Emirates Colombo Classic Golf tournament tee off on 12 February

By Cassandra Mascarenhas

Award-winning international airline Emirates in collaboration with the Royal Golf Club Colombo will kick off the second edition of the Emirates Colombo Classic tournament with over 220 amateur golfers on 12 February 2011.

The tournament will be open to golfers drawn from members of the 132-year old club as well as the airline’s corporate clientele, Skyways members and others in the industry.

The inaugural tournament was held in 2009 and although was meant to be an annual event, had to be held in 2011 in synchronisation of the end of Emirates’ financial year. This may result in a second tournament being held in December of this year as well – the official tournament for the year 2011.

“We intend on growing this tournament – we want to have the 2011 financial year tournament somewhere in December and we want to select somebody to go to Dubai and represent Sri Lanka at the Emirates tournament there – we think that the potential is definitely there for this amongst our members,” said Emirates Area Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Chandana de Silva.

The tournament will be conducted in Stableford format in six handicap groups, Group A (0-9), Group B (10-18), Group C (19-28), Ladies (19 - 28), Masters and Seniors. Four-ball tee off will commence at 6 a.m. with the final tee off scheduled for 2 p.m. on 12 February.

Three return tickets on Emirates to Singapore await the winners of the main categories. Emirates will also present 16 handsome trophies to the winner and two runners-up in each of the Groups A, B, C and Ladies, and award two trophies respectively to the winners in the Masters and Seniors categories. 20 ladies have signed up to take part in this year’s tournament.

“This event is an extension of Emirates’ commitment to Sri Lanka, to our frequent flyers, and the sports-loving people of this country. Emirates supports the Dubai Desert Classic, one of the most dynamic and exciting events on the international golf calendar, and the Colombo Classic is modelled on this annual event,” said de Silva

He said events of this nature provide an opportunity for Emirates to interact socially and reward an important segment of its customers. “Most members of the RCGC are loyal customers of Emirates, and many of our corporate customers already play golf. This makes golf the perfect medium to build on our relationship with an important customer segment, while promoting sport,” he explained.

Devika Ellepola, Emirates Sales Manager in Sri Lanka, said the rapid expansion of the airline’s network, which now comprises of 110 destinations, and its involvement with sport on the global stage are a perfect match of interests.

“Emirates’ sponsorship of events of the calibre of the ICC World Cup and the FIFA World Cup sets the airline apart from its peers, and our extensive route network compliments our position as a global player,” she said. “This growth gives rise to opportunities to support events like the Emirates Colombo Classic, which benefit from our involvements with international sport.”

The winner of more than 400 international awards, Emirates has been involved with a wide range of sporting events and teams around the world for over 20 years. Today the airline is linked to some of the world’s leading sporting events, spread across the six continents.

Among the high profile international sporting events supported by the airline are the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the FIFA World Cup, the Rugby World Cup 2011, the Dubai Desert Classic, the Australian PGA Championship and Dubai Ladies Masters and the Dubai Sevens. Emirates is also a major sponsor of horse racing, tennis and Australian Rules football.