Latest news with #AntonyScanlon
Business Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Business Times
IGF chief lauds Singapore's successful bid to host world amateur golf event in October
SINGAPORE is gearing up to stage the World Amateur Team Championships (WATC) golf event in October, a biennial international amateur competition organised by the International Golf Federation (IGF). With just weeks to go until the big tee-off at the Tampines course at Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC), the preparations have received the thumbs-up from IGF's executive director, Antony Scanlon. In an interview with The Business Times during his recent visit to Singapore, he said: 'The Singapore Golf Association (SGA) presented a fabulous bid, and we recognised its merit during the bidding process. We were also impressed by the quality of the challenging Tampines course, and the deep commitment shown by the SGA officials.' Singapore and Morocco were on the shortlist at the IGF's last biennial meeting in Paris last year. It was agreed unanimously that the Republic would stage the 2025 event, and Morocco, the 2027 one. In Singapore, the women's competition for the Espirito Santo Trophy will take place from Oct 1 to 4, followed by the men's competition for the Eisenhower Trophy from Oct 8 to 11. The field has been cut from 72 to 36 teams, with the team from Singapore gaining automatic qualification. Each team has two or three players and plays 18-holes of stroke play for four days. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores from each team constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day (72-hole) total is the team's score for the championship. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Scanlon, a 60-year-old Australian, said of the WATC: 'A significant number of top amateurs who play in this tournament eventually progress to the professional ranks, including participation in major championships. In fact, 70 to 80 per cent of the golfers who play at the Olympics today previously competed in the WATC.' The last championships in 2023 were held at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National course in the United Arab Emirates. South Korea won the women's event for the fifth time, while the United States took the men's crown. The values of golf The IGF, which is based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the international federation for golf. It is the umbrella body for the national governing bodies of golf in 152 countries. In addition to the WATC, the federation also organises the golf competitions at the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games. Scanlon, who defeated 70 candidates for the IGF's top job in 2010, is a nine-handicapper who picked up the sport at age six. He also once played rugby and cricket competitively. During his trip to Singapore, he took the opportunity to play at TMCC's award-winning Tampines course and Sentosa Golf Club's famed Serapong course. While he had much praise for Singapore as a destination for golf, he called on Singapore's national golf association and the many golf clubs across the island to do more to promote the sport. Even as the number of courses here is set to shrink as the government renews fewer of their leases, Scanlon said that stakeholders should raise the awareness that golf is back as an Olympic sport, and that every effort should be made to ensure Singapore's continued presence at the quadrennial event. In the Paris games last year, Shannon Tan became Singapore's first Olympic golfer. Scanlon was among the prime movers for golf's reinstatement in the Olympic programme at the Rio Games in 2016, after having been absent for 112 years. He urged stakeholders to impress upon the authorities the many positives that golf brings. 'All we can do is to continue to speak loudly about the values of golf. Golf instils strong values such as honesty, integrity and patience. It promotes not just activity, but also mental well-being. We should publicise these.' Asked about what the SGA could do to keep golf alive and buzzing in Singapore despite the challenges, he said: 'Around the world, golf is buzzing; the playing population and spectatorship are growing. I hear that in Singapore, it is growing at a fast pace too, although the clubs are getting fewer.' Scanlon also pointed out the vast green spaces of golf courses could also be used by non-golfers in some instances. 'These spaces can be used by the public for pursuits such as walking or other forms of exercise, like taichi. The famous St Andrews courses in Scotland are closed every Sunday, and people take the chance to walk their dogs or exercise around the greenery,' he said.
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Terrifying moment plane crash-lands at Riviera Country Club as golfers watch on
A plane was forced to crash-land at the iconic Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades on Friday afternoon, with golfers and spectators left in awe of the remarkable scenes The terrifying moment a plane was forced to crash-land on a golf course has been caught on camera. The shocking emergency landing happened while a number of golfers were enjoying a round on Friday afternoon, officials have confirmed. The Los Angeles Fire Department issued a statement explaining that the aircraft was diverted from Santa Monica Airport, but as it was flying over Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades it was forced to make an emergency landing at around 1pm. Footage of the landing circulated on social media, showing the small aircraft approaching golfers already on the course. In the video, the aircraft is seen skilfully avoiding trees and sand traps as it descends, its wheels bouncing off the ground several times with its engine off. The small aircraft then bounced off the cement one last time before coming to rest on the rough. A statement on the fire department's website read: "LAFD and Santa Monica Fire Department resources responded to a plane (unknown size) which landed safely at Riviera Country Club, diverted (unknown cause) from Santa Monica Airport. Three total passengers onboard were unharmed; LAFD and SMFD companies are working together to assess the aircraft for any damage." Golfers watched in astonishment as the plane came to a halt just a few feet away from where they were positioned in their carts, with the pilot expertly landing the plane without any fatalities. Notably, the Riviera Country Club is famous for hosting the Genesis Invitational. This tournament, held in February and a fixture at the course for over 50 years, attests to the Riviera's enduring status as one of golf's premier courses, reports the Mirror US. In a significant announcement this July 2024, Los Angeles' prestigious Riviera Country Club is set to host the golf events for both men and women in the 2028 Olympic Games. The International Golf Federation's Executive Director, Antony Scanlon, expressed enthusiasm about their venue choice. "We are honored to work alongside LA28 and the world -renowned Riviera Country Club to host the golf competitions during the 2028 Los Angeles Games," began the statement from Scanlon, as reported by LPGA."The Riviera Country Club will offer a prestigious and continuously challenging backdrop for golf's most elite players, and we look forward to sharing one of the finest courses with our fans around the world."
CNN
16-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will feature mixed-gender golf event, as new venues confirmed for Games
The Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 will now feature a mixed-gender team golf event, the International Golf Federation (IGF) confirmed on Tuesday. The new edition will consist of a 36-hole competition across two 18-hole rounds, with each team consisting of one male and one female player who have already qualified for the single events. Only one pair per nation will be permitted to take part. The competition will be split into two formats – foursomes (alternate shots) for the first round and four-ball (best ball) for the second. Golf was reintroduced to the Olympics at Rio 2016, after more than 100 years away from the Games. The 1904 Games in St. Louis, Missouri, was the last time a team golf competition was included. 'We're absolutely thrilled to see a Mixed-Team Event added to the programme for Los Angeles 2028,' said IGF Executive Director Antony Scanlon in a statement. 'Golf was incredibly successful at Paris 2024, and as we continue building on the momentum from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, we're excited to bring even more attention to our sport through this additional format. 'The athletes were very enthusiastic about their desire to play with their compatriots, and we look forward to watching them compete together in Los Angeles.' The International Olympic Committee (IOC) published the full event program for the 2028 Games last week. The new golf tournament is one of six mixed events added to the list, joining track and field (4x100m mixed relay), archery, beach sprint rowing, gymnastics and table tennis. The golf events in Los Angeles will be played at The Riviera Country Club, as the IOC confirms more venues for the Games. For example, the city's famous Venice Beach neighborhood will now host the triathlon, as well as the start of the marathon and road cycling routes. The coastline will also host beach volleyball at Alamitos Beach, and surfing at Trestles Beach in San Clemente. In addition, baseball's Olympic return will be held at the iconic Dodger Stadium, and squash's debut will be hosted at the Courthouse Square. 'Los Angeles is the epicenter of sports, culture and entertainment, and every venue selected for the 2028 Games will provide athletes and fans the best possible experience,' LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover said in a statement.
Arab News
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Mixed-team golf event approved for 2028 Olympics
NEW YORK: The International Golf Federation (IGF) announced on Tuesday that the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will see the debut of a mixed-team golf event, with each team composed of a male and female athlete from the individual competitions. Like the men's and women's individual events, the 36-hole mixed-team competition will take place at the Riviera Country Club. It will consist of an 18-hole alternate shot format followed by 18 holes of best ball. Each country will be limited to a maximum of one team, according to the IGF. 'We're absolutely thrilled to see a Mixed-Team Event added to the program for Los Angeles 2028,' Antony Scanlon, executive director of the IGF, said in a statement. 'Golf was incredibly successful at Paris 2024, and as we continue building on the momentum from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, we're excited to bring even more attention to our sport through this additional format. 'The athletes were very enthusiastic about their desire to play with their compatriots, and we look forward to watching them compete together in Los Angeles.' Golf made its return to the Olympic games in 2016, its first appearance since 1904. It now joins archery, athletics, gymnastics, rowing coastal beach sprint and table tennis as the lone sports to feature a mixed-gender competition for the 2028 Olympics.
NBC Sports
15-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
How mixed-team Olympic golf event came to fruition
International Golf Federation executive director Antony Scanlon walks through how the mixed-team golf event got approved by the IOC for the LA 2028 Olympics, what it'll look like and what it'll bring to the Games.
