The fifth installment of Thailand’s biggest and most enjoyed tournament for club golfers, the Centara World Masters Golf Championship, returns to the popular beach-side resort town on Hua Hin in Thailand from 10 to 16 June 2018.

Such is the event’s popularity, more than 300 golfers have signed up for the tournament since registrations opened 3 months ago. Testimony to the events worldwide appeal, golfers from Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, USA, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, India, Pakistan, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea and host country Thailand have already confirmed their participation.

Centara Grand Hua Hin Beach Resort & Villas hosts spectacular welcome and presentation dinners as well Asia’s biggest 19th hole with entertainment events every night of the week-long tournament. Centara Hua Hin’s old world charm, beachfront location, modern facilities and Thai hospitality makes it a popular place to stay. The hotel is 90% sold-out, with a number of room types already on waitlist.

Open to golfers aged 35 and over, the Centara World Masters is played in age and handicap divisions for both men and women. Playing and competing with golfers of a similar age and standard is part of the tournaments winning formula.

Golfers will play Hua Hin’s four premier golfing resorts for this year’s 72 hole championship. Asia’s number one ranked course, Black Mountain will headline the tournament along with perennial favorite Banyan will headline the course rotation. With a major new pipeline now delivering unlimited water to neighboring Springfield Country Club and Lake View golf courses, these impressive layouts now boast lush, emerald-green fairways where you never get a bad lie.

“Severe drought over the past couple of years had really impacted these two courses that were dependent on mother nature for watering. It’s amazing how lush both the courses are now that they have regular water supply. Last time I inspected Lake View the fairways had major cracks down the middle of them and we had to play ‘tee-up’ at Springfield. Now these courses have the lushest fairways and your ball sits up perfect. The transformation in course conditioning is amazing and I just know golfers will really enjoy playing these courses.” Mark Siegel, Managing Director, Golfasian.

Tournament veteran Daryn Kitchener from Brisbane Australia is among the first to register every year. “I travel to a lot of tournaments around the world and it just doesn’t get any better than the Centara World Masters. Organizers look after absolutely everything for you. Buses take you to and from the courses, you finish your round and leave your clubs on your cart and they just appear on your cart at the next course – cleaned!

According to Go Golfing founder Peter McCarthy, we love spoiling golfers at the Centara World Masters. “I don’t know any other tournament where you get a one-hour massage on arrival. We have 30 hospitality staff who look after everything for the golfers and the non-playing partners. You don’t carry a bag or line up for a drink all week. Our sponsors love the event so much they are coming up with more and more things to make the event more amazing. The whole town of Hua Hin has signs welcoming golfers and special offers for the players. It’s humbling to have this kind of support and hospitality.”

The tournament is a collaboration between Australian based Go Golfing and Thailand based Golfasian. Go Golfing pioneered World Masters tournaments 23 years ago in Australia and now take more than 13,000 golfers each year to 24 countries for their tournaments and hosted group golf tours. Golfasian have forged an enviable reputation as the trusted company for golfers to book with when travelling to Thailand, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. Each year both companies are awarded as the best golf tour operators in the Asia Pacific region at the World Golf Awards.

The Roller Derby World Cup is coming to British shores for the first time and a team of women representing the West Indies are looking to make their mark.

Roller derby is an extremely physical, full contact sport and from February 1st - 4th teams of women from all over the world will descend on Manchester to represent their respective nations. Team West Indies will be one of the 38 nations competing for glory on the roller derby track. The team consisting of women based in the UK and US are representing the islands of St Kitts, Guyana, Trinidad, St Vincent and Jamaica and they’re looking to bring the fiyah once again.

Birmingham athletes make up a large portion of this national team, with 5 of the skaters being members of the Birmingham Blitz Dames, the number 1 team in Birmingham. Blitz Dame and captain of the Windies Simone Radway, AKA Violet Attack, an 11 year veteran of the sport said “We’ve been training very hard over the past year and the team has gone from strength to strength. We’re stronger and more skilled than last time around and we’ll be going into this tournament ready for all the challenges it will bring.”

“We’re proud not only to be representing the West Indies and our respective islands, but also black female athletes, who are underrepresented in our sport. I can’t wait to lead this team at the World Cup and show the world what West Indian women are made of.”

With Easter fast approaching idyllic island Amilla Fushi has raised the game for family holidays in the Maldives. The laidback resort will be hosting their first ever football training camp exclusively for kids in partnership with FUTBOLTEC. The Sydney-based football program owned by Asian Champions League winner Jason Trifiro and his brother, current Sydney United 58 player Glen Trifiro, is inviting young guests to train and perfect their skills through elite coaching on the island's very own full-sized pitch.

Passionate about the increasing importance of technique and skill in Australian football, Jason and Glen established their own academy 'FUTBOLTEC'. Bringing their passion to the Maldives, the extraordinary three-day football camp focuses on teamwork tactics and individual techniques, including dribbling, footwork, passing and receiving.  At the end of the three days, players will go head to head in a fun-filled match before a crowd of their loyal fans. Each player will be fully kitted with an exclusive training shirt, shorts and socks from premium athletic clothing brand ALPHA Gear to ensure they are fully equipped – and look the part.

The three-day camp is available just for Easter from 31st March to 2nd April 2018 and invites all levels of skill from beginners to budding professionals. The Junior Camp welcomes players aged from 5-11 years, whilst the Senior Camp is open to those aged 12-16 years.

Translating to 'My Island Home', the luxury resort offers spacious accommodation in a broad range of family accommodation, all with large freshwater pools and outside areas for al fresco dining. Families can choose from four to eight bedroom houses designed to be self contained and equipped with a full kitchen for a true 'home from home' experience. Relaxed dining options allow families to indulge in diverse culinary offerings from around the world whilst the Javvu Spa offers a holistic retreat in stunning surrounds.

Million Dollar Hole In One (MDHIO) and Tee It Up have joined forces to deliver the perfect night out for golfers – the chance to sink an ice-cold beer and tuck into a burger before walking away with a whopping $1million.

MDHIO is the hugely popular par-three hole-in-one challenge that is run throughout the year at its 40 associated courses across Europe, with competitors who bag an ace going through to a thrilling $1m shootout.

And following on from its successful partnership with American Golf in September, when more than 5,000 competitors took advantage of a similar deal to try to qualify for a separate life-changing jackpot at the world-renowned Belfry, MDHIO is set to expand its growing operation even further thanks to its tie-up with Tee It Up.

Tee It Up, based in the heart of Cardiff Bay and co-owned by Gocompare.com founder Lee Griffin and PGA golf professional Rob Johnson, is the first dedicated indoor golf simulation centre in Wales with access to 45 world-famous courses.

So, players don't even have to worry about the temperamental Welsh weather as the state-of-the-art golf centre, which boasts three hi-tech simulators, live sport on the giant screens, fully-licensed bar serving food all day and top-of-the-range equipment, is the perfect venue to shoot for the huge jackpot.

Million Dollar Hole In One director Martin Tyrrell said: “MDHIO has been hugely popular in mainland Europe with thousands taking part since we started operations in 2000. And we saw a few months ago, through our partnership with American Golf that there is a huge appetite to play the game here in the UK.

“MDHIO and Tee It Up is the perfect partnership as we can offer golfers of all abilities an incredible experience in a great setting. The MDHIO game can be played all-year round in a relaxed and fun environment with the added bonus of being able to enjoy a drink and a burger.

“Whether you are playing with large or small groups of friends, family, or on your own, it is great entertainment. Three shots costs just £10 and anyone who lands a hole-in-one qualifies for the final later this year where they shoot for the $1m.

“We are also planning to bring in regular monthly and quarterly prizes for nearest the pin and we hope to take it to other venues around the country in the near future.”

MDHIO, which has been running since 1990 in USA and since 2000 in Europe, has steadily grown in popularity over the years and more than 50,000 people each year try their luck at the various courses across Portugal, mainland Spain, Mallorca and the UK.

The annual MDHIO final will be held alternate years in USA and other top European venues with the 2018 showdown set to be hosted in the glamorous setting of Las Vegas.

This year's final was held at the stunning mountain setting of the Golf & Spa Grand Tirolia Kitzbühel, Austria and was attended by former England and Newcastle strike ace Alan Shearer, who is an ambassador for MDHIO's sister company Million Dollar Club.

For More information visit: https://www.americangolf.co.uk/services/about-us.html

Birmingham rugby fans are being challenged to complete a 10-mile sponsored walk, ahead of watching the highly-anticipated England Vs Wales match next month.

‘Rugby Ramble’ – which is organised by local charity, Birmingham St Mary’s – will see participants walk a scenic route through parks and canals, before finishing at Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club where they will be able to watch the game with local players.

Taking place on Saturday 10 February, ramblers will be treated to a free pie, chips and pint, to reward them for their walking efforts and to help set them up for the excitement of the popular Six Nations match.

Starting at the Hospice in Selly Park, the walk will help raise crucial funds for the charity, which provides vital care and support to local families living with terminal illness.

Lucy Watkins, events manager at Birmingham St Mary’s, said: “The England Vs Wales game is always one of the most eagerly anticipated Six Nations matches, so what better way to enjoy the game than surrounded by local players and other fans. Rugby Ramble is a fantastic event that the whole family can enjoy and although the 10-mile walk may be challenging, it really does make watching the game and tucking into a pie and pint that little bit more rewarding.”

Every day, Birmingham St Mary’s supports 350 individuals across Birmingham and Sandwell – whether that’s at the Hospice, in people’s own homes or in the local community. It costs £8million every year to run its critical services and over half of its funding is required from voluntary income.

Lucy added: “All of our services are free of charge to individuals, family members, carers and loved ones, so events like this are crucial in helping us to keep providing our expert care to everyone who needs it, wherever and whenever they need it."

Plans have been announced for more fun football sessions across Sandwell in 2018 to help people get more active.

This will build on the success of a fun football scheme set up last year in Friar Park, Wednesbury, which is helping local people to get fit and lose weight.

Football Association Just Play schemes will run in each of Sandwell’s six towns and will be set up by the spring.

These will include sessions for lads and dads, men who want to lose weight and women and girls aged 14-plus.

Sandwell Council and the Birmingham FA are working together to identify areas where activities are needed to boost fitness.

Sandwell Council cabinet member Councillor Paul Moore said: "This is a great opportunity for people to have fun and get active.

"I am pleased we will be setting up football sessions in each of our six towns this year.

"People may not have the time, money or interest to be part of affiliated football. With Just Play, they can have fun, improve confidence, boost their fitness and see where it takes them."

Footie for Fitness at Pulse Wednesbury in Friar Park Road started in June last year and has proved very popular with those who want lose weight and get active.

The Friar Park project is supported by community health worker Lauren Cheshire from Sandwell Consortium, weight management development officer Lewis Pountney from Sandwell’s public health team and community activity network development officer Katie Deeley. An Albion Foundation coach runs a football session and boot camp-style fitness and gives advice on weight management.

The idea of Just Play – a national initiative – is to encourage jumpers for goalposts and to play when, wherever and with various formats of the game, including walking football, five-a-side and causal kickabouts.