BMW Golf Cup International: “Once in a lifetime experience”. Amateurs from 50 countries assemble for the World Final on an island paradise.

Phuket. Thailand’s heavenly island paradise of Phuket is the spectacular venue for the World Final of this year’s BMW Golf Cup International. Around 100,000 players teed off at 800 tournaments in 50 countries, making the tournament series the largest in the world for amateur golfers. The finalists from each country will experience an unforgettable week of golf with BMW from 10th to 15th March. This year also saw tournaments held in Angola, Kuwait and Ukraine for the first time.

Typical characteristics of the World Final of the BMW Golf Cup International are: a challenging golf course, professional tournament organisation, accommodation in a luxury resort, an exclusive side programme, a cultural festival, and the opportunity to meet top-class guests of honour. This year BMW invited British golf legend Sir Nick Faldo, who will give an exclusive golf clinic and present the trophies at the closing gala dinner, and German luger and double Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger to the World Final.

This year’s venue is the Blue Canyon Country Club, one of the most attractive golf resorts in Asia. The club’s two award-winning courses – the “Canyon” and “Lakes” course – are cradled in a valley against the magnificent backdrop of the majestic Phang-Nga mountains and the Andaman Sea. Yoshikazu Kato, one of Japan’s most prolific golf course architects, developed the two golf courses on an abandoned tin mine, flanked by rubber plantations. Both courses were created around existing canyons and woodland, with minimal disturbance to the natural landscape and wildlife.

The World Finalists will stay in the Angsana Laguna Phuket, which is designed to resemble a lagoon island in Ban Tao bay, and one of the most exclusive resorts in Phuket.

Last season, 13,000 amateur golfers entered over 110 tournaments in the BMW Golf Club International in Germany alone. In the end, the dream of reaching the World Final came true for Martina Döring (HCP -15.4 – Ladies), Hendrik Stoffel (HCP, -1.0 – Men A), Niklas Voss (HCP -20.1 – Men B) and Karsten Grebing (HCP -23.6 – special class C). Together with the winners and players from the other 49 countries, they will now compete for international glory in three handicap classes. Because special class C only exists in Germany, Grebing will not be able to compete in the official competition, which also includes the National Team competition. Team Germany has a hard act to follow: at last year’s World Final, which took place at the Fancourt Resort in South Africa, Germany finished an excellent second. The title in George went to the South African trio.

So, the glamorous stage is set for the start of the World Final of the largest international tournament series for amateur golfers – and the event is once again set to fulfil its promise: a once in a lifetime experience for all involved.

The World Final in Phuket at a glance.

Date: 10-15 March 2014

Golfclub: Blue Canyon Country Club (Phuket, Thailand)

Resort: Angsana Laguna Phuket (Phuket, Thailand)

Participating Nations: Angola, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA

Special Guests:  Sir Nick Faldo, six-time Major winner, Natalie Geisenberger, 2x gold and 1x bronze medalist in the luge at the Winter Olympics

Organiser:  BMW AG

Rules:

Individual prizes: The tournament will be played over three rounds (Stableford, net) according to the rules of golf by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, and the local rules of the Blue Canyon Country Club. Cut after two rounds. In each categorie, the best 20 players and those players with the same score advance to the final round. In the event of a tie for the first individual place after 54 holes, the winner will be decided by a sudden death play-off (based on net scores). In the event of a tie for any of the other places, the result will be determined on countback over the last 36, 18, 9, 6, 3, 2, 1 hole(s).

National team prizes: The individual net scores of the players from each country will be added together to produce a national team score. In the event of a tie for any of the places, the result will be determined on countback over the last 36, 18, 9, 6, 3, 2, 1 hole(s). Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.

Prizes:

Men Category A (Handicaps up to 12) : first, second, third places (net score)

Men Category   B (Handicaps 13-28 ): first, second, third places (net score) 

Ladies Category ( Handicaps up to 28):   first, second, third places (net score)

National Team competition : First, second and third place (cumulative net score of all three participants from one country)

Guest Cup:

First place, Ladies (gross score)
First place, Men (gross score)
First, second, third places (net score, two categories)

History of the BMW Golf Cup Interntional.

The foundations for the BMW Golf Cup International were laid in England in 1982: BMW organised the BMW Invitation Tournament for the first time. Amateurs were invited by various BMW dealers and played six regional tournaments, which were followed by the final at the famous Belfry golf course just outside Birmingham. In 1992 the BMW Invitation Tournament was integrated in the BMW Golf Cup International. This had been founded five years earlier, but was only played in the home of BMW, Germany. In 1990 the competition had flourished to such an extent that the World Final celebrated its premiere in Portugal.

Previous World Finals.

Year     Winner               Golfclub, Country

2012     South Africa      Fancourt Golf Resort, South Africa

2011     Malaysia            Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore

2010     Malaysia            Blue Canyon Country Club, Thailand

2009     Malaysia            Fancourt Golf Resort, South Africa

2008     Mexico               Jockey Club, Argentina

2007     Austria               New South Wales Golf Club, Australia

2006     Canada             Fancourt Golf Resort, South Africa

2005     South Korea      Blue Canyon Country Club, Thailand

2004     Canada             New South Wales Golf Club, Australia

2003     Canada             Penha Longa Hotel & Golf Resort, Portugal

2002     Philippines        Eldorado Golf & Beach Club, Mexico

2001     South Korea      Blue Canyon Country Club, Thailand

2000     Canada             Fancourt Golf Resort, South Africa

1999                               Golf Costa Adeje, Spain

1998                               Emirates Golf Club, UAE

1997                               Penha Longa Hotel & Golf Resort, Portugal

1996                               Fancourt Golf Resort, South Africa

1995                               La Manga Club, Spain

1994                               Monte Carlo Golf Club, Monaco

1993                               Parco de’ Medici Hotel & Resort, Italy

1992                               Cost Teguise Golf, Lanzarote

1991                               Santana Golf & Country Club, Spain

1990                               Quinta do Lago, Portugal

Pictures from the BMW Golf Cup International World Final in Phuket will be available from11th March at: www.bmw-worldfinal.com - Picture Galleries.

The BMW Group.

The BMW Group is the leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2013, the BMW Group sold around 1.963 million cars and 115,215 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2012 was euro 7.82 billion on revenues amounting to euro 76.85 billion. At 31 December 2012, the BMW Group had a workforce of 105,876 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.