Why Korea Chose Orna Golf and Country Club for The Regional Asian Qualifying

Thursday, March 31, 2005 -

Victorious Indian Team	Three Korean scorers	A Korean Lady referee

Orna Golf and Country Club is a well known name in Korea. According to Hur Nam Yang, who is the Asian Regional Director of The World Junior Golf Team Championship, Orna was chosen over Golden Valley Golf and Country Club and Tuanku Jaafar Golf and Country Club because it had been the venue of The Asian PGA Tour Qualifying for two years. Orna was also highly recommended by Korea Golf Association and The President of KJGA and Dalton Company, Kim Chung Soo, and many tourists who have played there.

“This is the sixth time that the Korea Junior Golf Association is organizing and running The Regional Asian Qualifying” said Hur. “Japan is the host country and this is the 13th World Junior Golf Team Championship. There will be qualifying in the other continents and the top two teams go through to the final for the Toyota World Cup at Chukyo Golf Club in Japan in June.”

“Korea was the venue of the Regional Asian Qualifying from 2000-2002 and the 2003 Qualifying went to Thailand.” Hur explained that the 2004 Qualifying also in Thailand was cancelled because of bird flu. A smile crept up on Hur’s face when he mentioned that Korea won the 2003 World Junior Golf Team Championship and were fifth in 2004.

“We have 2,500 juniors in Korea ranging from 7-12 years old. There are 200 in The Primary Association and 2,300 in Middle and High Schools and they all come under The Korea Junior Golf Association while The University Federation is under The Korea Golf Association.

“The Korea Golf Association holds three junior tournaments a year and five for amateurs while the KJGA has seven in its fixtures.” Har pointed out that all expenses for the 19 Korean Officials who had come to Orna very much earlier plus their Korean cooks were borne by directors of The Korea Junior Golf Association. That also included the accommodation at Equatorial Hotel, the refreshments and food of the eight teams and their captains.

The 2000-2002 sponsor for The Asian Qualifying was The Sports Seoul Newspaper Company and The World PGA sponsored the 2003 Qualifying in Thailand. It was the same sponsor for 2004 but that was cancelled.

While the many juniors and their officials had a taste of playing in Melaka, the 19 Korean officials which included a tournament director, referees, scorers and cooks hope that the 2006 Regional Asian Qualifying will also be if not in Melaka, somewhere in Malaysia.