WELCOME TO THE SECOND WORLD SCHOOLS GOLF CHALLENGE 2009 NEWSLETTER
The organisers of the World Schools Golf Challenge invite school golf teams from all over the world to come to the second World Schools Golf Challenge being held in Adelaide the capital of South Australia from April 13-17, 2009.
This is a once in a lifetime golf experience for high school golfers. Apart from the thrill of the travel they will get the opportunity to experience cultural and educational activities in Australia and particularly South Australia – and to enjoy some great sight-seeing and tour options. But let’s not forget the main reason to come to the second World Schools Golf Challenge – the golf – this will be a fantastic opportunity to develop their golfing skills on new courses, in different conditions and in an environment of friendly competition with their peers from around the world.
And the most surprising aspect is that there are no qualifying criteria, no tournaments to win to get there and no limit on the number of teams from any one school.
So we warmly invite high school golf teams, their coaches, families and supporters to come to South Australia in 2009 to enjoy this special tournament in one of the world's great golfing destinations.
In this second newsletter you will read about what some teachers had to say about the 1st tournament in Christchurch, learn more about South Australia and Adelaide and visit one of the host clubs.
Take a wander … everything is just a click of the mouse away
The tournament is a four-round stroke play event with team and individual gross and nett competitions. The 4 student teams can be boys, girls or mixed who must be aged from 13 to 19.
Organisers expect to attract at least 80 teams from secondary schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Asia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as from throughout Australia.
There are no qualifications required beyond being a member of a school team, having a recognised golf handicap, a love of the game of golf and a desire to meet other college golfers from around the world and to experience all that Australia (and South Australia in particular) has to offer.
The beauty of the tournament is that entry is not limited to one school per country – any school can participate and there is no limit to the number of teams that a single school can enter.
For full details about the tournament click here>>
Several schools have already enquired about the acceptable age limits for the tournament.
All team members must be aged 13-19 inclusive (as at the commencing date of the Tournament) and current pupils or immediate past pupils of the same school. 'Immediate past' is interpreted as meaning that pupils must have left school within 12 months of the commencement of the tournament. This is to make allowance for schools which have different school years and terms. We hope this is now much clearer.
Click here for further details about the conditions of entry.
The very impressive Da Na Kim who represented Christchurch Girl’s High School at the 2007 World Schools Golf Challenge when she won the girls gross competition has recently had another very good result.
Da NA finished second in the New Zealand Women’s Under 23 Championship held at the New Plymouth Golf Club in January. A tremendous result for the 18 year old tyro from Christchurch.
A quick look at her impressive resume on the NZ Golf website throws up some interesting facts. None more so, than the fact the fact that she practices 40 hours a week. I think it was Gary Player who said “The more I practice the luckier I get” In which case Da Na may be very lucky.
She also rates her win at the 2007 WSGC as her best tournament result.
We would be delighted to receive any news regarding individual players, teams, programmes etc.
Just send it to Roger Carroll
Organisers have produced a 4 colour brochure with all the details about the tournament. Copies are being posted to schools on our database. The brochure can also be viewed or downloaded from the WSGC website >>> . We also have supplies of a range of excellent brochures about South Australia.
To request copies of the tournament and South Australia brochures - Click here to send an email to the tournament office.
As organisers of this special tournament we can be rather biased about the benefits to be derived from being involved. The following are just 3 of the unsolicited comments received from teachers who accompanied teams to the 2007 tournament in Christchurch, New Zealand.
‘I believe that the idea of having as many students involved is fantastic. There are very few team events for middle to higher handicap golfers. It is for this reason that I brought 4 teams and not just my best 2 teams over. In fact it was my worst handicap team that performed the best.’
Mick Roberts, St Bedes College, Melbourne, Australia
‘The golf and the travel were fantastic experiences’.
Shaun van Wyk, Kearsney College, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
‘Many of our students had never travelled overseas before and went to Christcurch with great anticipation. They weren’t disappointed.
Great golf courses, wonderful excursions to the Alpine regions and, most importantly, many friendships established both on and off the course. A once in a life time experience!’
Terry MacDermott, St Michaels College, Adelaide, Australia
South Australia is often described as Australia’s best kept secret; South Australia blends charming European style villages, stunning white sandy beaches, awe-inspiring National Parks with an abundance of wildlife, the might of the Murray River and some of the world’s best food and wine to create a holiday full of adventure, relaxation and indulgence.
And the greatest thing …its so easy to get around! In a 7 to 10 day holiday you can easily sample the delights of some of the worlds most famous wine regions (the Barossa, McLaren Vale and Clare are all just over an hours drive from Adelaide), cruise at leisure along the Murray River, shop til you drop in Rundle Mall, take in a close encounter with the wildlife of Kangaroo Island and even experience the rugged beauty of the Flinders Ranges. For full details about South Australia >>>
For more information visit
http://www.southaustralia.com/
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/
Tournament organizers have invited four of the best and most centrally located clubs to host the tournament rounds. In this newsletter we introduce one of the clubs -
Flagstaff Hill Golf Club is set in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, 25km from the city centre. It is a beautiful tree-studded course for players of all levels. The course has an undulating to hilly layout on fully watered pure couch fairways with poa and bent green grass greens. The course is strategically bunkered, with water in play on several holes. The seventh hole is not for the faint-hearted – a par 3 of 160m, with a water carry of up to 130m to a well guarded green. It is Par 72 and 6066m in length.
Further details about Flagstaff Hill Golf Club can be found at http://www.fhgc.com.au/ where you can take a hole by hole tour of the course or view the course map.
Secure your team’s place in the tournament by registering on-line today. Cleland Wildlife Park one of South Australia’s leading visitor attractions is offering a half-day tour as an ‘early bird’ entry incentive - to be drawn from all the teams who enter before June 30, 2008.
The entry fee is AUD150 per team and you can Enter Online or print the entry form on the website and post it to the tournament office.
To ensure all school teams receive the best deals on accommodation and tours, the World Schools Golf Challenge organizers have appointed In Front Management as the official tournament travel agent. In Front have a range of reasonably priced accommodation, transport, tours and local attraction options for players, teachers and accompanying parents.
The Adelaide Shores Holiday Village will be the nerve centre of the tournament and organizers encourage all teams to stay at this unique property. Not only does it offer outstanding and well priced self-catering accommodation and leisure facilities but both tournament social functions will be staged at the Adelaide Shores Function Centre – and the Adelaide Shores golf course is one of the tournament host clubs. Read more about the tournament village.
Take a look at the great sights of South Australia and Adelaide – all waiting for you to experience personally on the Image Gallery-
Finally
We will keep you updated about the 2009 World Schools Golf Challenge in Adelaide….
Your next issue of the World Schools Golf Challenge update will be sent in 6 weeks time and will feature more exciting news and views about the tournament.
And we can keep others up to date too …
- If you’d like us to mail you material about the World Schools Golf Challenge please ask >>>
- If you’d like us to forward this and future newsletters to other teams or friends click here >>>
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- If you have news about your team that you’d like included in future newsletters, click here >>>
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