Leading golf figures descend on Pattaya

31 Oct 2011

Leading figures from the golfing world have arrived in Pattaya for the Fifth Asia Pacific Golf Summit. Legendary golfer Tony Jacklin arrived yesterday and former tennis star Jimmy Connors was due to arrive for the start of the summit today.

The two are among the host of golf stars who have expressed opposition to the way the game is heading. The stars say that golfing regulators need to pass rules which cut back on distances the ball travels.

New courses nowadays stretch over 7,000 yards, which has led to some of the greatest venues in the history of the game becoming obsolete. So far the group’s petitions have been largely ignored and Asia seems to be heading in the same direction as Europe and the US.

Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus are among other golfing greats to oppose the new longer courses. The group have all previously said they think it is not too late to turn round the trend.

The summit is being held at the Royal Cliff’s state-of-the-art Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Centre, where organiser Mike Sebastian said yesterday everything was geared up for the conference. He added that flooding had not affected the eastern Thai seaside resort and the road in from Suvarnabhumi airport was also clear.

Connors and Jacklin as well as local Thai golfing dignitaries and Mizuno R&D director Masao Nagai will be among speakers at the Challenge of Change. The event is sponsored by the Tourism and Sports authorities of Thailand and the national Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

Tags: golf figures Pattaya