At a Glance
FCC Nations Cup, 2-day "friendly" golf tournament, May 8-9 at The Angkor Golf Resort.
$285 Special FCC Package includes the whole weekend. See story for complete details, reservations@fcccambodia.com
As chances go, winning the top prize at the FCC Angkor Nations Cup golf tournament amounts to the proverbial long shot.
The winner receives a week-long vacation to Siem Reap and Luang Prabang, plus $1,000 in cash.
All you have to do is shoot a hole in one.
"The idea is to come and have a great weekend," says Ben Janclose, general manager of The FCC Angkor, "and maybe hit the jackpot."
The weekend will consist of the fun and relaxed hole-in-one challenge for charity and the slightly more competitive challenge that's part of the Angkor Nations Cup.
Tournament promoters wanted the hole-in-one challenge to set the mood for the weekend, when golfers become a bit more serious for The FCC Angkor Nations Cup.
Competitive golfers are expected to attend, Janclose says, but the overall atmosphere of the tournament is decidedly uncompetitive.
"The ambience is very relaxed," he says.
Hoisting The Cup
It all begins Saturday, May 8 at the Angkor Golf resort in Siem Reap.
Players are grouped into teams of four based on their home countries, and each team will play 18 holes on Saturday and another 18 on Sunday.
Players are handicapped, which allows lesser experienced players to compete with more advanced players.
"It's still a professional golf course, and there are some serious players," Janclose says. "But even if you are not a great golfer, you can come and play and have a great time."
Teams will be playing for their countries and bragging rights.
"The big prize," Janclose says, "is getting to add the country name to the cup."
$285 Golf Weekend
To entice golfers, The FCC is offering a special tournament package:
- A room at The FCC Angkor
- Tournament entry fee
- Green fees for two days (36 holes)
- Caddy
- Opening ceremony dinner
- Closing ceremony lunch
- Snacks and drinks while golfing
The cost for the package is US$285.
Green fees for the Angkor Golf Resort are typically $115 per 18 holes -- plus cart and equipment rentals, etc. A room at The FCC Angkor costs about $120 per night.
Including the dinner, lunch and caddy fees, the total value is over $400.
"In terms of value, there is no discussion," says Raphael Guillien, chief operating officer for The FCC. "But that's what we wanted. We wanted to do something exciting and fun. Because the FCC is a member of the Angkor Golf Resort, we can get that great discount, and then pass it on."
Golf in Southeast Asia is growing in popularity, and the sport is particularly popular in Cambodia because Prime Minister Hun Sen is an avid player.
The FCC Angkor held its first Nations Cup in October 2009. More than 60 golfers representing eight countries competed. The team from Canada won.
"People had a really good time," says Guillien, who also played in last year's cup. "A lot of people asked us if we could have two per year. That's why we are doing another one."