The World Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC) is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013 after twenty successful years of connecting business men and women from all around the world via golf.
The WCGC began in the United Kingdom in 1993, in association with The Times Newspaper, with the clear intention of providing companies with a platform that would enhance company relationships both internally and externally.
In 1997, after four years in operation, the event had proved so successful in the UK that the concept was taken to a number of foreign markets around the world and ran by an independent organisation. Over 1 million people, and hundreds of corporations have competed in the WCGC, including teams representing American Express, BMW, and IBM to name a few.
Today, the WCGC takes place in five continents each year, spanning across more than twenty countries such as India, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Brazil and Turkey. As a result, the event is now an international network of national amateur corporate golf tournaments, promoted and run independently by organisations (the licensees) in association with local national media partners. The annual winners from each territory compete in the World Final, representing not only their company but also their country. The World Final is competed over 36 holes by teams of two; the winning team is those who card the highest combined stableford score.
TIME and Fortune magazine, along with television partner, Golfing World, have recently become the international global media partners to further develop the global reach of the WCGC.
To officially mark the occasion and to celebrate the milestone, the 2013 World Final will take place from 7-12 May at De Vere Cameron House and The Carrick on the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland. Previous World Finals have been celebrated in South Africa, Spain, Malaysia, Mauritius and Jamaica. The global nature of the event has never been more apparent than this year with an estimated record of 30 countries taking part at the World Final.
Commenting on the success of WCGC, José Guerra, Chairman of the WCGC, said: “We are very proud that the WCGC is celebrating its 20th anniversary. To grow from an event that first started in the UK in 1993 to a tournament that takes place in so many countries all around the world is a great achievement. We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this event and continues to be involved. Without all of our license holders and partners over the years we would not have reached this wonderful milestone, so thank you all for your continued support. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than in the home of golf Scotland in May.”
In 2011, the World Corporate Golf Challenge began working with IMG to aid in the international expansion of the event. Michael Pask, Senior Vice President of IMG Golf, Sport Leisure and Tourism, commented on the event saying, “The World Corporate Golf Challenge has made the implicit link between business and golf explicit. The event is a showcase of the benefits golf can deliver to both the corporate and tourism industries.” Jose Guerra, Chairman of the WCGC said “Twenty years is a long time and to think that this year’s World Final will play host to 30 countries is incredible. This event continues to echo its strap line of ‘bringing the world of business together’.”
World Corporate Golf Challenge www.worldcorporategolfchallenge.com