Open slather at Barwon

BARWON Valley is gearing up for its biggest week of the year with its 34th annual open to be played next Saturday.

The club was unable to host its boutique event last year due to floods, but members have been working feverishly to get the course in peak condition for what is expected to be a large field over three days.

Barwon Valley Golf Club captain Ian Knell said he was hoping to break the field size from two years ago when nearly 200 players turned out for the Saturday open events.

“The Saturday is the main day. We have a 36-hole and an 18-hole event,” Knell said.

“Last year we were flooded out so we’re hoping for a big year this year to make up for that. In 2015 we had a very good turn-up.

“We had about 110 in the 36-hole event and about 80 odd in the 18-hole event, so we’re hoping to get capacity fields on the Saturday because that’s the one they’re all after, the open.

“We get quite a good field from around the district and a few come down from Ballarat and other places.”

As well as the open tournaments, there will be a ladies stroke tournament, a nine-hole, four-ball Ambrose competition and a mixed Ambrose event.

Knell said the course was in as good a condition as he could recall.

“It is pristine, it is immaculate and with just on two weeks to go our curator has it looking very good,” he said.

“They will do the final mowing and the greens have come up tremendously.

“We cored them about six weeks ago and they’ve come back magnificently.

“I’m not just saying that because I’m the captain, I think people will be surprised when they get here and a lot of people who haven’t been here since the course has been done up will get a surprise.

“Years ago it used to be known as a dirt track but it is unbelievable.”

Knell said interested golfers could enter online or by phoning the club on 5243 5443.