イベント報告
イベント参加報告
JCV
Ground Golf Coordinator のTony Preston さんが、昨年に引き続き、グラウンドゴルフ発祥の地(鳥取県湯梨浜)で行
われた国際大会に参加しました。その様子をレポートしてもらいました。
Ground
Golf in Yurihama 2026
JCV member Tony Preston, his younger brother Dr Mark Preston, and five members of Frankston Susono Friendship Association (FSFA) played in the 2026 Yurihama International Ground Golf Open in Tottori Prefecture on Saturday-Sunday 30-31 May this year.
Last
year Tony played in the tournament with his son Riki as the first Australian
representatives; this year he was joined by Bev Hannan, Derek and Joan Mosely,
Therese Sakamoto and Mick Collard from FSFA.
Although
there were bear attacks in cities on TV, the most ferocious wildlife they saw
was a hare that wandered on to the course while they were practicing.
As
part of their uniform all wore an Aboriginal-designed colourful shirt, which
made it easy to pick them out in the crowd, and which got Mick Collard (left)
and Mark Preston (right) on the Sunday Sports page of the Nihonkai Shinbun (see below), and
in the You Tube video of the competition shot by the Ground Golf Ohji Yamane
Souta.
See:
You Tube https://youtu.be/g3Kat2E-D2g?si=GwFCexhc8o9glUdN
Tony
was also interviewed for the Yurihama Kohyo 7 2026 Vol. 262.
On
Monday 1st June, Tony travelled using a week-long rail pass to stay
2 nights at the Okuizumo-cho Cycling Terminal near Izumi-Minari Station, in
order to play in the “Tsunagu” Ground Golf Tournament at Green Hill Sato on
Tuesday 2nd June. The tournament was cancelled due to rain, but Tony
had come a long way so he actually played the 3 courses in light rain.
The
next stop was 2 nights at the Peace Inn Masuda Ekikita at Masuda Town. Tony
played in the 114th Fureai (International, because Tony played) G.G.
Tournament at Hidamari Park Mito on Thursday 6th June. Tony scored
146/146, getting 99 strokes for 32 holes.
On
Friday, Tony headed up the coast to Hamada Town to play at the Kanagi Kinta Hai
GG Tournament on Saturday. Tony came 18th out of 20, scoring 23, 25,
23, 25 for a total of 96.
On
Sunday Tony caught the train back to Kurayoshi in Tottori Prefecture. On Monday
8th June, Tony played in the 26th Hakuto Ground Golf
Hamanasu Tournament, playing with his partner from Kurayoshi Town, Nakano
Kana-san.
This
was the second time Tony had played on this course, playing with his fellow
Australians 2 weeks ago, and he got 158/331, scoring 63 for 24 holes, 19, 23
and 21, with a hole-in-one on the last hole in the rain.
Tony
practiced at Lakeside Daiei Ground Golf Course on Wednesday 10th June,
and entered the Fuse G.G. Competition at the Yamata Sports Park Athletic Field
on Thursday. Tony scored 198/250, getting a hole-in-one.
On
Friday 12th June, Tony moved to Yurihama to stay at Suimeiso Inn in
preparation for the 38th Birthplace Open Competition at Shiokaze no
Oka Tomari on Saturday 13th June and Sunday 14th June.
This was a 4-person event, so Tony partnered Nakano Kana-san from Kurayoshi,
and sisters Mitsue and Akemi from Tokyo, to form Team Dragon, the first team
from Australia. Kana-san got 2 holes-in-one, which saved us from coming last.
So it was a pleasant 3 weeks devoted to Ground Golf in Tottori Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture in May and June, participating in 6 tournaments and practicing at another 5 courses.
