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by Richard Dwight

Elaborate arrangements, well in advance are being made by the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham) to conduct and host a farseeing, Broadbased Mega Golf Tournament from the 1st to the 4th of November at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) and the Victoria Golf Club, Kandy (VGC).

the past three successive annual golf tournaments organised by the eleven year old AmCham, was with the sole purpose of generating funds for charity. But this year it's fourth golf championships, with greater vision has a three-fold objective i.e., firstly to promote and foster golf, secondly to attract foreign businessmen and professionals from the AmCham realm and thirdly to encourage investments. Viewed from its varied aspects it does appear to be an exciting as well as a thrilling prospect through the medium of golf.

Addressing the media at a briefing held at the RCGC, the president of AmCham, Mark McKenna said that true to their mission to be a dynamic forum to promote trade an investment between Sri Lanka and American companies, they have devised this business cum pleasure event to let their colleagues from the Asia-Pacific region come and see the country, play golf and talk business.

The Chairman of AmChams' Golf Committee Susantha Pinto said that they are seeking the collaboration of related official bodies such as the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and BoI in this venture, as the arrival of American Business representatives across the region will undoubtedly benefit the tourism and investment scenario in Sri Lanka. Pinto also mentioned that AmCham has unveiled a golfing mascot for the event named 'Eagie Birdie', this Mascot will appear on AmCham's brand new website and keep the golfers updated on arrangements for the tour. According to the Vice Chairman AmCham and member of the organising committee,

Akbar Khan there will be around 150 local and 200 foreign golfers participating in the tournament, with the preliminary rounds on the 1st and 2nd of November being played at VGC Kandy and thereafter on the 3rd 4th at the RCGC.

The competitions will be individual Stableford and be judged in three stages, the Kandy event, the Colombo event and the Overall AmCham 2002 champion, will be the one who records the highest aggregate of the two events. Each participant must have a valid handicap to be eligible for winning the main prizes in the three events, the maximum handicap for ladies will be 36 and 24 for men.

Those without a valid handicap and playing in an estimated handicap will be eligible for subsidiary prizes.

It will be a contest over 18 holes and players must complete 9 holes to be eligible for subsidiary prizes.

This apart AmCham is planning to concurrently organise business seminars and opportunities for visitors to review the investment and trade potential that Sri Lanka has to offer.

Cultural events are also being planned with the tour culminating with the awards ceremony and dinner at the RCGC.

The Executive Director AmCham, Maria Rajanayagam said the organisation here was founded in 1992 and has more than 275 Sri Lankan and American companies based in Sri Lanka engaging in trade, business and investment activity between the two countries.

The Asia-Pacific regional body consists of 22 chambers with a total membership of 50,000 executives and concluded saying that she was hopeful that there would be wide participation, it's not an AmCham event but a national event.

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