Great
weather prevailed as golf teaching professionals from 13 European
nations as well as the United States gathered recently at Dolomiten
Golf Resort in the Austrian Alps for the 2008 European Golf Teachers
Cup. Uli Paetzel, president of the Austrian Golf Teachers Federation
selected the unique location which even warranted picture taking
during competition from nearly all participants.
The first day of the three day event featured a 4 person team
scramble which proved fun for all and a great way to start off the
week. The winning 4 person team made up of Marco Van Maarren, Steven
Van Dijk, Benno Mulder and Lesley Van Good had a remarkable 18 hole
score of eleven under par 61.
Day two involved a match play Ryder Cup format, Europe vs US in
which everyone participated. Unlike the recent Ryder Cup in which
the United States dominated, this time around, team Europe
prevailed. Day three featured the main 18-hole stroke play event
held under blue skies, on a perfectly manicured playing field,
surrounded by 12,000 foot snow capped mountains. The winners in the
open division were Steve Van Dijk from Germany with a low score of
73, Thomas Wartelle from the United States with a score of 78 and
Carsten Rutsatz from Germany in third place with a score of 79.
Francesco Semeraro from Italy won the senior division with a score
of 80. Geoff Bryant from the United States won the super senior
division with a score of 82.
All participants stayed at the Dolomiten Golf Resort itself and
enjoyed the camaraderie of dinning together each day for both
breakfast and dinner. The event was further enhanced by several
guest speakers, shot display demonstrations, wine tasting and
evening award ceremonies.
The next playing of the biennial European Golf Teachers Cup in 2010,
according to Peter Hudson, president of the WGTF of Great Britain,
will be held “somewhere in the Scottish Highlands.”
Thanks go out to Uli Paetzel and his management team for
orchestrating such a professionally run, much anticipated event.
