Saigon Golf Association will host a charity golf tournament at Vietnam Golf and Country Club, better known as Thu Duc Golf Course on September 1.

The organizers of the 11th Swing for Life 2010 charity tournament, said they hoped to raise VND1 billion to sponsor heart surgeries for poor children with congenital heart disease in HCMC and other provinces.

The organizers, who had only expected 250 entries, decided to use both east and west courses to accommodate the 288 who registered.

Most golfers are members of the Saigon Golf Association, some come from cities and provinces such as Hanoi, Danang, Nha Trang, Dalat, Dong Nai and Song Be. In addition, some expatriate golfers coming from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Korea will join the fundraiser.

There are three divisions for men and ladies and a billion dong for the “hole in one” prize. The award ceremony will be at the five-star hotel Park Hyatt Saigon the same evening.

Entry fees are US$120 for members of Vietnam Golf and Country Club, US$150 for members of Saigon Golf Association and US$135 for others.

Ten years since its inception in 2000, the Swing for Life golf tournament has raised tens of billions of dong to help poor children around the country.

The tournament is organized by Saigon Golf Association, Vietnam Golf and Country Club and HCMC Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients.