RIYADH, 3 October 2007 — More than 200 golfers from different parts of the world will tee it up for the 12th annual SriLankan Airlines Golf Classic, which starts on Oct. 10.
“The SriLankan Golf Classic is one of our most popular events, drawing golfers from around the world. The tournament has grown to be very popular, with a large number of players coming back each year,” Riza Yusoof, country manager for SriLankan told Arab News yesterday.
The tournament will begin with two practice days starting Oct. 10, followed by the tournament proper on Oct. 12. The 36-hole event closes with a grand dinner and awards show on Oct 13.
Yusoof said that the participants from the Kingdom have been requested to contact the airline’s offices in Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah. They will benefit from a series of special packages offered by SriLankan Airlines to play in the tournament, with packages ranging from 3 to 6 nights in Sri Lanka and inclusive of airfare, star rated hotel accommodation, hotel and golf course transfers, complementary practice rounds on Oct. 10 and 11, green fees, caddy fees, ball spotter fees and beverage on all competition days.
“ All participants will be hosted at a gala dinner and awards show on Oct. 13, hosted by SriLankan Airlines, “ Yusoof said . Competitors are required to play a round each on two consecutive days for the Stableford format competition.
Winners will receive a trophy, air travel to popular destinations in SriLankan Airlines’ network and a host of other prizes. SriLankan Airlines actively promotes sports events in Sri Lanka and the region, hosting a number of the island’s international golf, surfing and rugby tournaments and bringing in hundreds of sports tourists into the country.
SriLankan Airlines hosts four golf tournaments spread over the year ; the NEGC Golf Tournament, the SriLankan Strokes Tournament and the SriLankan Cargo Golf Tournament, with the SriLankan Classic capping off the airline’s annual golf calendar. With the pristine waters of Lake Victoria and the towering mountains of Sri Lanka’s central highlands as a backdrop, the par 73 course measures 6,945 yards and is built to USGA specifications. The course is half an hour’s drive from Kandy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
