Only 15 Spots Left In Phuket Pro-Am Charity Golf Event

[webfact]

Only 15 spots left in Phuket Pro-Am charity golf event

Thai golfer Udorn Duangdecha is one of the many professionals who

have signed up for the November 5 charity event. Photo by OneAsia.

PHUKET: -- The island's first-ever Pro-Am charity golf tournament is coming to the island, with over 30 big names from the PGA Asian Tour already signed up to take part.

But time is running out for Phuket amateur golfers to get involved in the exciting event, as there are only 15 places left, the organizers say.

The 2010 Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitational will pair professional golfers with Phuket amateurs at Phuket's Blue Canyon Country Club for the 18-hole tournament on November 5.

Tour players confirmed include five-time Asian Tour winners Simon Yates and Scott Hend, 10-time winner Gerry Norquist, three-time winner Terry Pilkadaris as well as Jason Knutzon and Anthony Kang, currently in the Asian Tour’s top 10 earnings list this year.

Simon Yates said with the level of professionals already signed up, the event “looks like it will be a great event”.

“Hopefully we can raise plenty of money for children in Phuket,” he said.

The tournament will raise money for over 700 underprivileged children under the care of the Phuket Has Been Good To Us education foundation.

Since its inception in 2004, the foundation has improved the economic opportunities of young people, by providing free-of-charge English language education out of Kalim and Kamala based schools.

Some of the children will also be taking part in the Pro-Am, helping the professionals' caddies and as spectators from the stands.

Foundation Director of Operations Tina Hall, said the support shown from the Asian Tour professionals could lead to the Pro-Am becoming an annual event, and she was confident the event would receive support from Phuket golfers and residents.

Peter Bolton, Co-founder of Phuket Property Dot Com believes that the event will cement Phuket's reputation in the golfing world.

“The top-class venue and the golf professionals coming to take part, underscores Phuket as a top golfing destination on the world stage,” he said.

Being the only three-time host of the Johnnie Walker Classic (1994, 1998, 2007), the Canyon Course is renowned for its difficulty and will test professionals and amateurs alike.

Entry for members of Blue Canyon Country Club is 7,000 baht, and 9,000 baht for non-members.

Over US$150,000 worth of prizes will be set aside for winners, including a condominium valued at 3.1 million baht for any golfer who shoots a hole-in-one on the par-three 17th hole, once described by golf legend Fred Couples as one of the best par-3s in the world.

Golfers will also receive a gift bag valued at over 3,000 baht upon entry.

In addition, prizes will be on offer for 'nearest to the pin' on each hole and for overall tournament winners.

Following the golfing action on the day, a four-course gala dinner will be held at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket resort in the evening.

The 2010 Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitational is title sponsored by Phuket Property Dot Com and is organized by the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation. Sponsors include The Phuket Gazette, PGTV, yooPhuket, HotelTravel.com, Banyan Tree Phuket, Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, Phuket Pavilions, Burasari Patong Boutique Hotel Phuket, Blue Canyon Country Club, Indigo Pearl Phuket, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa and Absolute World Group of Companies.

If you're an amateur golfer and want to get involved, contact Graham Haslam at: graham [at] phukethasbeengoodtous.org

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-09-28