Munich/George. Located on the wonderful Garden Route
in South Africa, roughly halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth,
is Fancourt Golf Resort – venue this week for the 33rd BMW
Golf Cup World Final. In keeping with the motto for the largest
international tournament series for amateur golfers – ‘once in a
lifetime’ – Fancourt provides the perfect conditions for a unique
sporting and social experience. Golfers have qualified for the World
Final through roughly 1,000 tournaments around the world. Together
with their guests, they will now enjoy breathtaking golf courses, an
exclusive resort, a tournament held in professional conditions, and a
thrilling programme away from the golf course.
Through their sporting efforts, the world finalists will also do
their bit for a good cause, as BMW Group is supporting UNICEF* in its
work in crisis regions with €1,000 for each net eagle carded over the
course of the tournament.
BMW Group’s educational involvement on the golf scene comes under the
tagline ‘Eagles for Education’ and was launched last year at the
company’s headquarters in Munich during the BMW International Open on
the DP World Tour. South Africa is also a country with which the BMW
Group has been closely associated on the golf scene and beyond for
more than 50 years.
The premium automobile manufacturer opened its first plant outside of
Germany in Rosslyn, near Johannesburg, from which 1.6 million cars
have since been delivered to more than 40 countries. Right from the
word go, BMW Group has also been committed to work in the community in
South Africa, focussing on the subject of STEM education (science,
technology, engineering and mathematics).
For this reason, South Africa was last year selected as the starting
point for a long-term partnership between BMW Group and UNICEF*. This
comes under the slogan ‘BRIDGE. Educating young people for tomorrow,
today’ and also focusses on educational projects in STEM. Over the
course of 2024, the collaboration will be expanded to Brazil, India,
Mexico and Thailand – all of which have programme needs and have BMW
Group presence. The partnership will contribute to UNICEF’s global aim
to reach 10 million children and young people each year through education.
BMW Group also has the opportunity to raise funds to support UNICEF’s
work in emergencies and protracted crises. The United Nation’s
International Children’s Fund uses these resources to support children
to develop skills to cope with trauma and to provide them with a safe
environment in which to continue their learning.
Over the course of nine rounds of golf, the competitors can raise
money by taking fantastic golf shots and hitting as many net eagles as
possible. The World Final is played across three rounds in three
categories: Men’s A (up to HCP 12), Men’s B (HCP 13-28) and Ladies
(HCP up to 28). As well as in these individual categories, a title is
also up for grabs in a national team competition.
In keeping with tradition, the World Final kicks off on Monday
evening with a welcome evening and the parading of flags from all the
nationalities present. The event draws to a worthy close on Friday
evening with the Gala Dinner and a very special guest of honour. South
African golf legend Gary Player, who has no fewer than 18 major titles
to his name, including nine on the Seniors tour, will present the
trophies after first entertaining the BMW guests with his famous
charisma and legendary fitness during a unique golf clinic. The
88-year-old is the perfect guest of honour for the BMW Golf Cup World
Final – not only due to his status as one of the greatest golfers of
all time, but also because he designed the three spectacular golf
courses at Fancourt.
*UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.
