13 Nov 2009
Golf Australia is pleased to announce that Dr Haruhisa Handa has been made an official Patron of Golf Australia.
Dr Handa has been involved in international golf for almost 25 years in roles ranging from advising professional tours and sponsoring tournaments through to patronage of the International Blind Golf Association.
Dr Haruhisa Handa becomes a Patron of Golf Australia.
Born in Japan, Dr Handa is the Honorary Chairman of the US LPGA Legends Tour and an advisor to the European Senior Tour.
He is the current sponsor of the Handa Australian Senior Open and Handa Australia Cup and recently announced his sponsorship of four new tournaments on the European Seniors Tour.
Outside of golf, in recognition of his years of philanthropic work, Dr Handa has been granted several honorary titles internationally, including Honorary Doctorates from London University, SOAS, Juilliard School of Music in New York and an Honorary Fellowship from Oxford University.
He is a Visiting Professor at China's Zhejiang University and was awarded Honorary Doctorates by the University of Western Australia, Curtin University of Technology and Edith Cowan University.
Golf Australia Chairman Anne Lenagan said she welcomed Dr Handa’s patronage.
“Dr Handa has made a substantial contribution to international golf at all levels over several decades,” Lenagan said.
“It is fitting that we recognise this wonderful contribution in a way which allows Dr Handa to maintain his strong interest and enthusiasm for Australian golf by a being a Patron of Golf Australia.”
Alongside his success in business, Dr Handa is also an accomplished composer, calligrapher, author, Noh actor, motivational speaker and opera singer.