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Contents:
1. Introduction
2.
Preparations for the 4th WDGC
3. Entries
4. The General
Meeting
5. Opening
Ceremony
6. The 4th WDGC
Week
7. The
Tournament Report
8. Closing
Ceremony
9. Finance re ;
4th WDGC
10. CISS
11. Media
12. Conclusion
13. Photos
1. Introduction
During the month before the 3rd World Deaf
Golf Championship (WDGC) the Hosting Committee consisting of Don Conway,
Geoffrey McCormack and Niall Fearon have been in discussion with various
Golf Clubs in County Dublin to discuss what they can offer us in terms
of hosting the 4th WDGC. We agreed that St Margaret's Golf & Country
Club was the best possible venue in terms of location, golf / hotel
package and costs.
Ken Cowley (then the Chief Executive) and Carol Scanlon (Marketing
Director) were delighted to help us prepare the Golf / Hotel package
cost within a short time for the World Deaf Golf Federation's (WDGF)
General Meeting. We then got the necessary permission from the then
Irish Deaf Sports Association's (IDSA) President, Sean Kelly (R.I.P) to
proceed with our hosting bid.
On Sunday 8th October at the Owl Room, Conference Centre, Sun City,
South Africa Geoffrey McCormack and Richard Mc Fadden gave a talk about
the Irish hosting venue and fielding queries from various delegates. The
outcome was unanimously agreed by the delegates to host the 4th WDGC in
Ireland.
2. Preparations for
the 4th WDGC
Informing various sports bodies such as St.
Margaret's Golf & Country Club, Irish Deaf Sports Association, Golfing
Union of Ireland, The Irish Professional Golfers Association of the
hosting bid of the 4th WDGC in Ireland has been approved by the WDGF.
On-going liaison with Carol Scanlon to discuss the checklist to prepare
for the 4th WDGC. Irish Deaf Golf Union (IDGU) decided to host their
National Championship for the next two years as way of continuing the
excellent relationship with St Margaret's Golf Club
Meetings with the IDSA's Committee to explain and discuss the set up of
the Irish National Deaf Golf Organisation with their own name,
Constitution, budgeting the hosting costs of the 4th WDGC and its
preparations.
Meetings with the Irish Deaf Golf's members to explain and discuss the
set up of the Irish Deaf Golf Union (IDGU) with their Constitution,
arrangements of the National and provincial golf fixtures, and the set
up of IDGU's Order of Merit to aid the selection of the Irish Golfers
wishing to participate in the WDGC.
Bulletins of information were emailed out regularly to the affiliating
National Deaf Golf organisations to keep them informed about the 4th
WDGC. IDGU adhered to the WDGF's guidelines informing them
16 months prior to the 4th WDGC, to confirm the Golf Venue, exact date,
and Golf/Hotel information package
6 months prior to the 4th WDGC requesting the affiliated countries to
give their definite decision to participate
3 months prior to the 4th WDGC requesting each country to submit their
golfers' audiological copies, entry forms and entry fees
Regular contacts with WDGF Board members through email to discuss on
various WDGC queries and matters
IDGU maintained a good relationship with Deaf Sports Promotion's
website, www.deafsports.org.uk in order to inform the Worldwide Deaf
Golfing community and publicise the 4th WDGC via the Internet.
Informed various Deaf magazines, Irish Golfing magazines and local
newspapers, Golf clubs, Golf shops throughout the country to publicise
the 4th WDGC being held in Ireland
Enquired and agreed with Travelodge to reserve that WDGC week. Carnegie
Court Hotel was being newly-built and was only opened in January 2002.
Enquired and agreed with Cronin's Coaches for the hire of coaches and to
confirm the routes from the Hotels to Golf Club to the Shelbourne Hotel
and the Timetables
Checked with various Deaf Clubs and Schools on the availability of
minibuses and drivers, as well as volunteers to assist during the WDGC
Discussed various venues for the Closing Banquet in Dublin City and we
decided to book with the Shelbourne Hotel as it was the most suitable
and appropriate hotel to finish off in grand style.
Enquired and agreed with various companies to carry out the printings
and producing golf accessories for the 4th WDGC.
3. Entries
Eleven countries entered for the 4th World
Deaf Golf Championship, but nine teams entered in the Men's Team event.
The two countries not in the Team event were Denmark with two golfers
and Norway with one golfer. A total of 94 golfers entered the 4th WDGC,
which is a new record number. There were 12 Ladies participating in the
1st WDGC, 82 men competed in the 4th WDGC beating the previous record
high in South Africa. However in the Inaugural Veterans Championship, 9
Veterans (aged over 55) were competing for the Veterans' Trophy. The
following countries that asked for entry forms but did not follow up
were New Zealand, Nigeria and Switzerland.
Wales had entered a golfer in the event, but then unfortunately the
golfer had to withdraw, as he was not granted holiday leave from his
employer.
4. The General Meeting
From the first arrivals of the two
Australians on Wednesday morning until the last two Scottish golfers on
Sunday afternoon, Deaf golfers and visitors from all over the world were
greeted and welcomed at Dublin Airport, by our blue shirted volunteers,
who helped and guided them to their respective hotels. Our volunteers
also worked very hard to ensure that they were all comfortable after
their long journeys.
The arrival of the World Deaf Golf Federation Board members on Saturday
27th July saw the start of the first meeting between the Hosting
Committee and the WDGF Board. The meeting was to update and prepare the
Board about the forthcoming events and meetings during the week.
The 2002 General Meeting of the World Deaf Golf Federation (WDGF) was
held in the Conference Room at St.Margaret's Golf & Country Club, Co.
Dublin on Sunday 28th July 2002. Two delegates from each National Deaf
Golf Organisation attended along with the six Board members
WDGF Board Members
The current WDGF Board now consisting of 7 members instead of 6 was
elected by the National delegates to serve the newly agreed term, which
is now 4 years, instead of the 2 years term are;
President; Tony Heyns (South Africa)
Vice-President: Jim Hynes (U.S.A)
Secretary: Albie Louw (South Africa)
Treasurer: Kevin Whalley (England)
The Following were elected as Committee Members;
Arne Lundquist (Sweden), Robert Cundy (Canada) representing as the
Hosting Member and Susan Zupnik (U.S.A) representing the Ladies Golfers.
Venue of 2004 World Deaf Golf Championship - Sweden
As it has already been agreed in the previous General Meeting in 2000,
the 2004 WDGC will be held at Haninge Golf Club & Bro-Balsta Golf Club,
both on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden.
Venue of 2006 World Deaf Golf Championship - Canada
It has been agreed the 2006 WDGC will be held at the Ranch Golf &
Country Club, Edmonton, Alberta.The date has been provisionally agreed
to be on 18th to 25th July 2006. The meeting ended just before 2pm,
which lasted for four hours. It also included a half an hour break for a
light lunch.
5. The Opening Ceremony
At 5pm the Official Team photograph session
took place in the Clubhouse due to the drizzling weather. Each country
had their team photograph taken in alphabetical order
The Opening Ceremony began at 6pm, when the lone Bag Piper led out the
first county out in alphabetical order, Australia, paraded along the
trail around the flagpoles and the Stage. The Guests, Officials and
spectators warmly and generously applauded the golfers. All the country
were led by each Irish Folk Dancer, who were impeccably dressed in the
traditional Irish Dancing Costumes
To declare the 4th WDGC open, the opening speeches were given by those
people...
6. The 4th WDGC Week
We had five rounds of golf, being the
practice round on Monday and the four Championship rounds from Tuesday
until Friday. The weather all week was such an Irish classic! Let's just
say the golfers just did not need to bring out neither their sun creams
nor sunglasses?!
The practice round got under way at St Margaret Golf and Country Club
Course, which has lots of lakes and bunkers.The noticable difference One
of the factors may have been due to markers at only 150 yards before the
green - whereas in other countries, they are used to having markers at
150, then 120, then 100 yards etc.
There was a meeting between the Host and WDGF Board to discuss the
Tee-Off draws and Tee-Off preparations for the week.
The WDGF Board and National delegates, along with the IDSA Officials
were invited by IDGU to a Buffet evening at Carnegie Court Hotel at 6pm
prior to the Golf Technical Meeting at 7.30pm
Most of the golfers attended the Technical Golf Meeting to be informed
about the Golf Course rules and afterwards with question and answers
were discussed with the St. Margaret's' referees, Brian Begley and David
O'Sullivan.
The 1st Round Tee off times was announced after the meeting and the
golfers awaited with enthusiasm or nervousness to play the first round
the next day.
On the last day, there was a change of format in the Tee off times.
There was an early start at 7am, instead of at the usual 8am start as in
the first three rounds. The group was split into three lots; the Men's
group split into two halves, high and lower scores and the Ladies. The
high scoring golfers started off first followed by the group of ladies.
Then there was a break for half an hour, before the low scoring golfers
teed off.
When the last group were coming onto the 18th Hole, there was exciting
drama, which drew a good crowd around the green. When Cedric Touzard
putted his final stroke, it was all over.
7. The Tournament Report
8. The Closing Ceremony
The Closing Banquet was held at the
reputable Shelbourne Hotel, St Stephen's Green, Dublin City, where
fellow golfers and friends were treated to the traditional Irish dancing
display by the Irish Folk Dance Group and dined with a sumptuous four
course meal, served by the efficient and friendly waiting staff in the
grand surroundings. Closing Speeches at the Closing Banquet
There was an impressive glittering array of Irish Crystal trophies on
the Irish Deaf Golf Union's green velvet tablecloth, along with the new
gleaming Trophy for the Men's Individual event. Guest of Honour for the
evening, Tom Giblin were then asked to hand over the Crystal trophies to
the golfers who succeeded in achieving the top three places.
Each country's representative gave a Thank you gift to the Hosting
Committee and made a farewell speech, confirming how much they enjoyed
their golfing week in Ireland and look forward to meeting friends again
in Sweden.
Before concluding the Closing Ceremony, Don Conway, the IDGU Chairman,
thanked the Tournament Organising Committee, consisting of Lynne Dunne-Lewin,
Geoffrey McCormack and Niall Fearon for supporting him during his
difficult times and ask them to cut the gigantic and delicious cake to
pull the curtains down.
9.
Finance re: 4th WDGC
From covering the costs involved with the preparations of Irish Deaf
Golf team and all the necessary costs during the event, the Irish Deaf
Golf Union is very pleased that all the costs involved with the 4th
World Deaf Golf Championship has been paid up. We are not carrying a
deficit of excess expenditure over the income nor did we make any
gigantic profits.
As a matter of fact, we made a small sum of profit in low three figures.
10. CISS
Mr Colin McDonald arrived on Wednesday morning and was kindly picked up
by the IDSA's officials who escorted him to his Hotel lodgings.
He attended the IDSA's Welcome Buffet on Wednesday evening. He attended
the meeting with the WDGF Board on Thursday evening. The meeting was
about maintaining ties with CISS with the option of becoming an
associated member of CISS and improving Guidelines of future hosting
bidding and Tournament regulations. He attended the Closing Banquet on
Friday evening and enjoyed the company of the WDGF's officials at the
top table.
Golfing members have expressed their concerns that CISS would take over
from the WDGF. It would be beneficial for WDGF to join as an associated
member of the CISS to benefit from their services and access to other
potential members and countries.
11. Media
The 4th WDGC was given excellent coverage
on the website, www.deafsports.org.uk during the run in towards the 4th
WDGC, during the tournament and after it had ended. A word of gratitude
must be credited to Jonathan Reid and Christof Niklaus for their
excellent website reporting. Hands on TV crew attended St Margaret's on
Friday and filmed the event all day, as well as interviewing many
golfers and visitors. It was shown on RTE 1, Irish's main Television
Station, on 6th October 2002. Interviews with Niall Fearon, Don Conway
and Susan Zupnik (USA) were shown. The American golfer gave an
interesting insight about her witnessing the tragic event on Sept 11th
at her workplace in the infamous Twin Towers.
The 4th WDGC was reported in various Irish local newspapers, Irish
Golfing magazines, Irish Deaf magazines such as Contact, Irish Deaf
Journal & Link, as well as in the British Deaf News.
12.
Conclusion
As most of the golfers arrived at Dublin Airport to catch the return
flight, amazingly it was such a beautiful sunny day. My eyes rolled up
to the azure sky, muttering ' Thank you VERY much!'
On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Irish Deaf Golf Union as the
Tournament Director, we would like to emphasise why hosting the 4th
World Deaf Golf Championship in Ireland, was a very successful and
enjoyable Championship.
We would also like to thank the golfers and friends from different parts
of the World for coming to our Emerald isle. It was an enormous pleasure
to welcome you all to the 4th World Deaf Golf Championship, at St
Margaret's Golf and Country Club, in Ireland.
The Golfers and the Volunteers played a big contribution in ensuring
this 4th World Deaf Golf event as an enjoyable success for several
reasons;
for increasing the profile of World Deaf Golf Championship
for encouraging participation of more Deaf Golfers in Ladies and Veteran
events
for assisting with the smooth running of the World Deaf Golf
Championship
for informing the World Deaf Sports community of the name of Ireland
for confirming Ireland's capability and experience in hosting a World
Deaf Sports Event.
So whenever you come to Ireland again, please do not hesitate to contact
us. We will be delighted to renew our friendship and to enjoy the simple
pleasures of a lovely game.
Just like the way it is in Ireland and in the 4th World Deaf Golf
Championship.
May we look forward to the next WDGC in Stockholm, Sweden in 2004.
Slainte, Niall Fearon, Tournament Director WDGC 2002, On behalf of the
Irish Deaf Golf Union, 31st October 2002
13.
Photos
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
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