| 8th Don Harradine Memorial Trophy |
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| 17th/18th September 2007, Kaiserwinkl Golf Club Kössen (Austria) |
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Austria and the Kaiserwinkl Golf Course is definitely worth a trip. A total of a 130 participants attended this year’s trophy and 18 of them were from Austria. |
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Unfortunately, the weather forecast was correct and it rained in buckets on the day of the actual trophy. |
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Despite the rain, the greenkeeping team headed by Seun Hannes together with the tournament organizers tried everything to hold the competition but eventually and reluctantly had to cancel the event.
Frau Maria of the Hotel Schick on the Walchsee pushed the right buttons and used all the necessary leverage to implement an emergency programme (plan B did not really exist). More people joined the planned visit to the crystal factory in Innsbruck and a second group went to visit the salt mines in Bad Reichenhall.
Some participants, however used the hotel’s invitation to relax in the sauna and use the indoor swimming pool.
Everybody was a winner!
Despite the unfortunate cancellation, all players were very sportsman like and showed great character. Only a few of them took the road back home. The right ambience and atmosphere at the gala dinner was therefore guaranteed especially as a few players frequently saw the bottom of their wine glasses during the long day that preceded the evening event. |
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The witty musical TRIO TIROL added their own contribution to the joyous mood and Peter Harradine entertained the audience with a sing - along.That evening proved that the Don Harradine trophy is not “just” a golf tournament.The friendly bond of the participants, the joy to see one another again and the fact that people took time off despite today’s stressful and hectic times was very gratifying! |
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The manager and co-proprietor of the Kössen Golf Course, Stefan Emberger gave a speech about the establishment of the club. He also talked about the recognizable style of Don Harradine’s Courses and to everyone’s amusement he mentioned that the particularity of the Kössen course was the 30 meters high rough (he meant the trees that frame most fairways). He did not miss the opportunity to invite the players and guests to come again and play the tournament next time it is played in Austria.
Mr. Seun Hannes was responsible for the course right from the beginning of construction. He recalled various incidents that happened during that time(and amongst other things, the fact that one had to pull bulldozers out of the mud with an even more powerful bulldozer and haul them over the trees so that they could stand on firm ground again). He also really regretted the fact that one could not play his course on that particular day. |
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President Zopf Heinrich also praised the player’s sportsmanship and took the opportunity to say goodbye to the Don Harradine memorial trophy and the people who helped him organize the event. A small gift was presented to him as a token of appreciation when he declared that he was stepping down as president of the AGA after 12 years of service. |
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Hubert Kleiner (GVD), Ruedi Eberle (SGA), Gorazd Nastran (Slovakia), Peter Harradine and Dean Cleaver (FEGGA) managed to find genuine and sometimes touching words regarding the close collaboration with Heinrich during the last years. |
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Johannes Vogt is responsible for the 9th trophy in Switzerland. The next trophy will be held at the Golf Club Bad Ragaz on the 23rd-24th of September 2008. |
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Seeing as the career of Don Harradine as a Golf Course Architect and promoter of the greenkeepers’ cause actually started in Bad Ragaz, next year’s tournament will mark an important milestone that will close the circle. The organizers are looking forward to welcoming many participants.
A particular thank - you goes to the sponsors. It would not be possible to hold the tournament in such a manner without the help and support of the main and co-sponsors. |
