R&A Helps Develop Golf in South America

BY JAMES BUNCH: GLOBAL GOLF POST

CALI, COLOMBIA | It has been a long time since I have taken a flight to play in a tournament – over 14 years – and I would certainly not consider myself a tournament golfer anymore. So, imagine my trepidation of the 20 hours of travel time from my home in St Andrews to Cali, Colombia.

The tournament was the South American Amateur, held two weeks ago at Club Campestre Farallones Individual. This was the seventh, so it is a relatively new event in the world of amateur golf. However, it's an event with grand plans and ambitions, thanks to generous support from the R&A which have pledged £28,000 per year over the next three years to help grow the event to one of the premier amateur events around the world. The event will be held in Colombia for three years and then possibly move to Argentina or Ecuador.

The R&A have supported various golf events in South America for the past 10 years, most notably the Copa los Andes, a team event among nine South American nations which has been going since 1944 and supported by the R&A since 2002. Click here to continue reading.

James Bunch is the General Manager of the Global Golf Post a free weekly golf publication delivered every Monday. Click here for your free subscription.