By Kent Gray
Paul Bester had to twist George Guisti’s arm to take half a day off work to play the 4th Autism Golf Championship. It’s a fair bet he won’t have any trouble convincing his pal to apply for even more leave for their next big tournament together.

The South African duo have won the golf trip of a lifetime to the Golf Digest C&S Golf Invitational in Prague after shocking themselves by clinching the charity foursomes (alternate shot) event at Arabian Ranches. Bester and Guisti won with 43 stableford points on a countback from Ashok Ahuja and Ashok Galotia. Marla and Subhojit Biswas were third a point further back.

PHOTO GALLERY:  Relive all the best action from the Autism Golf Championship at Arabian Ranches

The reward is a five-day, four round experience in the Czech capital that includes five star accommodation, a mayoral reception and a guided tour of the historical European city.

“It was totally unexpected – I couldn’t believe it when they called our names out [as winners],” Bester said. “We didn’t even know about it [the prize], we didn’t go to win. That usually happens to the posh golfers. We just play to relax, support the event and get out of the office.”

Bester and Guisti will have their out of office notifications on again in late July as they play against Golf Digest executives and key clients from around the globe at Prague City Golf in Zbraslav (July 31), Panorama Golf Resort (Aug 1),  Ypsilon Golf Resort in Liberec (Aug 2) and Royal Golf Club, Marianske Lazne (Aug 3).

Photo courtesy www.praguecitygolf.cz
Photo courtesy www.praguecitygolf.cz Prague City hosts an event on the European Challenge Tour

Bester paid tribute to Lifestyle Events for the organisation of the Arabian Ranches qualifier and the decision to play foursomes, a novel format for a corporate-style event.

“I liked the twists within the [format] like having to tee off one hole with an old [persimmon] driver. I cracked a beauty on the third hole – you can actually hit them good,” Bester continued. “The format, I like it. It makes you concentrate on your shot because you don’t want to mess up for your partner.

“We putted like demons, the putting saved our bacon. We blanked one or two holes but otherwise our chips were either close or we holed long putts. The Happy Gilmore drive on the first…we had a stunning birdie there after George hit a ripper there. It was super fun.”

The post South African duo win trip to Golf Digest C&S Invitational in Prague  appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Golf Digest Middle East has teamed up with Lifestyle Events FZ to provide the major prize for the winners of the 4th Autism Golf Challenge to be hosted by Arabian Ranches Golf Club on Thursday, April 26.

And what a prize it is. The champions from Arabian Ranches will be personally escorted by Golf Digest Middle East to the Golf Digest C&S Golf Invitational in Prague in late July for a five night, 72-hole stableford tournament. You’ll tee it up against players representing other Golf Digest affliiates from around the globe at four of the Czech Republic’s leading courses.

Here’s the itinerary:

July 31 – Prague City Golf, Zbraslav 

Photo courtesy www.praguecitygolf.cz Prague City hosts an event on the European Challenge Tour

Aug 1 – Panorama Golf Resort

Picture courtesy www.panoramagolf.cz

Aug 2 – Ypsilon Golf Resort, Liberec 

Picture courtesy www.ygolf.cz

Aug 3 – Royal Golf Club Marianske Lazne

Picture courtesy www.golfml.cz

The winners will stay at the Ambassador Zlata Husa Hotel in Prague (share twin) and will also enjoy a tour of the historic European city and an opening ceremony reception hosted by the mayor.

So what are you waiting for – enter the Autism Golf Challenge today.

It’s an 18-hole foursomes (pairs alternate shot) event open to amateurs (handicap certificate required) and professionals. The AED 695pp + VAT entry free covers your golf at the Ian Baker-Finch-designed Arabian Ranches G.C. (1pm shotgun), prize-giving BBQ and “tournament goodies” with the proceeds of the charity event going to support autism.

The tournament will be played with a handicap allowance of 50 percent of each pair’s combined gross index and there are some great prizes outside of the Prague trip, including a Nerouno Chronograph timepiece from tournament Hole-in-One partner Montegrappame.

If you’re still wavering, here’s a video of Panorama Golf Resort in Prague to get you in the mood.

ENTER THE 4th AUTISM GOLF CHALLENGE HERE

The post WIN a trip to the Golf Digest C&S Golf Invitational in Prague! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.