All 16 countries in membership of the World Deaf Golf Federation, a record for the event, will gather at St Andrews, Scotland, the traditional home of golf, for the 8th World Golf Championships from 9th to 13th August.

The entries are:

Men
Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, United States & Wales

Women
Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa & United States

Senior Men
Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden & United States

In addition to the individual championships there are team championships for both men and women.
Having won six of the previous seven men’s championships and three out of four ladies championships, the US teams must start as favourites for the team championships. Interestingly, the entries list reveals no less than 5 previous individual champions which surely will be the basis of an exciting tussles to watch.

The championships will be played over the Fairmont Torrance course, which will have been used only six weeks earlier for local final qualifying for the 150th Open Golf Championship. With a total of 120 golfers teeing off in the three competitions, play is likely to begin early between 6.30 and 7 am and it could be after 6 pm before daily play ends. Tournament Director, David Wilson, President of the Scottish Deaf Golf Association, will be responsible for the smooth operation of the championships.

The Local Organising Committee has arrangements well in hand to offer visiting golfers an experience of the traditions of golf in Scotland that they are not likely to forget easily. The Fairmont Resort, at which the championships will be based, was recently listed at 18th in the world top 100 golf resort. The Opening Ceremony on Sunday 8th August will be attended by dignitaries from Deaf Sports worldwide, from Scottish Golf, from senior representatives of organisation which have helped fund the event and many volunteers from the Scottish Deaf Community who are involved in organising the event. Earlier on the Sunday the Annual General Meeting of the WDGF will take place and it is hoped the meeting will be addressed by a senior member of the R&A, golf’s governing body.

The opening ceremony will be followed by a formal dinner in the Fairmont Hotel where golfers and their friends can renew acquaintances and friendships from previous championships. The official practice day follows on the Monday and the competitions from Tuesday to Friday. Some relaxation for players is allowed for at a barbecue, complete with Scottish cultural entertainment, on the Wednesday evening. Following completion of the championships on Friday 13th the closing ceremony and presentation of prizes will be carried out before a formal dinner in the world famous Hall of Champions at the Old Course Hotel. Those attending will be aware of the ghosts of the greatest past champions ever to grace the fairways not to mention the historical figures like Mary, Queen of Scots who played there in the 1540’s.

It is a safe bet that every golfer coming to St Andrews and planning to stay for a few days before or after the championships, will want to play the legendary Old Course. Although it is a public course, tee times are in very big demand, unless one is prepared to pay a very high price for a reserved tee time. The alternative is to enter a ballot and take the chance of a tee time being allocated for the following day. Information on the ballot system for tee times is explained in full on www.standrews.org.uk and other related websites.

The Local Organising Committee is receiving excellent support from the Scottish Deaf Community, and in return the Scottish Deaf Golf Association has committed to a strategy of giving each deaf child in Scotland the opportunity to take up golf. Provision is being made during the world championships for deaf children and adults to have a try at sampling golf at the practice area of the Fairmont Resort courses. The development strategy involves setting up coaching session in different regions of Scotland and, hopefully, deaf children will be sufficiently attracted to the sport that in years to come some will have progressed and developed to the extent that they will be of a standard to compete for Scotland in future world deaf golf championships.

The official website for the championships www.wdgc2010.com will be used to provide regular updates of information as the starting date of the championship approaches.

The Local Organising Committee and the whole of the Scottish Deaf Community are looking forward with eager anticipation to welcoming deaf golfers and their family and friends from around the world to St Andrews in August. We are preparing the friendliest of Scottish welcomes for you all.