From 20 to 24 May, 200 left-handers from 15 countries competed in the 26th World Championship, Willingen, Germany. The games were played on the golf courses Haxterpark-Links, Paderborner Land, Schmallenberg and Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe.
Although 4 days had been scheduled for the tournament, due to massive rainfall the 2nd day had to be canceled because the courses were unplayable. However, this had not distracted the enthusiastic players from their goal, and an additional day off was used to renew or sustain international friendships.
The play-free day on Wednesday, many players used with their partners to visit Willingen sights. The program included a visit to the glassworks, the mine Schiefergrube Christine and the Willingen Brauhaus, where everyone could take home a souvenir glass in addition to the test of the tasty beer. Then we went to the Mühlenkopfschanze, where everyone had the opportunity to hit 3 balls from a height of 120 meters into a small pool of water. Many “pros” were at the start but only 2 hit the target. The two were celebrated with a prize and big applause. Finally, we went to the Ettelsberg in Sigi`s hut. With pea soup with sausages and fire water you could end the day.
The next two days were again marked by the goal to become golf world champion. As in every Championship, the big winner’s buffet followed on Friday with award ceremony in the festively decorated hall of the Sauerlandstern. The winner presentations showed that excellent results were again achieved. We were particularly proud of the fact that Yannik Rosenberger from GC Heddesheim and Super Senior Class Joachim Plattner from GC Bayreuth won the coveted title at this World Cup. Last year in 2000 in Bad Griesbach and in 2002 in Spain our then member Claudia Popp became world champion in the ladies. Incidentally, Claudia Popp-Kohlhuber then moved to the profile camp. She is a member of the PGA of Germany and currently works in GC Feldafing eV as a golf pro and trainer.
The team classification (Doug Crosby Cup) went to Germany. Since the founding of NALG Germany, this is the first time that a German team has won the coveted Doug Crosby Cup.
We are proud of the success of our German players and congratulate all world champions on their success. Of course also to all other players for their participation according to the motto of our honorary past president Doug Crosby “being here is everything”.
Finally, I would also like to thank all the participants of the World Cup, my helper team, especially Jörg Schirmak, who played a significant role in the success of the event, as well as the sponsors, the bus company and the Hotel Sauerlandstern for the accommodation of the players and the excellent Thank you for hosting. Thanks also to all for the many positive feedbacks and emails received during and after the tournament.
It was nice to do this World Cup in Germany with you and I think we are all looking forward to Paris 2020. I would like to say goodbye in the words of a past President: “Being here is everything”.
Yours
Josef Langenberger