Sir Nick Faldo has announced that the inaugural Faldo Series Nepal Championship will take place at Gokarna Forest Resort near Kathmandu in October. Young golfers from across the Himalayan region are set to benefit from the six-time Major Champion’s global golf development programme.
“We have enjoyed a close relationship with golfers from the Himalayan region ever since Zhiwang Gurung travelled from Bhutan to play in a Faldo Series tournament in 2008,” said Faldo. “Incredibly for a golfer who only has access to nine holes and had never been outside his country before, let alone in an airplane, he qualified for the Grand Final at Mission Hills in China. I hope by bringing the Faldo Series to Nepal we can create more opportunity for players like Zhiwang to achieve their dreams.”
“I thank the Himalayan Youth Golf Association, the Nepal Golf Association and Gokarna Forest Resort for sharing my vision and for bringing the Series to Nepal,” added Faldo. “I look forward to spending time with the winners at the Grand Final next March.”
“The Faldo Series will be a huge boost to golf development in the Himalayan region,” commented Tashi Ghale, General Secretary of the Nepal Golf Association. “We thank Sir Nick for his support and look forward to welcoming players from places like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Northern India who will benefit significantly from this unique opportunity.”
Golfers aged 12 to 21 will play over two rounds in the Nepal Championship at Gokarna Forest Resort near the capital city of Kathmandu. With the field divided into four age-groups – two for boys and two for girls – the age-group winners will join Faldo for the seventh Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China next March.
Established in 1996, 37 Faldo Series tournaments now take place in 27 countries worldwide with more than 7,000 golfers participating each year. Past winners include Major Champions Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.
The Faldo Series Asia is supported by major partners ISPS, Mission Hills and The R&A, official golf wear partner UFL and official suppliers TaylorMade and Tricor. It is endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Federation (APGC).
A full 2012/2013 Faldo Series Asia schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. Last season featured 17 tournaments in 13 different countries including five in mainland China plus others in The Philippines, Vietnam, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Brunei, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand.
Golfers born in 1991 or later wishing to enter the Faldo Series Nepal Championship at Gokarna Forest Resort in October 2012 (exact dates to be announced) should email the Nepal Golf Association at info@nga.com.np
Faldo Series www.nickfaldo.com