opportunity for us because we believe in investing in the future,” said Albert Chiu, the private bank’s deputy chief executive for the Asia Pacific region. “We’re not like banks with bad investments; comparatively, we haven’t suffered as a result of sub-prime and we’re still expanding our operations here in Hong Kong. “The sponsorship is the right thing to do and it’s the right time to do it. In a good market we might not have had the chance to sponsor because of other banks’ wish to do so,” said Mr Chiu. “There are many great junior golfers in Hong Kong now and we hope we can help to continue that with the younger players coming up through the ranks.” Mr Chiu added that EFG regards the partnership with the HKGA as a long term endeavour. “We have every intention to continue [the sponsorship] after the three years are up. We’re very excited about it.” HK GOLFER・APR/MAY 2009
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