The World Challenge history goes back to 1993 with the first Australia vs. USA Challenge. In Canada, we're relatively new on this scene; the UGAC is working to provide for a unified Canadian presence at international Ukrainian golfing venues.

In May 2001, the Ukrainian World Golf Challenge II held in Puerto Banus, Spain, pitted players from Australia (the biggest delegation), Canada, USA, England, Germany, and even one from Ukraine; there were 94 golfers, over 150 attendees in all. It was truly a memorable and unique experience for everyone who participated.

In October 2003, the Ukrainian World Golf Challenge III, the Ron Shymko Memorial, was played in Maui, Hawaii. Almost 100 golfers representing Australia, Canada, USA, and Germany participated. This international competition again featured country team as well as individual player accolades. For full team and individual results, scores, and standings click on this link.

The Ukrainian World Golf Challenge IV was held at the held at the beautiful Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia from 12 to 19 November 2005. 108 golfers participated with over 150 attendees all together. For full team results and scores click here.

The Ukrainian World Golf Challenge 5 was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from Saturday 26 July - Saturday 2 August 2008 and was played on some of Canada's best courses set in the mountains on the West Coast. A large first-time delegation of almost 30 participants from Ukraine attended in addition to representation from the long-standing participant countries of Australia, USA, Canada, Great Britain, and Germany. For full team results and scores, click here.

The Ukrainian World Golf Challenge 6 was held in Berlin / Bad Saarow, Germany, Saturday 21 May - Saturday 28 May 2011. For full team results and scores, click here.

The Ukrainian World Golf Challenge 7 was held 7-15 September 2013 in China. Please click here for more information.

The Ukrainian World Golf Challenge 8 was held 16-23 August 2015 in Prague. Please click here for more information.

The Ukrainian World Golf Challenge 9 was held 23-30 July 2017 in Scotland. Please click here for more information.

The Ukrainian World Golf Challenge 10 was held 26 May - 2 June 2019 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Please click here for more information.

The Ukrainian World Golf Challenge 11 ***POSTPONED*** Please click here for more information.

SOME BACKGROUND ABOUT
THE UKRAINIAN INTERNATIONAL GOLF CHALLENGES

In 1989, the Ukrainian Golf Association of America (UGAA) was founded in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and was the beginning of golf outings around the USA in Myrtle Beach, Florida, Arizona, and others. Through ads in the Ukrainian Weekly newspaper, golfing Ukrainian counterparts from Australia, as headed by Ron Shymko, contacted UGAA President Roman Luzniak and suggested a little competition. A joint venture was organized with 33 participants and the first Australia vs. USA Challenge was held in October 1993 at Kapalua on Maui.

Since Australia won that first Challenge, and with it the trophy, an intricately carved wooden pineapple, (made in Ukraine), the honour to host the next Challenge also went to Australia. This time, held at Yarrawonga, Australia in January 1996, the Americans stood above the expanded field of 53 golfers and came away as victors capturing a 3000 year old prize from Tasmania.

The competition then returned to the USA for a third Challenge, on this occasion hosted at Ft. Lauderdale in October 1998. Competitors from Canada and Great Britain joined the Americans and Australians and the Ukrainian World Golf Challenge was born. In Florida the numbers grew further with 74 competitors and over 100 participants. The Australians came from behind on the last day to capture victory; the Brits offered to host the next competition.

In May 2001, the Ukrainian golfing community assembled in even greater numbers with over 150 participants, this time in Marbella, Spain for the 2nd World Golf Challenge and to take in the Mediterranean splendour. There were 94 golfers including a new fledgling team of 5 from Germany who combined with Great Britain thus establishing Team Europe. At this tournament, Canada led the way for the first 3 days but Australia took it away with great play on the final round. And again the Awards Banquet echoed with a resounding performance of "Waltzing Matilda" from the repeating World Champions. After the location was kept secret for 2 days, Roman "El Chico" Luzniak, as the next host, had the privilege of announcing the venue for the 10th Anniversary Challenge at the Awards Banquet. It would return to where it all started in Hawaii.

The World Golf Challenge III, commemorated as the Ron Shymko Memorial, was played out in Hawaii in late October 2003. The beautiful surroundings of "paradise" with ideal weather greeted all who were there. The golf was hotly contested despite the influence of the relaxing surroundings and, as expected, the competition was close from start to finish. We from Canada played well and managed to take second place in the team competition. The players from Australia managed to take the overall team championship, again. Details of the results with scores and standings are posted in the Hawaii 2003 section.

The Ukrainian World Golf Challenge is a non-partisan, non-political, non-religious Ukrainian event. The real winners are all the people spanning from 17 to beyond 77 years of age who attended the tournaments. Both players and non-players alike enjoyed the week long camaraderie of their fellow participants. The tournament provides a unique opportunity to come together with Ukrainians of many backgrounds, from many countries and to establish, as well as renew and reinforce, long distance friendships.