Phuket Sports: The BMW Golf Cup International teed off today

PHUKET: Today marks the beginning of the BMW Golf Cup International at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Thalang.

Amateur golf finalists from 50 countries will battle for international glory at the five-day tournament, which plays out from March 10 to 15.

The contest is the culmination of about 100,000 players having teed off at 800 tournaments throughout 50 different countries in order to make it to the largest amateur golf competition in the world.

BMW has invited golf legend Sir Nick Faldo, who is scheduled to host an exclusive golf clinic, as well as German luger and double Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger.

The club’s two award-winning courses – the “Canyon” and “Lakes” courses – 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.