Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (22 October) – Cape Town, South Africa has been selected as the site of the 2006 World Amateur Team Championships, the World Amateur Golf Council (WAGC) announced at its biennial meeting Tuesday. These Championships will be hosted by the South African Golf Association in conjunction with the South African Ladies Golf Union.

Spier Country Club, designed by Peter Matkovich and opened in 2000, and Stellensbosch Golf Club, designed by Ken Elkin and opened in 1953, are the two championship courses located approximately 35 miles east of Cape Town in the Stellenbosch wine-growing region.

The 22nd women's competition for the Espirito Santo Trophy and the 25th men's competition for the Eisenhower Trophy will be held in October or November of 2006.

“The opportunity to visit the continent of Africa for the first time with the World Amateur Team Championships is very attractive to the WAGC,” said Reed Mackenzie, joint chairman of the WAGC. “We are excited about bringing our international amateur event to the world stage in South Africa.”

South Africa was designated as the ninth different European-African Zone nation to host the biennial championships, which gather some of the best amateurs in the world.

“To be the first nation in Africa chosen to host the competition for the Espirito Santo and Eisenhower Trophies is an honor beyond description,” said Dr. Carel Niewoudt, president of the South African Golf Association. “We look forward to showing the world the high quality of golf courses in our nation as well as a close-up view of our culture, tradition and history. Hosting the World Amateur Team Championship falls in line with our philosophy to promote golf in Africa.”

Both championships are over 72 holes of stroke play, and each country will have three players per team representing their nation.

The 2002 World Amateur Team Championships, hosted by the Malaysian Golf Association, are currently being conducted at Saujana Golf & Country Club, near Kuala Lumpur, and 39 women's teams and 63 men's teams are competing. Australia captured the women's event, which concluded 19 October. The men's event begins Thursday.

The 2004 Championships will be played at the Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort & Country Club in Puerto Rico.

The WAGC was founded in 1958 to encourage the international development of golf and to employ the game as a vehicle to foster friendship and sportsmanship among the peoples of the world. Serving as the International Olympic Committee's recognized International Federation for golf, the WAGC is comprised of the national governing bodies of golf in more than 100 countries.

For more information, please contact Beth Murrison or Stephanie Parel of the WAGC at 908-234-2300 (USA).