Advancing Players

GolfSixes League Debuts in China Alongside the Hainan Open

18th Oct 2024

Golf Genius Release Major Upgrade to its Tournament Management Product With Event Dashboard+ Feature

10th Oct 2024

Golf Genius Launches Off-Course Technology for Indoor and Entertainment Golf

4th Sep 2024

Olympic Officiating – Inside the Ropes with Christiane Stenger

13th Aug 2024

Rai Claims Maiden PGA Tour Victory With Trusted MacWet Gloves

13th Aug 2024

PING advances Prodi G Junior Clubs; Introduces Junior Custom-Fitting App

16th Jul 2024

Glenmuir Unveils SS2025 Collection: A Tribute to Heritage and Innovation

16th Jul 2024

How to Successfully Implement Technology Within a Golf Operation

2nd Jul 2024

CPG Team Take On 100 Hole Challenge for the Ryder Cup Trust

17th Jun 2024

DP World Tour, The R&A and PGA Tour Launch Global Amateur Pathway

4th Jun 2024

Successful GolfSixes League Grows Globally

4th Jun 2024

Kipp Popert & Daphne van Houten Take G4D Open Honours

18th May 2024

5 Pre-Season Steps for Your Golf Shop With Golf Genius

30th Apr 2024

Golfbidder Pro Expansion – B2B Pricing Tool Now Available to All of Europe

25th Apr 2024

PING Putter Line Expands With Six New Premium Models

23rd Apr 2024

Abu Dhabi GolfSixes League Grand Final Won by Abu Dhabi City Golf Club Juniors

22nd Apr 2024

PING Announced as Supporting Partner of PGA Women’s Championship of Canada

5th Apr 2024

Dr Mark Bull 3D Biomechanics Seminar – 06-07 MAY, Austria

1st Apr 2024

Andreas Kali’s Whole Istic Golf Coaching Seminar – 15-16 April, Austria

1st Apr 2024

PGA Tour Players Overwhelmingly Select Bushnell as Top Choice Among Laser Rangefinders

30th Mar 2024
load more

Sweden’s ‘Voice of Golf’, Göran Zachrisson, Wins Special Recognition Award4 min read


Posted on: 15th Jan 2019

Göran Zachrisson has received the 2018 Confederation of Professional Golf Special Recognition Award at the 2018 Annual Congress Gala Awards Supported By Rolex at Costa Navarino in Greece.

With over 60 years in the broadcasting and sports journalism world, Zachrisson receives the award in recognition of his impact on Swedish golf through his commentary, both verbal and written, on golf. He is also receiving the same award as his friend and colleague, Renton Laidlaw, a fellow legend of the golf journalism world.

With over 60 years in the broadcasting and sports journalism world, Zachrisson receives the award in recognition of his impact on Swedish golf through his commentary, both verbal and written, on golf. He is also receiving the same award as his friend and colleague, Renton Laidlaw, a fellow legend of the golf journalism world.

“I am very surprised to have won this award…and makes you wonder ‘why me?’,” said Zachrisson. It will take a long time for me to understand being given the award…I don’t think I’ve done anything more than what I should of.”

“I have always enjoyed the game. I am a journalist, a writer, I create things – I could have been a lot of other things, but it happened to be golf…and it makes you realise the intricacies, and despite golf being a small world, it is important.”

Zachrisson is known throughout not only Sweden but further afield as well, for his distinct style of reporting on golf and a variety of other sports including multi-sports events such as the Olympic Games, as well as his wealth of knowledge around golf as a sport and its traditions. In 2012, he also conducted a famous interview with then Captain of the Swedish national football team, Zlatan Ibrahimović, which was watched by over two million people across the country.

His commentary is known as legendary for its easy-going and gentle tone, as well as his incredible knowledge and experience that helps him portray what is happening to the viewers or listeners with trust and understanding.

“All I’ve done is woke up one morning, started doing it, and I’m still alive and doing the same thing…!” said Zachrisson. “I have the greatest respect for the game and I swore I would not mistreat it – not the history, the passions, the players, not anything.

“I hope that my legacy would be in telling stories, whether it’s golf or whatever it is, a story has to be told. It has to be told clearly, but with a sense of humour and warmth. If I can reach someone and their story, if we can find a relationship then I love it…you want to get in behind the scenes and find the magic of a story.”

His career began in the early 1960s when he became Editor in Chief of the Swedish golf magazine, Svensk Golf. By 1966, he was commentating on the largest golf events in the world for Swedish national television, including the Ryder Cup in 1965 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, England, and the Open Championship won by Jack Nicklaus in 1966 at Muirfield Golf Links, Scotland.

In the early 90s, Zachrisson was hired by Swedish broadcaster, Viasat, and since then has been a commentator across its portfolio of channels. He has also authored a variety of his books, as well as continuing to write for Svensk Golf and other magazines such as Golf-Store Magazine and Golf Digest.

Having joined the Association of Golf Writers (AGW) in 1987, he more recently has held the position of President of the Association from 2015 – 2018, succeeding Renton Laidlaw and becoming the first non-Brit in the AGW’s history to hold this senior position.

Not only was he involved in the coverage of golf, but, having started with hickory-shafted clubs in his family garden, he played to a high level, competing in the Swedish Championship in 1964 – and showed more incredible sporting prowess by also competing nationally for squash and alpine skiing in that same year as well.

Zachrisson continues to reside in Sweden and is a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, as well as Royal Liverpool Golf Club, England, and several golf clubs in Sweden including Djursholm Golf Club, Sand Golf Club, Stockholms Golfklubb, and Svartinge Golf Club.

For More Information On All of 2018’s Award Winners Visit http://eur.pe/2018AnnualCongress

————————

For more information on the 2018 Annual Award Winners visit Annual Congress Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2018AnnualCongress),follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#AnnualCongress’ or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

The Annual Congress Gala Awards are partnered by Rolex, Costa Navarino, the Ryder Cup European Development Trust, and Aegean Airlines.