2013 Golf Chic (pdf version) - Ladies European Tour

Cast members from stage musical ‘We WillRock You’ entertain corporate guestsSharmila Nicollet from IndiaLocal golfer Martina Eberl soaksthe tournament winner Anne-LiseCaudal in celebratory champagnePernilla LindbergIt is not just the world class golf thatattracts so many spectators, but therelaxed, party atmosphere which organisershave created to create a fun and familyfriendlyenvironment. With a beer garden,on-stage entertainment in the largepublic area and sporting celebrities inattendance, each year the organisers setout to break preconceptions about golf’straditional, stiff and stuffy image.There is something for everyone: speciallydesigned play areas for children, livestreaming and information for their parentswhether they are relaxing on the weekendor enjoying a business lunch in the VIParea, good food, golf clinics and shopping.Little wonder that the tournamenthas established itself nationally andinternationally with an enviable reputationamongst the players. Over the last fiveyears, the event has attracted some of theworld’s most recognisable faces includingAmerican stars Michelle Wie and LexiThompson as well as US-based Germanheroine Sandra Gal.This unique tournament offers no end ofoutside the ropes activities built aroundthe golf to entertain the amateurs andmake the professionals feel special. Therespected luxury car manufacturer Audi isa key partner and a gleaming red Audi R8Spyder is a highly desirable hole in oneprize parked on the 15th tee. In addition tothe 52,500 euro first prize, there is also anAudi A5 Cabriolet for the winner.Several players take the opportunity to testdrive an Audi R8 Spyder down the nearbyopen country roads and autobahns duringthe tournament week. Meanwhile there is ahighly exclusive Sponsor and Players’ Nightat HypoVereinsbank Forum in downtownMunich, where last year members of the castof the West End musical ‘We Will Rock You!’delivered a private on stage performance.In terms of the level of detail andorganisation of the event with the oncourse banners, marquees, balloons andpublic area, the marshalls and crowds, theevent is in a league of its own.The Pro Ams always attract a host ofGerman celebrities, such as the formerinternational footballer Olli Khan andoffer a mixture of modern and traditionalentertainment with loud music, largejugs of beer, country flags waving andblunderbuss shotgun start. To completethe effect, the hosts don Tracht dress, withlederhosen for men and dirndl dresses forwomen!Aside from the outside the ropesentertainment the golf is sensational withthe warm weather and wide open parklandstyle course conducive to low scoring. Overthe past five years, the lowest winningtotal score has been 24 under par 264 byDiana Luna in 2011.In the first year of the tournament in 2008,the event champion Amy Yang from SouthKorea set the precedent for low scoringwith a winning total of 267, 21 under par.She also set the course record with a 63in the third round. This was equalled byVirginie Lagoutte Clement in the secondround in 2011.In 2009 it was Jade Schaeffer from Francewho took the honours after a play-offbattle against Spain’s Paula Marti, whilehome favourite Martina Eberl-Ellis, whohas a large role in the tournament’sorganisation ended tied third, her besttournament placing.There were emotional scenes in 2012 whenthe Bavarian announced that it would beher last competitive year, but she willcontinue her role as consultant and allround cheer-leader.England’s Laura Davies proved that shehad the ideal game for the course whenshe collected one of five titles in Germanyduring a tremendous 2010 season.Meanwhile Italian Diana Luna had an extraspecial week in 2011 when she becamethe first Ladies European Tour player in 34years to win a 72-hole tournament withoutrecording a single bogey!It was French player Anne-Lise Caudalwho emerged the victor in 2012 after shedefeated Davies with a birdie at the secondextra hole of a sudden-death play-off.Both players began the final round twostrokes behind the third round leader andended tied on 13 under par. In the play-off,Davies’s birdie putt from four metres felljust short and low of the hole, beforeCaudal made a three-metre birdie putt onthe 519 yard par-five 18th hole, raising herarms into the air in jubilation at collectingher second LET title and first in four yearssince the 2008 Portugal Ladies Open.Almost lost for words, Caudal’s reactionwas: “I can’t believe it; a lot of emotion!”Meanwhile Davies looked devastated asshe pondered the loss on a nearby golfbuggy and commented: “It’s a cruel playoffto lose really, because not only do you losethe money, you lose the sub prize of a carwhich is very unusual on the European Tourso for whoever wins this tournament, it’s areally special win. It’s like a double hit, butAnne-Lise deserves it.”So will the tradition of a new winner eachyear continue? Tournament organiserswould love to see a German winner andCaroline Masson, Sandra Gal and AnjaMonke are clear candidates, as are LETrookies Nina Holleder, Leigh Whittaker,Ann-Kathrin Lindner and Isabell Gabsa.Masson had an incredible season in 2012collecting her first LET title at the SouthAfrican Women’s Open in July and finishingsecond on the ISPS Handa Order of Meritafter six additional top ten finishes duringthe season, including four second places,in Slovakia, Switzerland, Spain and China.With The Solheim Cup being played inAmerica in August, this will be a keytournament for the Europeans to collectimportant points, which are doubled inSolheim Cup years.Masson led the European Solheim Cupstandings going into 2013 and will bekeen to follow in the footsteps of hercompatriots Elisabeth Esterl and SandraGal who played on the winning Europeanteams in 2003 and 2011 respectively.With The 2015 Solheim Cup taking placeat St Leon Rot in Germany, Masson willbe even keener to gain experience on theteam this year and the UniCredit LadiesGerman Open will give her a fantasticopportunity to show her class. Her careerbest finish in the tournament was tiedfourth in 2011, which she can easilyimprove upon.Whether or not a new winner is crowned, theUniCredit Ladies German Open is guaranteedto provide a wonderful experience for theplayers and public and will give us a taste ofwhat to expect when the country hosts TheSolheim Cup in two years.3233