The Heineken Classic 1994. From left: Edzard van Basten-Batenburg, W inner Michael
Clayton, Heineken Export Director Frans van der Minne and Toney Boosenburg.
television coverage, especially in Asia.
Each year Tony Roosenburg tries to
arrange for several top-flight inter
national golfers to come to the Vines
Resort. For the 1994 edition he suc
ceeded in contracting big names like
Ian Woosnam, Ian Baker Finch and
Peter Senior.
Also thanks to the participation of
top golf players, the Heineken Classic
attracts much attention on television.
Apart from Asia, the European
(sports) channels are also interested
in broadcasting daily highlights of the
tournament. As the television pictures
show, the Heineken signature is
almost ideal. The dozens of signs at
strategic points on the golf course
ensure that the Heineken name is
clearly displayed on screen for
lengthy periods of time.
Preparations for such a tourna
ment start about six months before
the event itself. Talks with the various
agents of the golfers are only a small,
yet essential part of the package.
After that come months of prepa
rations to finalise every detail of the
accompanying activities. At the final,
eighteenth hole big marquees are
erected several weeks before the
tournament. These serve for public
catering and also as hospitality venues
where sponsors can receive their
guests. According to Tony Roosen
burg, such a large-scale tournament
could never be realised without the
help of hundreds of volunteers.
Volunteers who act as marshals
during the tournament or update the
leader board, volunteers who direct
visitors to the available car parking
spaces, volunteers who make sure
that, despite the crowds of visitors,
the resort is kept clean and tidy.
After the first two days of play in
this year's event it was clear that two
professionals (Baker Finch and
Woosnam) would not make the cut
and would have to pack their golf
bags. Because of the good relation
ship of both players with the
Heineken Classic it was decided, after
consultation with the organisers, to
close the third day of the tournament
with a special Heineken Challenge.
Extra holes were sunk in the green of
the eighteenth hole and each player
was given ten chances to outperform
his opponent by holing the ball with
one bunker shot and one putt. The
Heineken Challenge therefore gave
the spectators an extra opportunity to
see their big-name favourites in
action again.
21
WORLD OF
HEINEKEN
