The Ballantine’s Open Golf Championship is set to tee off at the Gokarna Golf Course on Saturday.

Pernod Ricard, a French company that produces distilled beverages, is sponsoring the event for the third time at Gokarna. Around 100 amateur golfers will battle for the honour in the tournament to be played under stableford format with 3/4 handicap allowance, informed the Senior Golf Director at the Gokarna Golf Club Deepak Acharya. Acharya said the costs of the event would approximately be Rs 800,000.

“We are pleased to have the continued support from the Ballantine’s over the years,” said Acharya, who is himself a professional golfer. Ravinder Saini, Pernod Ricard country manager, said that the company has a long history of supporting golf across the world. “Here (Nepal) too we are doing the same for the last few years,” said Saini.

The championship features competitions in men’s, women’s and senior categories with winners set to take home attractive prizes. Prizes on offer also include best gross, longest drive, closest-to-the-pin and most birdies. Golfer to accomplish hole-in-one will walk away with a bumper prize as well. “We are yet to determine the prize for the hole-in-one but it will be something very attractive and expensive,” said the former Nepal No 1 Acharya. Since its an amateur tournament, none of the golfers will receive cash prizes but are assured of lucrative gift hampers.