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INTERNATIONAL GOLFING FELLOWSHIP OF ROTARIANS
IGFR
48
World Championship
th
Download the official program
Chairman's Summary
48th IGFR World Championships - Pinehurst, NC, USA
Rotarians from twenty-two countries met on the playing fields of the Home of American Golf during the week of August 21, 2011 to peacefully settle the issue of who were the better golfers. As was the case in the previous 47 years, the issue was decided amiably with outward displays of joy and dejection.
The venerable four-star Pinehurst Resort in the heart of Pinehurst, North Carolina was the focus of the 48th World Championship of the International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians who had chosen the courses of the Pinehurst Country Club as their annual gathering place for the third time in the almost fifty year life of their organization.
Many of the participants played the recently retro fitted Donald Ross designed Course No. 2, site of the United States 2014 Open Championships for both men and women. They accomplished this by arriving early or staying late or playing on the mid-week open day of the Rotary tournament. The IGFR tournament was played on Courses No. 1,3, 5 and 8. Information about these courses may be viewed at the event website www.igfr-pinehurst2011.com and in the Official Program Book on the same site.
Approximately one-hundred seventy-five men and women enjoyed a week of splendid weather, fine food and generous portions of friendship and fellowship with new and old friends as well as a warm and genuine welcome by the communities of the Sandhills.
The week opened with the players meeting conducted by Patrick Eakes, member of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee, Steve Jansa excellent golfer and past assistant Secretary of IGFR and representatives of the golf professional staff of the Pinehurst Country Club. All participants had previously received a full set of instructions and the week's program as part of the Welcome Package at the Registration desk.
The Opening Ceremony began immediately after the player's meeting in the Grand Ballroom. Leading the parade was a color guard of the flags of the USA and France and a bagpiper in full costume. They were followed by a double file of IGFR Directors and members of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee who were then introduced to the audience. Don Sweeting, Executive Vice-President of Pinehurst, then presented President Jean-Luc Dischamp a replica of the famous Pinehurst Putter Boy statue as a token of the hotel's gratitude for choosing them as the 2011 venue.
Following the dinner, the audience was held spellbound by a squad of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at nearby Ft. Bragg. Their program of songs, marching and counter-marching filled the room with the vibrancy of youth and gave us all an energy boost and a rousing start for the events that began early the next morning.
Tuesday night was the usual Rotary Dinner which featured bestselling author, Jim Dodson, who entertained the group with golf stories of the great and near great golfers of the past. At the conclusion of the speech, participants were able to meet the author at a special table, ask questions and have him sign special copies of some of his books.
One special feature of the week was the opportunity to attend the Wednesday morning meeting of the Sandhills Rotary Club where attendees heard the President of the resort, Don Padgett, explain some of the details of the upcoming US Opens and of the just completed renovation of the No. 2 course to bring it back to what is believed to be the shape and playing conditions of the original design. Manicured fairways and stubborn Bermuda rough has been replaced with the original hard packed sand and clumps of impenetrable wire grass waiting for the shot too far or the meandering errant drive.
Home Hospitality was shared with a multitude of families in the area where guests learned about local customs, Southern outdoor cooking and shared ideas about the amazing world of Rotary. The Organizing Committee for the 2011 event had put a great deal of emphasis on food and fellowship and the variety of Home Hospitality, we believe, met everyone's expectations.
Pinehurst is near the epicenter of the hand-crafted ancient art of making clay pottery. Tours made it possible for non-players to see for themselves the art and science of modern pottery. In fact, the trophies for the winners of the many skill and age divisions of the IGFR Championship were made locally. These one-off treasures now reside as far from Pinehurst as the continent of Australia, and no two are exactly alike.
The Wednesday open day afforded the opportunity to see and try the latest in golf equipment as manufacturers from golf balls to clubs and sunglasses set up their wares in tents at the Don Padgett Learning Center.
One contingent of Rotarians was treated to the unique experience of having lunch at what is believed to be the world's smallest international airport on the outskirts of the not so ancient city of Carthage, North Carolina. There at the Pik 'n Pig restaurant they were introduced to Carolina smoked barbeque pork. All are reported to have survived the experience. Not only were they introduced to this Southern delicacy but they also visited the project of the Southern Pines Rotary Club that provides health care for the under-served population of the area with a mobile health unit that visits the area on a regular basis.
The Wednesday opportunities concluded with two choices: a sunset cruise on Lake Pinehurst with one of the members of the Sandhills club or a theatre production in the Grand Ballroom that told the story of the history of the Sandhills and of the role played by tapping the long leaf pine trees that were native to the area to produce tar and turpentine. The cast for this production had just returned from a tour in Ireland. The show featured back-lit photos of the past and present state of the forest along with an interpretation of the whole process which was done with modern dance, a forceful gospel chorus and narrative poetry.
Friday night, the 26th of August, brought the Awards Night with the usual mélange of photographers taking pictures of the happy winners. There were almost thirty awards distributed by President Jean-Luc Discamp and Secretary Oscar Kneubuhler, assisted by Patrick Eakes of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee. With, thanks and farewells, Jean-luc bade us adieu until we meet again next year in Switzerland at Crans Montana July 2-5, 2012.
All Rotarian golfers are invited to attend the USGFR annual Championships event in nearby Greensboro, North Carolina, USA August 1-4, 2012. Members of IGFR are eligible to play without joining USGFR. Information about USGFR is available at the website www.usgfr.com
On behalf of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee and the scores of volunteers who helped with the operation and entertainment and home hospitality, we thank those who participated to make the 2011 Worl championships a memorable occasion for all. As a life member of both the IGFR and USGFR, I believe common interests and fellowship are major factors in keeping people in Rotary. We hope you share this view and will help us to increase our membership and opportunities to tell the world what Rotarians do to build a better world.
Ray Taylor, Chairman IGFR Pinehurst 2011
October 2011
48th IGFR World Championships - Pinehurst, NC, USA
Rotarians from twenty-two countries met on the playing fields of the Home of American Golf during the week of August 21, 2011 to peacefully settle the issue of who were the better golfers. As was the case in the previous 47 years, the issue was decided amiably with outward displays of joy and dejection.
The venerable four-star Pinehurst Resort in the heart of Pinehurst, North Carolina was the focus of the 48th World Championship of the International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians who had chosen the courses of the Pinehurst Country Club as their annual gathering place for the third time in the almost fifty year life of their organization.
Many of the participants played the recently retro fitted Donald Ross designed Course No. 2, site of the United States 2014 Open Championships for both men and women. They accomplished this by arriving early or staying late or playing on the mid-week open day of the Rotary tournament. The IGFR tournament was played on Courses No. 1,3, 5 and 8. Information about these courses may be viewed at the event website www.igfr-pinehurst2011.com and in the Official Program Book on the same site.
Approximately one-hundred seventy-five men and women enjoyed a week of splendid weather, fine food and generous portions of friendship and fellowship with new and old friends as well as a warm and genuine welcome by the communities of the Sandhills.
The week opened with the players meeting conducted by Patrick Eakes, member of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee, Steve Jansa excellent golfer and past assistant Secretary of IGFR and representatives of the golf professional staff of the Pinehurst Country Club. All participants had previously received a full set of instructions and the week's program as part of the Welcome Package at the Registration desk.
The Opening Ceremony began immediately after the player's meeting in the Grand Ballroom. Leading the parade was a color guard of the flags of the USA and France and a bagpiper in full costume. They were followed by a double file of IGFR Directors and members of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee who were then introduced to the audience. Don Sweeting, Executive Vice-President of Pinehurst, then presented President Jean-Luc Dischamp a replica of the famous Pinehurst Putter Boy statue as a token of the hotel's gratitude for choosing them as the 2011 venue.
Following the dinner, the audience was held spellbound by a squad of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at nearby Ft. Bragg. Their program of songs, marching and counter-marching filled the room with the vibrancy of youth and gave us all an energy boost and a rousing start for the events that began early the next morning.
Tuesday night was the usual Rotary Dinner which featured bestselling author, Jim Dodson, who entertained the group with golf stories of the great and near great golfers of the past. At the conclusion of the speech, participants were able to meet the author at a special table, ask questions and have him sign special copies of some of his books.
One special feature of the week was the opportunity to attend the Wednesday morning meeting of the Sandhills Rotary Club where attendees heard the President of the resort, Don Padgett, explain some of the details of the upcoming US Opens and of the just completed renovation of the No. 2 course to bring it back to what is believed to be the shape and playing conditions of the original design. Manicured fairways and stubborn Bermuda rough has been replaced with the original hard packed sand and clumps of impenetrable wire grass waiting for the shot too far or the meandering errant drive.
Home Hospitality was shared with a multitude of families in the area where guests learned about local customs, Southern outdoor cooking and shared ideas about the amazing world of Rotary. The Organizing Committee for the 2011 event had put a great deal of emphasis on food and fellowship and the variety of Home Hospitality, we believe, met everyone's expectations.
Pinehurst is near the epicenter of the hand-crafted ancient art of making clay pottery. Tours made it possible for non-players to see for themselves the art and science of modern pottery. In fact, the trophies for the winners of the many skill and age divisions of the IGFR Championship were made locally. These one-off treasures now reside as far from Pinehurst as the continent of Australia, and no two are exactly alike.
The Wednesday open day afforded the opportunity to see and try the latest in golf equipment as manufacturers from golf balls to clubs and sunglasses set up their wares in tents at the Don Padgett Learning Center.
One contingent of Rotarians was treated to the unique experience of having lunch at what is believed to be the world's smallest international airport on the outskirts of the not so ancient city of Carthage, North Carolina. There at the Pik 'n Pig restaurant they were introduced to Carolina smoked barbeque pork. All are reported to have survived the experience. Not only were they introduced to this Southern delicacy but they also visited the project of the Southern Pines Rotary Club that provides health care for the under-served population of the area with a mobile health unit that visits the area on a regular basis.
The Wednesday opportunities concluded with two choices: a sunset cruise on Lake Pinehurst with one of the members of the Sandhills club or a theatre production in the Grand Ballroom that told the story of the history of the Sandhills and of the role played by tapping the long leaf pine trees that were native to the area to produce tar and turpentine. The cast for this production had just returned from a tour in Ireland. The show featured back-lit photos of the past and present state of the forest along with an interpretation of the whole process which was done with modern dance, a forceful gospel chorus and narrative poetry.
Friday night, the 26th of August, brought the Awards Night with the usual mélange of photographers taking pictures of the happy winners. There were almost thirty awards distributed by President Jean-Luc Discamp and Secretary Oscar Kneubuhler, assisted by Patrick Eakes of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee. With, thanks and farewells, Jean-luc bade us adieu until we meet again next year in Switzerland at Crans Montana July 2-5, 2012.
All Rotarian golfers are invited to attend the USGFR annual Championships event in nearby Greensboro, North Carolina, USA August 1-4, 2012. Members of IGFR are eligible to play without joining USGFR. Information about USGFR is available at the website www.usgfr.com
On behalf of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee and the scores of volunteers who helped with the operation and entertainment and home hospitality, we thank those who participated to make the 2011 Worl championships a memorable occasion for all. As a life member of both the IGFR and USGFR, I believe common interests and fellowship are major factors in keeping people in Rotary. We hope you share this view and will help us to increase our membership and opportunities to tell the world what Rotarians do to build a better world.
Ray Taylor, Chairman IGFR Pinehurst 2011
October 2011