The 1998 Charity Golf Challenge in Belgium article by Ginny Suter

THE 1998 CHARITY GOLF CHALLENGE by Ginny Suter

Ginny wrote numerous articles for Plug-In Belgium and Internationals in Belgium in the late 1990s early 2000's and presented a weekly radio programme for a local radio station in the Brussels Waterloo area.

Here is a chance for all golf lovers in Belgium to unite under one umbrella at the 1998 CHARITY GOLF Challenge, at Golf de Falnuée.

The competition, a 'Four ball - better-ball stableford', will be played over three days. On Friday, June 5 there is an invitational Pro-Am, followed by teams of two players, the sum of whose handicaps is between 33 and 66, playing on Saturday, June 6. On Sunday, June 7 those whose sum of handicaps is between scratch and 32, will compete.

The prize giving for all groups will be on Sunday evening at Falnuée, with all results printed in La Libre Belgique on Tuesday, June 9. In addition to the many prizes to be won, the winning team will receive the CHARITY GOLF Challenge trophy and the winning pro will receive a special invitation to the Asian Volvo Masters '98.

The competition fee of BEF1,500 (including green fees) will be donated to two selected charities, 'Le Ressort', a day centre for adults suffering from cerebral palsy, and 'Handicap International', a joint Nobel Prize winner in 1997 for its work in abolishing land mines and rehabilitating the injured.

The idea of a tournament to promote golf in Belgium and also supporting a worthy cause, came from osteopath, Philippe Parlongue in 1994, after playing with Bernhard Langer in the Pro-Am final of the Volvo Tour in Valderrama. With the assistance of another golf enthusiast, Myra McMenamin, the first competition was held at Pierpont Golf Club. It was a great success and Handicap International were able to help the victims of the Bosnia Herzegovina conflict with the proceeds.

The event, repeated in 1995, benefited another charity. Then in 1996, with the additional support of multinational companies and small businesses, the Charity Golf Challenge was launched and is now included in the Belgian Federation Calendar.

That year, BEF275,000 was donated to 'L'Oeuvre Royale de Berceaux Princesse Paola', and in 1997 a four wheel drive vehicle was purchased for Handicap International to assist its projects in Angola.

Amongst the celebraties taking part are professional Belgian golfer, Gauthier d'Hollander - winner of last year's wild card which enabled him to participate in the Asian Volvo Masters 97, and ex-Newcastle footballer Phillipe Albert, now playing in Belgium's national team

Original article appearing in "Internationals in Belgium" Dick Suter was an editor of the magazine and contributor and Ginny Suter was a regular contributor in the late 1990's and 2000's - The magazine had a circulation of 10,000 Please note that this article was first published many years ago and telephone and fax numbers are likely to be out of date and email addresses have been removed.

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Source of images, unless otherwise stated - Suter family archives