Victoria to host Asia Pacific Ladies Invitational Golf Team C’ship Queen Sirikit 2008

Sri Lanka was chosen as venue for the 2008 edition of the Asia Pacific Ladies Invitational Golf Team Championship also known as the Queen Sirikit 2008 Queen Sirikit Cup and Victoria Golf and Country Resort will host the event.

The Queen Sirikit Cup is a 3 Man Ladies Team Event featuring 14 teams from the Australasian Region including teams from as far a field as Japan, New Zealand and Australia and of course Sri Lanka.

“We are very honoured, naturally, to have been chosen as the host venue for the 20th anniversary playing of this prestigious event. I have been lucky to work closely with Khun Rae-Vadee and others from the Queen Sirikit Cup Secretariat and know it will be a great event - a showcase for how golf events can be managed in Sri Lanka” commented Mike Varney the General Manager of the host venue.

The golf course was designed by the English golf course architect Donald Steel. Donald Steel is a former President of English Golf Union and Golf Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph and is probably most famous for the redesigned of all the British Open Championship course describes the setting like this - “Some golf courses have a splendid undulating terrain over which the holes are routed.

“Some golf courses have scenic backdrop of hills and lakes, which excite the senses. “However, the Victoria Golf Course near Kandy is blessed with both attributes.” The player’s coming from 14 countries from Asia, Australia and New Zealand will find a challenging but fair test.

“Apart from the beautiful setting the player’s will enjoy the Victoria golf course because of the balance of risk and reward, continues Varney. “If you hit a good shot you will be rewarded, there are plenty of birdie opportunities.

Conversely hit a bad shot or position a tee shot incorrectly and there’s a good chance the player’s score will climb. Good examples are the fourth and fifth holes.

The fourth will play at around 110 yards for the ladies. The green is small and at only 110 yards it will be no more than wedge for most players giving a definite birdie chance.

On the other hand, when the flag is at the back of the green, the drop into the lake on the right is only 7 yards from the edge of the green and disaster can strike quickly.

Hit the tee shot left and the ball will be caught on the grass bank and the players will face a downhill chip towards the lake - most conservative players will play for a par by hitting to the front of the green, take a two putts and a sigh of relief.”

The fifth Green can be hit with the tee shot with a 3 wood or Driver by most of the ladies as the hole is only 325 yards long - with a downhill carry.

An excellent example of Donald Steel’s architecture balancing risk and reward - take the risk pull it off and almost certain birdie - take the risk and miss the fairway then disaster will probably strike.

The alternative is to lay up to the right or left of the central fairway mound and hit a short approach in to the relatively open green.”