Petr Dedek, the businessman who is funding and promoting the inaugural D+D Real Czech Challenge Open, hopes that after the resounding success of this week’s tournament, it can be a fixture on the European Challenge Tour schedule for decades to come.
It is the first time Dedek, a hugely successful entrepreneur, has undertaken the task of hosting and promoting a golf tournament and his own business acumen as well as his hard-working promotion team have ensured that this week’s event has been an unequivocal success.
Players, staff and visitors have raved of the stunning course, the wonderful hotel and most of all the welcoming people at Kunetická Hora Golf Club, all amounting to a superb debut on the golf scene from Dedek and his team.
The man himself is certainly pleased with how it has gone and believes it is the beginning of a long and fruitful journey with the Challenge Tour.
“The decision to stage this event was made exactly one year and one day ago,“ said Dedek, whose 20 year old son is a promising young golfer and played in the tournament his week.
“I used to sponsor an ice-hockey team from Vrchlabi (his local town) for 7 years, but at the end I was very unhappy with it.
“I turned to golf and wanted to connect my activities with what is a very clean and respectable sport. I love golf myself and that´s why it was no brainer for me. I decided I wanted to create tournament which would last for decades and I hope it will.”
Dedek has reaped the rewards of his decision to stage a Challenge Tour tournament in his home country, which is beginning to produce golfers of a higher standard than has ever been seen in the Czech Republic.
The development of Czech golf was top of his priority list and with four players making the weekend cut in the D+D Real Czech Challenge Open, the immediate success of this tournament became even clearer.
“My motto is ‘you cannot eat three steaks at once, or you cannot drive two cars at once’. It is a Czech phrase and in the context means I have enough money to feed myself. I wanted to so do something to help develop an exceptional and credible Czech golf event.
“Those were the thoughts behind the decision to create a new tournament in Czech Republic. I hope that we can show the young golfers here that there is a chance to play and experience a European competition on home soil.
“And as we see here at Kunetická Hora this week – not only can these home players make the cut but they are capable of competing with the top players from Challenge Tour. Four Czech players making the cut – I think that is an historical moment.”
Dedek wanted to give a special mention to the greenkeeping staff who have ensured that the Graham Marsh-designed course, regarded as one of the best in the country, is in top condition for the players this week.
“I have to say that the course is at excellent condition,” he said. “Greenkeeper Michael Voigts and his staff are doing excellent job and players are very happy too.
“Many have come to me and said that this tournament is one of the best on the Challenge Tour – and this is only the first year. Therefore I am very happy that everybody is enjoying the tournament. I definitely am enjoying it too!”
