The 79th Ghana Open Golf Championship 2011 will take place on Friday, 2nd Dec. - Sunday, 4th December for Amateurs and from Monday 28th November – Thursday 1st December 2011, at the Royal Golf Club in Kumasi. The Ghana Open Golf Championship has been played since 1931 and is the most prestigious tournament of the golf calendar year in Ghana. The Championship has events for both professionals and amateurs. The amateur event is open to Men, Ladies and Juniors for three exciting days and the Professional event is for four days of competitive play. The Championship is a Scratch Competition, Stroke Play with 72 holes for Professionals, 54 holes for Amateur Men and 36 holes for Amateur Ladies and 18 holes for Juniors. This year, the Championship is expected to attract about 250 players ranging from all 16 of Ghana's Golf Clubs as well as international competitors from West, East and Central Africa. An added attraction is an invitational event for Executives of Sponsors and Golf friendly Companies who have been supporting golf nationally. Since its inception, the hosting of the tournament has been rotating among Ghana's leading 18-hole golf courses. This year, it will be hosted by the beautiful Royal Golf Club in Kumasi. Located in the heart of Ghana's Ashanti Region, The Royal Golf Club boasts of an outstanding stretch of over 90 acres, a challenging 18-hole course, as well as a clubhouse, restaurant and Pro Shop. This year's Ghampionship will be graced by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II , Patron of Ghana Golf and by the Hon Clement Humado, the Minister of Youth and Sports. At last year's Ghana Open hosted by Goldfield at Damang Golf Club, Amateur Men's winner, George Osei of Takoradi Golf Club, returned an impressive 219 gross over 54 holes to take home the winning trophy. Runner-up, Vincent Coffie of Achimota Golf Club returned 237 gross to come in a close second. Grace Afriyie of Tema Country Club won the Amateur Lady's event with a gross score of 172, followed by Felicity Okyei of Kumasi's Royal Golf Club with 198 gross. The professional event was won by Kojo Bannie, also of Kumasi who took home $6000 for his winning score of 280 gross over 72 holes play. Vincent Torgah came in second e with 295 gross, followed by John Mawuli in third with 298 gross in the professional division. With George Osei now joining the professional ranks, the Men amateur event will unearth new rivalry between Vincent Coffie (Achimota), Asabre ( Kumasi), Ernest Opoku (Tema) Baba Musah ( Obuasi ) and E. K. Owusu ( Tafo). The Professional event will however be very competitive with inform Amos Korblah, winner of Accra Open 2011,expecting a stiff competition from 2010 Professional winner, Kojo Bannie ( Kumasi) and Victor Brave-Mensah ( Tema) . Among the players expected to participate in this year's tournament will be a big patronage from Nigeria.\ Felicity Okyei, last year's Ladies's runner up will be the favorite to win on home ground. The Championship is organized under the auspices the Ghana Golf Association (GGA) and their generous sponsors. After posting an unbeatable standard of sponsorship at Damang last year as hosts, Goldfields Ghana is the major sponsor for this year's event, supported by networking experts, Ostec and by Doscar Travel and Tours. The GGA is hoping to use the Championship improve the awarenesas about golf in Ghana, hoping to increae patronage and interest in the game which is now an Olympic Sport. The Junior event is to unearth young Talents, encourage them and nurture them for the future National Team, inculcating in them all the great attributes of golf, namely: Sportsmanship, Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgment. The GGA wishes to grow Golf holistically as the ' Game of Life for Life. A Game for All 'and nurture talent for a National Team for future Olympic participation