Pro-Am starts golf open next week

Amateurs will partner professionals in a one-day Pro-Am competition on September 5, and then professionals will seek to outplay each other over three days, for a handsome cash prize, when the 2013 United Insurance Barbados Open Golf Championships tee off next week.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the event and along with participation of professionals, other elements have been added to make it a special edition.
For the first time, a segment of the open championships will be played at the Apes Hill course, St James, which will host the Pro-Am tournament and also the 54-hole tournament for professionals.
Apes Hill, opened in 2009, is one of the newest high end courses in the Caribbean and enjoys a prime location at almost 1 000 feet above sea level.
It means that four courses will see action in the annual championships for the first time. Amateur players are excited that the traditional three-day tournament, which has come to be regarded as the national championships, will be played at three different courses for the first time.
On September 6, the amateur championships tee off at the Barbados Golf Club, at Durants; continue the next two days at The Country Club at Sandy Lane and then at Royal Westmoreland.
Marketing manager of title sponsor United Insurance, Sharron Alleyne-Elcock, said United was proud to be associated with the Barbados Open over many years and equally happy to support the innovations to make the 30th edition special.
“The United Barbados Open has been a prominent feature on the Caribbean golf calendar for many years, and this year, we have stepped up the effort to provide more exciting golf on four courses and a variety of social events.
“We urge participants and spectators to enjoy the tournament, and have fun as this edition really showcases an upgrade worthy of 30 years and counting.”
But with the Pro-Am set to get the ball rolling, several amateurs are excited by the prospect of playing alongside more accomplished players with zero handicaps.
In the Barbados Open Pro-Am, each professional will accompany three amateur partners and they will compete as a best-ball foursome, with the amateurs using their handicaps. Birdies are commonplace and the team score is normally competitive. (PR)