The Foshan Open has been officially unveiled at a press conference held at the offices of the Foshan Government.
The tournament’s success at becoming a green event with the possibility of being the first event in China to be certified by the worldwide Golf Environment Organization, as well as its efforts throughout the year at bringing the Greater Bay Area community closer together were highly commended by the key officials attending.
Now one of the most prestigious sporting events in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and with prize money totalling US$500,000, the Foshan Open will run from October 24-27. The tournament is organized by the China Golf Association and co-organized by Guangdong Golf Association and the Foshan Culture, Radio and Broadcasting, Tourism and Sports Bureau with support from Foshan Golf Club, sanctioning from the European Challenge Tour and presented by New World China.
Now in its seventh year, the Foshan Open attracts the stars of the European Challenge Tour with the seven previous winners all going on to secure a highly coveted spot on the lucrative European Tour in the same season. Last year’s champion, Victor Perez from France, clinched the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in his maiden season on the European Tour, with runner-up Robert MacIntyre also enjoying a sensational start to his rookie year.
“Our thanks must go to New World and Foshan Golf Club. Through their efforts, the Foshan Open is getting more and more influential in the Greater Bay Area,” said Ms. Li Ying, Minister of Media and Information Department of the China Golf Association. “It is now one of the more important men’s professional golf tournaments in China. Through competing against talented international pros, Chinese players can improve themselves and get closer to competing on the world stage.”
“The last six years have been spectacular,” said Ms. Xie Fei, Chief Representative and Manager of European Tour International. “The Foshan Open is now considered to be one of the Majors of the Challenge Tour. Every year, each aspect of the event is progressing – the fan experience, the quality of the hospitality, the organization and the course itself. This ability to reinvent itself each year is what makes the Foshan Open so special. Progress and innovation are, without doubt, key words at the Foshan Open.”
The inaugural Foshan Open was held in 2013, making it the longest running European Challenge Tour event in China, with the tournament also boasting the largest prize fund on the Road to Mallorca schedule.
In 2013, Foshan Golf Club became the first golf club in the Greater Bay Area to be awarded accreditation from the Golf Environment Organization. In 2016, it was awarded further accreditation and now, in 2019, there is a strong likelihood the Foshan Open itself will be awarded accreditation by the Golf Environment Organization. This year there has been a concerted effort to go even greener, with traditional fuel using shuttle buses replaced with more efficient models, a concerted effort to eliminate single use plastic water bottles and the switch to E Tickets and online promotion.
“Sustainability is essential to our future,” said Mr. Julian Small. “This year, one of the things we are focusing on is using E Tickets and E Promotions and citizens can Scan our Foshan Open QR Code to get their tickets and more information on the exciting events taking place. Our aim is that by working together we can ensure that the Foshan Open would be exciting, sustainable and continue to be recognized as the leading golf tournament in the whole of Southern China.”
