Revamp big hit on course
Changes attracting wide applause
A NEW course and a change of date hasn’t deterred Ocean Grove Golf Club from attracting big fields for next week’s Open Tournament.
Usually held over the spring, the club was forced to push back its week-long event after altering its hole layout.
The 12-hole course has been reduced to nine holes after issues with golf balls being hit on to Wallington Rd.
But the new 72-par layout has been in action for a month now and feedback has been encouraging.
“We took three of the holes out and lengthened them (the remaining holes) and it became a par-72,” club president Peter Cullen said.
“It’s all finished now and we’re pretty excited about how it’s playing. We’ve been going for about four weeks and feedback so far has been very, very positive.
“We normally have the Open in September-October, but because the course was being changed, we decided to put it off until December. We were a little bit concerned it would reflect on us, put people have still replied in numbers, so we’re pretty happy with what we’ve done.”
The week starts with seniors individual Stableford on Monday, ladies’ four-ball best ball Stableford on Tuesday and four-person mixed Ambrose on Wednesday.
Thursday will feature the men’s four-ball best ball Stableford ahead of Friday’s Ladies’ 18-hole stroke event.
Saturday’s main day will showcase the 27-hole men’s stroke, before a mixed pinehurst event on Sunday.
“We’re just about full in all the events which is good for our new course, it’s great,” Cullen said.
Cullen paid tribute to Prestige Jayco, which will again be sponsoring Saturday’s tournament.