Moscow's top brass and company executives gathered at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club last weekend to watch the seventh annual BMW Russian Open. British player Ian Pyman won the tournament for the second time and penciled in a new course record of 62, finishing the tournament with 19-under-par 269. He was given a check for $30,000 for first prize, but the tournament's financial winner was David Salisbury, who sank a hole-in-one on the fourth for a $100,000 prize.

Players and guests enjoyed the high life at the five-star Nakhabino resort. Members of Moscow's high society turned out for the event, including a host of top executives and government representatives. In fact, some players and organizers say it's the social atmosphere of the tournament that brings them to Russia. "Most players like coming back, they like the course, plus they like coming to Russia. There's more parties here," said Yannis Tsioukanis, golf director at Le Meridian Moscow Country Club.

"It's a good event, just because every night there's something going on," said James Lee, a return player. But he noted that it was also a serious contest. "You have to really work to do well here; the competition is really good." Of the 143 players from 23 different countries at the competition, 18 were ranked in the world top 20. The challenge tour is a professional circuit for younger players to cut their teeth before moving on to higher-level PGA tours.

Since golf is still in its beginning stages in Russia, the country club does what it can to support young golfers with the Junior Golfer Development Program. "What would really help is if Russia had one or two good players. We've gone through the first generation now and the second will build on their mistakes," said Tsioukanis, adding that several young golfers had plenty of potential, especially female golfers. However, the six Russian players participating finished poorly at the Nakhabino tournament, failing to make the cut Friday. Russia's greatest hope, 16-year-old Dmitry Vinogradov, finished Friday with 13-over-par 157, losing his chance to win the cup.

Golf has brought considerable financial rewards to the Krasnogorsk region, where Le Meridien Country Club is located. In addition to employing locals, it's also the second-leading taxpayer in the region, according to Viktor Kruglikov, deputy head of the Krasnogorsk region. At the moment, there are only three golf courses in Russia; however, more greens are under construction. A new field is slated to be built in Moscow, according to Ivan Sergeyev, the honorary president of Le Meridien Moscow Country Club. St. Petersburg is already home to one, and plans are also afoot to build courses in Samara and Krasnodar.

At a press conference last Thursday, one journalist suggested that Russia construct greens in the Far East to attract Japanese and South Korean golfers who love the sport, but lack the land to play it on. Sergeyev, considered to be the father of Russian golf, said he thought it was a good idea, but added that since the government does not officially support the sport, it would require a private sponsor. Still, he noted that the Khabarovsk governor was a progressive thinker and might support the idea.

Locations

Le Meridien
Moscow Country Club
1 Nakhabino
Krasnogorsk Region
Tel: (926) 592-4119/11

Lokomotiv Stadium
125a Bol. Cherkizovskaya Ul.
Metro: Cherkizovskaya
Tel: 161-9704

Krylatskoye Rowing Canal
2 Krylatskoye Ul.
Metro: Molodyozhnaya
Tel: 140-9964

Torpedo Stadium
4 Vostochnaya Ul.
Metro: Avtozavodskaya
Tel: 213-1686

Bitsa
Equestrian Sports Complex
33 Balaklayevsky Proyezd
Metro: Kaluzhskaya
Tel: 318-6122