Foshan Open Follows Up Prize Money Increase with New Environmental and Community Initiatives
2015-07-30 21:44:19
Wednesday 29th July, Foshan GC, Guangdong, China. Foshan Open, already one of the leading professional golf tournaments on the worldwide European Challenge Tour, has followed up an announcement to significantly increase prize money with the unveiling of several new initiatives to develop the event into one that is increasingly more involved with both the environment and the local community.
With a prize money increase of over 40% to US$500,000, this year’s event will become one of the richest on the European Challenge Tour, the developmental tour for the highly lucrative European Tour, where some of the world’s best young golfing talents and a large contingent of home grown talent will compete for the US$80,000 winner’s prize.
“It’s becoming an increasingly important event for Chinese players,” said Wang Li-wei, Deputy Director of the China Golf Association. “Not only is there the chance to win good prize money but also the chance to earn valuable official world ranking points which could help towards a player being selected for the Olympics.”
This was echoed by Mr. Ben Cowen, Deputy Director of Development for the European Tour who said “In only three years, the Foshan Open has grown into one of the most prestigious tournaments on the Challenge Tour and continues to lead the way in environmental and community initiatives. With the excellent, facilities and big crowds who come to watch, players have acknowledged that event already has the look and feel of one on the full European Tour.”
Following on from its environmental initiatives of the first two years, Mr. Kenneth Geng, Regional Director of Southern China of New World Group announced the introduction of a special environmental booklet called the ‘Green Passport’ for this year’s event. The booklet which will be handed out to every spectator who comes to the event, illustrates the environmental progress made so far by the Foshan Open, Foshan Golf Club and main sponsor New World and invites them to make a tour of both the golf course and the new Canton First estate to see for themselves some of the exciting environmental initiatives that are taking place.
“We’ve made a lot of progress in becoming more environmental and our aim is to help spectators and our guests become more aware of how to work towards creating a sustainable environment, “ said Mr. Geng. “They can do it in an interesting and fun way by visiting each of the environmental initiatives around both the golf course and the Canton First Estate and filling up their passports with ‘environmental visa’ stamps as they go.”
Also announced is a donation of RMB 200,000 from the Foshan Open to help the develop junior golfers from within the local communities around Foshan as well as the setting up of an official training base for aspiring young professionals from throughout Guangdong Province.
“We’re delighted with the contribution made by Foshan Open and New World. This will help greatly to speed up the process of spreading opportunity to play golf wider amongst the youngsters in the local community and to unearthing new local talent who can make a career in the sport, “ said Mr. Feng Xiong, Director of the Guangdong Golf Association.
Following last year’s success where 40,000 people attended, plans are in place to make the festival side of the Foshan Open even bigger and more exciting this year. More emphasis will be placed on expanding the Activities and Kids’ Zones as well as the array of Food and Beverages on offer.
“The festival part of the Foshan Open has proved tremendously popular, especially for families, and we aim to create even more things to do and enjoy this year,” said Mr. Keith Hardman, General Manager of Foshan Golf Club, promoter of the event. “It doesn’t matter whether you know anything about golf or not, we will make sure that everyone who visits will have a great experience.”
The Foshan Open takes place on October 22 -25 at the Foshan Golf Club, in Nanhai District of Foshan. Details can be found on the website www.foshanopen.com.
ENDS.
