Golf. What is it? An athletic contest, a game or perhaps merely a form of entertainment?

Having returned in mid May from the 2004 World Club Championship at The Club at Nine Bridges on JeJu Island in South Korea, I believe what I witnessed and was deeply impacted by was that golf in its most simple form is merely a social forum in which the bonds of friendship can be deeply formed.

The variances in equipment or differences in the courses topography, strategy, bunkering, conditioning, green contours and difficulty only provide topics to encourage discourse to establish a common ground.

It was the Championship that brought 36 of the world's best amateur players from 18 leading private clubs representing 12 countries to Korea. It was the fellowship and bonds formed that the participants valued most upon departing. The event is broadcast tonight, June 1, for the first time at 7:30 p.m. EST on the Golf Channel.

Golf is unique in the ironies it presents.

One of the teams representing the world's oldest golf course, St. Andrews was paired with the newest member of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Private Clubs, Nine Bridges. Neither of the players could understand the language of the other on the first tee. But in four hours, the Koreans clearly understood the meaning and integrated into their vocabulary such terms as big drive, great shot, that's tight, nice sandy, it is on the dance floor but not near the band, fade to black, or good birdie.

Where four hours prior they couldn't communicate, now after one round together they could understand each other, sharing laughs and offering each other comfort for the wayward shot or compliments for the well played stroke.

Yet, competition remained on the forefront. Coming down the treacherous 18th only separated by two shots in a two ball event, you could see the St. Andrews players grind not wanting to get beaten. Were they? Tune it tonight.

Golfers accord each other respect whether it is by tradition or simply default.

Pine Valley, a club whose image is exclusive and aloof, had representatives, David Brookerson and Norman Swenson who exuded class, were warm, charming and very engaging. They brought from New Jersey hats and presents for their caddies to make them "formal members" of the Pine Valley team. The girls were dazzled and prior to being filmed for worldwide TV, Mr. Swenson's caddie joked, "please see my agent," to Mr. Terry Jastrow, Producer of 6 Olympics, 22 years on ABC Sports, 87 Major PGA Events, and Executive Producer of the World Club Championship.

Golf engages all with its unique idiosyncrasies.

Regardless of where one was born, if you slice the ball, you naturally lean left. A hook from a Japanese or Spanish player finds them leaning right as to somehow mystically alter the balls flight as it flies down the left side of the fairway hooking. The flubbed wedge shot always brings a look of disgust from the American, the Scot or the Irishman followed by a club bounced off the ground and perhaps several more practice swings thinking the error was random.

Golf is unique in that an expert can hold court and yet attract the attention of even the most knowledgeable that are deferential yet politely contributing.

Ben Wright is the commentator for tonight's Golf Channel broadcast. Nightly, he attracted an audience from all of the great golfers at the Championship. To listen to him analyze the rhetorical style of his favorite commentators Henry Longhurst, Jack Whitaker, Jim McKay, David Feherty, Jim Nance, and Vin Scully is to realize that you are among of one the greatest people in the game in elocution.

What golfer wouldn't pay many pounds to thrown down a few pints with this esteemed former CBS broadcaster of twenty-six years? Merely to witness at 1:30 a.m. Ben surveying the many glasses that were around the table which were nearly all dry, rise slowly and say, "Gentlemen, it is time to sprinkle the infield. Let me buy us another bottle" was priceless.

Golf is a game where the financial backgrounds and social classes of individuals disappear.

The host for the event, Mr. Jay Lee, President of CJ, one of the largest most successful Korean companies, has a passion for excellence and is committed to creating one of the world's finest golf experiences. Yet, despite his wealth and prominent social stature, by the afternoon of the first day he knew the first names of all the players and guests participating in the event. He is also incredibly approachable, always initiating a conversation as you walked by saying, "Jim, how are the players finding the course?" or "What changes should we make to ensure this club remains among the finest in the world?"

Mr. Lee hosted a reception at his home in which he conducted a personal tour. At dinner, he took the time and effort to walk around the table to personally toast each guest at the Fellows Banquet. Gum Bay, the Korean equivalent of was used by everyone to show their respect for him, his growing contribution to the game and his country's traditions.

Golf is a game where country boundaries are respected but become invisible.

At 1:30 a.m. after the closing dinner and after all the OB, Bud, Heinken, Prime and Cafri that the club had on premise were consumed, 29 of the 36 players still remained in the bar teasing each other and exchanging club ties. With Karoke as the medium, the Irish players led everyone singing Danny Boy, the English presided over "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," the Aussies warbled the crowd through "Wallabies" to the cheers and taunts of everyone, while the US players and guests banged out Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA."

Golf though is a game that creates deep emotional bonds.

If you wanted to see 36 players and caddies cry you merely had to attend the Closing Ceremony that featured a gift exchange. The caddies had painted their faces with the Club's logos and inspirational messages, i.e., Love Norman, David #1. In exchanging hugs and kisses with their players, their face paint was unintentionally transferred to the players' faces. To see the Pine Valley and Royal St. Georges players with their faces logoed was memorable. Eddie Merrins, the Host Pro at Bel-Air CC in Los Angles, Tim Kilty, formerly of the USGA's Executive Committee, Ben Wright and David Smith, an Englishmen now living in LA who had the vision, insight and passion for the game to be the founder of this great event with many others had to look away or we all would have lost it as nearly all the caddies and many players were crying from the depth of the bond formed in just four days.

What I experienced in four days, you have the opportunity to experience in one hour tonight. As a devoted golfer, you will enjoy watching the World Club Championship on the Golf Channel. As to the winner, tune in tonight for the only clue as Ben Wright would say is, "as the ripples in the pond fade away from that errant shot, so do the chances of that team."