Committees say that putting the new golf course to the test today is a major part of their preparations for the SEA Games.
Standing Deputy Prime Minister and SEA Games Organising Chairman Somsavat has urged all committees to follow through with their plans during the test event at the golf course. This involves picking up players at the SEA Games Village and heading to the SEA Games Golf Club.
“The leaders of committees involved with transportation, security, traffic direction, medical assistance and technical aspects should see how their plans materialise and learn from this experience so any mistakes can be rectified,” Mr Somsavat said at the latest SEA Games meeting on November 12.
Another committee working at the golf club should prepare to welcome players for the opening of the tournament and run through all aspects of the event until the medal presentation.
“This will be an important event that all committees should pay close attention to before the games get underway next month,” Mr Somsavat said.
All local golfers will be involved in the pre-games test event to make sure everyone is ready before the big day in December.
Lao Golf Federation President Sounthone Sirisack said last week that although most of the players on the team were young, they had gained valuable experience and improved their handicap since previous competitions.
With the golfers improving steadily, he raised the stakes by saying that golf will be a medal hope for Laos at the games.
“We didn’t perform well enough in previous SEA Games, but this time we are the host so our players have the goodwill of the government, Lao people and their families to spur them on and to practise hard.”
“Now they are better than ever and ready for the challenge,” he said.
After the announcement that golf would be included as one of the sports at the 25th SEA Games, the federation gathered the nation’s most experienced as well as up-and-coming players.
Trial matches were held to select the best golfers.
“We had many to choose from, and selected 10 of them for the final team,” Mr Sounthone said.
“We have seven starting players including three women. The other three will be substitutes.”
The golfers have received encouragement from the federation and the government as well as their families, who are eager to support them as they compete on behalf of Laos.
“We have enough equipment and received good cooperation from the countries where we sent our players to practise. This was good preparation for them ahead of the games,” he said.
Mr Sounthone said the federation has found the popularity of golf to be increasing in Laos.
The SEA Games are seen as an opportunity for the federation to spark development of a new generation of Lao golfers.
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Novembe 16, 2009
Vientiane Times
