Adelaide, Australia (18 October) – Antalya, Turkey has been selected as the site of the 2012 World Amateur Team Championships, the International Golf Federation (IGF) announced following its Biennial Meeting.

These Championships will be hosted by the Turkish Golf Federation. The 25th women’s championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy and the 28th men’s championship for the Eisenhower Trophy will be played in September of 2012.

“The International Golf Federation enthusiastically endorses the selection of Turkey to host the 2012 World Amateur Team Championships because it represents the continued growth of golf in diverse countries around the world,” Jim Vernon, IGF Joint Chairman said. “We also thank Austria and Italy for their well-organized and attractive bids.”

“It is like a dream,” Turkish Golf Federation President Ahmet Agaoglu said. “I could not dream of this four years ago. Golf is the fastest growing sport in Turkey and we were very keen to get these championships. This will help promote and grow golf in our country and as the number of golf courses will continue to increase year by year, the number of young players will as well.”

Both championships, which gather the world’s leading amateurs, are played over 72 holes of stroke play. Each country is represented by a team of three players.

The 2008 World Amateur Team Championships, hosted by Golf Australia, are currently being conducted at Royal Adelaide Golf Club and The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide. Sweden won the Espirito Santo Trophy on 11 October.

The 2010 Championships will be played in Buenos Aires, Argentina at Olivos Golf Club and Buenos Aires Golf Club.

The IGF 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 IGF is comprised of the national governing bodies of golf in more than 110 countries.

For more information, please contact Pete Kowalski of the IGF at the 2008 Championships Media Center at +011-61-8-8353-3423.