Press Release
Hong Kong Professionals, Celebrities take on the
World’s Top Blind Golfers at Discovery Bay
Exhibition Match Tees off Blind Golf initiative in Hong Kong
Hong Kong, April 18, 2006 – The Discovery Bay Golf Club today played host to a unique golf tournament. Eight of the World’s leading blind golfers played against ten of Hong Kong’s leading professional and amateur golfers, along with a host of local celebrities including Michael Wong, Joey Tang, Stephanie Che, Lam Man Chung.
Blind Golf is a little-known but fascinating branch of the one of the world’s and Hong Kong’s most popular games. A blind golf player uses a sighted coach or guide to give verbal information about each hole, help with club selection, and to place the club head directly behind the ball. From then on it's down to the blind golfers' sense of touch and sound, and above all, their swing. Competition among blind golfers is intense, with players divided into classes determined by the golfer’s level of sight.
The eight blind golfers, led by World Champion David Morris, played a four-ball round with leading local golfers and a full complement of Hong Kong’s well-known stars. All the celebrities, including movie heartthrob Michael Wong, the local best guitarist Joey Tang, singer and actress Stephanie Che, famous lyrics writer Lam Man Chung, made voluntary appearances to support the cause.
The match marks the beginning of a one-year coaching program whereby Legendary Golf will provide free tuition through its Legendary Golf Academy coaching business to 10 selected blind participants and their sighted coaches. Legendary Golf will also help establish a Hong Kong chapter of the International Blind Golf Association.
"Today’s event showed the willingness of Hong Kong’s golfing community to come together for the benefit of the game and the good of disadvantaged members of the local community,” said Mark Reeves, Executive Director of Legendary Golf Worldwide, Chairman of the International Professional Golfers and a PGA Fellow. “We aim to build on awareness and interest raised by today’s event to do as much as possible to promote blind golf in Hong Kong in the future".
Leading film actor Michael Wong was delighted to participate: "I’m grateful for the chance to take part in this amazing program, and to help bring the fun and excitement of golf to local people who would otherwise never get this chance," he said.
Today’s match will be followed on April 19 by a special clinic held at the Legendary Golf Academy at the City Golf Club in Jordan/Kowloon. Participants will be local blind or visually impaired people selected by the Hong Kong Society for the Blind. The clinic will be conducted by Legendary Golf Academy professionals, with assistance from the experienced international blind golfers. "Anyone who loves the game of golf knows the challenge and satisfaction that it gives. This week’s events prove that it’s not just for people who can see. To be able to raise awareness for blind golf in Hong Kong is an honour, and just increases the satisfaction that we get from the game," said World Champion blind golfer David Moore.
Blind golf has many competitions around the world, sanctioned by the International Blind Golf Association, including the World Championships and National Open events in Japan, Britain, Australia, Canada and the United States. Ultimately, Legendary Golf hopes that Blind Golf will achieve a level of support in Hong Kong that will enable sanctioned tournaments such as a World Match Play for Blind Golfers event to be held in Hong Kong in the future. Summing up a successful morning, Mark Reeves said: "I’d like to thank and congratulate everyone who played today. Hong Kong and the game of golf were the clear winners."