Japanese charitable organization also sponsored the 2013 ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf in Melbourne

Melbourne, Victoria, AUS – The International Federation of PGA Tours announced today that the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS HANDA) founded by Japanese businessman and philanthropist Dr. Haruhisa Handa, has agreed to sponsor the upcoming World Cup of Golf at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, scheduled for November 23-27. ISPS HANDA also sponsored the last World Cup when it was staged at nearby Royal Melbourne Golf Club in 2013. 

"ISPS is very pleased to once again sponsor this important international team event," said Dr. Handa, who serves as the organization’s chairman. "The World Cup of Golf has such a rich history and ISPS has been supporting golf on a global basis for a number of years. At ISPS, we strongly believe in the ‘power of sport’ and its ability to break down barriers, create hope and inspire people around the world. We consider The ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf to be an ideal platform and partnership where we are able to activate the vision we share with all those involved. We had a wonderful experience in Melbourne in 2013 and look forward to another great event at Kingston Heath." 

Established in 2006, ISPS HANDA is widely recognized for its global efforts to promote blind and disabled golf. It also has been sponsoring amateur and professional tournaments worldwide, as well as a stable of professional golf ambassadors. Dr. Handa created the Japanese Blind Golf Association in 1988 and was the driving force behind the formation of the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) in 1998. The IBGA was established to coordinate the efforts of blind golf associations around the world and now is the governing and sanctioning body for international blind golf events.
Speaking on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said, "We are delighted to welcome ISPS HANDA back as the title sponsor of the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf and greatly appreciate Dr. Handa’s continued support not only of this event, but golf around the world. ISPS HANDA does wonderful charitable work around the world, so it aligns well with a tournament that has brought together many of the sport’s best international players since 1953."

The 2016 ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf returns to a 72-hole, stroke play, two-man team event format. The first and third days of competition will be the foursomes (alternate shot) format and the second and final days are fourball (best ball) play.

This will mark the fifth time in the tournament’s history that it will be played in Australia and the first at any course other than Royal Melbourne. Melbourne is renowned for its outstanding collection of "sand belt" golf courses and Kingston is one of the very best. It has hosted the Australian Open seven times and the Australian Masters twice.
The tournament was founded by the International Golf Association (IGA) in association with industrialist John Jay Hopkins for the purpose of promoting international goodwill through golf. It began in 1953 as the Canada Cup, and was renamed the World Cup in 1967. The IGA continues to have a prominent role with the ISPS World Cup of Golf. 

"The International Golf Association shares the excitement expressed by the International Federation of PGA Tours regarding ISPS sponsorship of this year’s World Cup of Golf," said John Linen, Chairman of the Board of the IGA. "Dr. Handa’s belief in the power of sport to assist in the achievement of better relations among all the nations of the world is identical to the motivation of IGA’s founder, John J. Hopkins, who expressed the same sentiment when launching the World Cup of Golf event in Canada in 1953."
The 2016 World Cup will be the 58th staging of this event. The Australian team of Jason Day and Adam Scott won in 2013.
The ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf web-site is http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/world-cup-of-golf/field.html.

About ISPS HANDA – ISPS, the International Sports Promotion Society, is a charitable organization that promotes sports, such as golf, polo and rowing, in a belief that sports and sporting platforms can help achieve world peace. It also supports blind golf as its founder and chairman Haruhisa Handa, dubbed the father of blind golf in Japan, is the first person in Japan to establish a blind golf club, which is now called the Japan Blind Golf Association.

Dr Handa also serves as founder and chairman of the International Foundation for Arts and Culture, or IFAC, a nonprofit organization established to promote social welfare activities through music and art events. IFAC is title sponsor to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, one of the most celebrated events in the arts calendar in Australia and internationally, which takes place between the end of March and the end of April every year.

About Melbourne, Victoria Voted the world’s most livable city for the past five years, Melbourne is a leader in staging international sporting and cultural events, with its super-friendly people ready to welcome World Cup of Golf visitors. The city is famed for its laneways and cafe culture, known as Australia’s coffee capital, and is home to vibrant arts, music and fashion scenes. Melbourne’s food credentials are attracting global attention and the city is the gateway to Victoria, including 21 wine regions, the stunning Great Ocean Road scenic drive and abundant native Australian wildlife. Victoria’s landscapes offer everything from international surf beaches, islands and coastal experiences to Alpine mountain ranges and inland lakes. Victoria is also a popular destination for domestic and international golfing tourism, famed for its sandbelts and home to picturesque, challenging courses that suit every ability.

Media assistance is available for World Cup media wishing to develop destination related content, research locations for outside broadcasts, interview local personalities and access rights free footage. Please contact [email protected] with any requests. Destination information is also available at www.visitmelbourne.com

About the International Federation of PGA Tours The International Federation of PGA Tours was formed in 1996 by golf’s five world governing bodies – the European Tour, Japan Golf Tour Organization, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour (South Africa PGA Tour) with the purpose of providing a forum for the world’s professional golf organizations to discuss issues of mutual importance and, together, develop and promote the game of golf on a global basis. As part of its mission, the Federation initiated the World Golf Championships in 1999. The Asian Tour joined the International Federation of PGA Tours in November 1999.

In step with global growth of professional golf, the International Federation of PGA Tours announced an expansion and restructuring of its membership in 2009, adding the International Golf Association and additional professional golf tours, including – for the first time – women’s golf tours: China Golf Association; Korea Professional Golfers’ Association; Professional Golf Tour of India; LPGA Tour; Ladies European Tour; Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour; Japan LPGA; Korean LPGA; and Ladies Asian Golf Tour.

About the International Golf Association The International Golf Association (IGA) is a not-for-profit corporation, chartered in the State of New York in 1956. IGA is governed by its six-member Board of Directors. Jonathan Linen is the IGA Board Chairman. Through its association with the International Federation of PGA Tours, IGA continues its international goodwill through golf mission and looks forward to the 2016 return of the World Cup of Golf to Melbourne and a new Sandbelt region course in historic Kingston Heath Golf Club.