Golf, Ballantine’s, bagpipes, Korean drums and 35 mph winds: what a way to leave an impression. The second annual Ballantine’s Championship took place in April on Jeju Island in South Korea. With an elite line up of players confirmed, the arrival of Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and last year’s winner Graeme McDowell, was greatly anticipated.

However, on the Monday of tournament week, with the arrival of players imminent, torrential rain hit - leaving players, press, photographers and entertainers (better known as the bagpipers) stranded in a variety of locations none of which being the Shilla Hotel, Jeju Island - the desired destination. As the weather eased late Monday evening, it was confirmed that Tuesday would be a brighter day and the eagerly awaited players would arrive. Sure enough they did.

Thursday arrived with beautiful sunshine. Ballantine’s guests flooded to the 18th hole marquee to see the likes of Ernie Els and Fred Couples hole their final putt of the day, whilst also being offered the opportunity of a master class with Fred Couples and Lee Westwood.

Gala dinners took place each evening offering a unique blend of Korean and Scottish culture. Guests were introduced to the traditions behind the Scottish heritage (experiencing the Address to the Haggis first hand) and blending of Ballantine’s. This was followed by live entertainment in the form of Korean drummers and Scottish bagpipers. Players attended and entertained guests with stories from that day’s play.

As the tournament drew to a close, the weather took a turn for the worse. Winds of 35mph swept through Pinx on the Saturday and players struggled in the conditions out on the course. Guests remained in the warmth of the 18th hole hospitality, enjoying a glass of 17 year old Ballantine’s with a few venturing out in the elements to catch the final few balls.

Crowds flocked to Pinx on the final day, in particular to the 18th hole to watch the play off with Thongchai Jaidee, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and local Korean Sung-Hoon Kang all fighting it out for the silverware.  In the end, it was Thongchai Jaidee who took the trophy and left a lasting impression on the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship.

By Georgina Taylor on June 4th, 2009

Tags: Alcohol, Default, Golf

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Imagine the prospect of a rugby training session with a coach who is feared by players for his army style drills and envied by other coaches for the results he yields from his team. Guinness Club Together, a grassroots rugby initiative, gave one lucky club the chance to be put through their paces in a unique training session, tailored specifically for the club, by the Wales Defence Coach Shaun Edwards.

Shaun gave up his only day off this year, in his busy schedule training the Welsh National Squad and the Wasps Guinness Premiership team, to head to Nottingham Casuals RFC, currently 5^th in Midlands 4 (East – North), for a once in a lifetime training session.

Oli Mott, winner of the Guinness Club Together competition, claimed he’d never seen so many players turn up for mid-week training and with such excitement and enthusiasm – they were even all on time! Shaun lived up to his trade-mark terrifying approach and took no pity on the Nottingham Casuals Team, undertaking a series of training drills and practices, which would have put a professional player through their paces. Shaun showed his true passion for the development of rugby by spending time with the club coaches as well as with the players. Judging by all the exhausted faces at the end I think it’s safe to say they had never experienced anything like it.

Despite Shaun’s gruelling schedule, he found time to share a pint of ‘the black stuff’ with the team after the training session, along with sharing some amusing anecdotes of life off the pitch in the professional game. The hard work and sweat truly paid off as the Nottingham Casuals won their next match 81-0! Shaun Edwards obviously left a lasting impression and turned out to be not so intimidating as originally thought.

To round up the 2008-9 rugby season Guinness Club Together is offering one member club the chance to play on the hallowed turf at Twickenham on the day of the Guinness Premiership Final. To enter visit www.guinness-clubtogether.com.

By Georgina Taylor on March 25th, 2009

Tags: Alcohol, Event management service, Guinness, Guinness Premiership, Rugby, community, grass roots sport

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