The Special Olympics, hosted superbly by Ireland last month, will benefit substantially from The K Club South Golf Course Charity Pro-Am, which was staged as a prelude to last week’’s Smurfit European Open in County Kildare.
The European Tour and the Jefferson Smurfit Group jointly organised the Pro-Am as 18 teams participated in the inauguration of The K Club’’s brand new South Course designed, like the well established North Course, by Arnold Palmer. As a result, a substantial amount will be raised for the Special Olympics.
Denis O’’Brien, Chairman of the Special Olympics, Ireland, was the Guest of Honour at a special dinner for 200 people at The K Club, hosted by the Club’’s owner, Dr Michael W.J. Smurfit, who along with The European Tour conceived the Pro-Am with the purpose of raising funds for such a worthy cause.
Dr Smurfit, who struck the first tee shot to officially inaugurate the South Course, which lies on the other side of the River Liffey from the North Course, said: “The Special Olympics World Summer Games were an overwhelming success here in Ireland and we are delighted to coincide the opening of our wonderful new course with the opportunity to raise substantial funds for the Special Olympics.”
Denis O’’Brien, who presided over nine days of outstanding achievements by more than 7000 disabled athletes from all over the world, commented: “We are very proud to have hosted the Special Olympics here in Ireland and I would personally like to thank Ken Schofield, the Executive Director of The European Tour, and Dr Michael Smurfit for their invaluable support”.
Ken Schofield said: “The European Tour is delighted to have been actively involved in the Special Olympics World Summer Games, through an awareness programme designed to heighten the profile of the Special Olympics in the public consciousness. We are delighted to have been able to join forces with Dr Michael Smurfit in raising considerable funds for the Special Olympics through The K Club South Course Pro-Am.”
