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best of the rest
Golf fans don’t have to wait until November to see the world’s best players in action or to emulate their heroes.
Not only does Victoria host some of the finest professional and top amateur events in the country, it offers the chance for every club golfer to experience the thrill of tournament play.
While the Australian Open may have an illustrious history, there’s no doubt which tournament has been receiving the most publicity in the last couple of years. And that’s due to the presence of just one man.
Tiger Woods won the JBWere Masters at Kingston Heath in 2009, his appearance generating sell-out crowds of 20,000 a day and pouring an estimated $AU34 million into the Victorian economy. While he was unable to defend his title at Victoria last year, finishing three shots behind Stuart Appleby, the tournament continues to go from strength to strength.
Another event that continues to build momentum is the Handa Women’s Australian Open. Following the success of the 2010 tournament and on the strength of player feedback, Golf Australia has decided to again stage the event at the Commonwealth Golf Club. It’s the first time the championship will be held at the same course in consecutive years since 2002.
Former winners of this prestigious title include Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies. A quality field is again expected to tee it up when the tournament is staged from February 3 to February 6.
Not to be outdone, the PGA of Australia has launched an innovative new tournament called The Surf Coast Knockout. Played at The Sands Torquay, the first three rounds will be normal stroke play but in a world first, the final round will utilise a reduced match play format to decide the ultimate champion.
Network Ten and OneHD will televise the tournament, with the deciding holes to be shown during prime time. The event takes place from January 20 to January 23 and top Australian pros Stuart Appleby (who designed the course), Craig Parry, Peter Senior and Peter O’Malley have expressed interest in competing.
While some of the best professionals in the world will be tackling Royal Melbourne during the Presidents Cup in November, the leading amateurs from around the globe get their chance to take on the famous course in early January.
The 2011 Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship takes place from January 11 to January 14. Last year’s event, won by Australia’s Jordan Sherratt, attracted four of the top ten ranked amateurs in the world and this year’s field is likely to be just as impressive.
Now in its 14th year, the 72-hole stroke event has plenty to offer the winner, with a place in the UK Amateur Championship, three tournaments in America and one in Canada up for grabs. Previous winners include Australians Brendan Jones (1999) and Jason Day (2006), who have both gone on to successful professional careers.
The Shipwreck Coast Golf Classic is fast becoming a ‘must play’ tournament for many of Victoria’s top amateurs, especially as the event takes place on two of the best courses in the state.
Staged over 36-holes, day one sees players tackle the Port Fairy Golf Club, another great links-style course that winds its way through undulating sand dunes. The following day the event moves to Warrnambool Golf Club, described as one of the best coastal links courses in the region.
Competition is split into stroke play for the A Grades, stableford for the B, C and women entrants. The date for this year’s event hasn’t been decided yet but will likely take place in November.
Amateur golfers also have the chance to test their competitive durability over three rounds when the annual Mornington Peninsula 54-hole tournament takes place from May 3 to 5.
Last year’s inaugural tournament was a huge success, taking place at Moonah Links, Flinders Golf Club and Mornington Golf Club. This year’s event will see men and women taking part in stableford competition at Rosebud Park Golf Club, The Dunes and Sorrento Golf Club.
With such a great selection of events, amateurs can really get to feel like the pros. Ok, there may not be a yellow jacket at the end of it, but tackling some of Victoria’s best courses in tournament conditions is a thrilling experience. And make sure you’ve got that victory speech prepared, just in case.
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