Pro-am call looms
PORTARLINGTON Golf Club is set to make a call by the end of this month on the date for one of its major events next year.
While COVID rules regarding golf in regional Victoria have been relaxed, businesses across the state have been badly affected, which may impact sponsorship opportunities for the club’s pro-am event.
Club pro Matt Milne said all options were being canvassed.
“It is a hard one when you don’t know what is happening, and in the current climate, it is hard trying to raise sponsorship and things like that from companies as to whether that is going to be achievable to do,” Milne said.
“The PGA has earmarked all their events to recommence in January, but it is probably going to be more a club by club thing regarding events.
“Whether our event gets pushed back to another date and whether that is more feasible, the board will look at that.
“You can have an event but (because of restrictions) instead of having 80 or 90 people, and all your sponsors are from Melbourne, you could potentially have a pro-am with 30 locals and regional players.
“You want to plan for stuff, and we are preparing stuff now for a pro-am in February, but with COVID it’s how businesses have been affected and whether there will be an opportunity to maintain the current sponsors in that period.
“If we move it later, some of them might be inclined to do it, but we are still touching base with all of them to see where it sits.”
Whenever the club holds its pro-am, sponsors and golfers will be welcomed by the addition of an extended clubhouse overlooking the first and 18th fairways.
“The inside room caters for about 180 people and there is also an outside deck that has been built as well,” Milne said.
“Under the current arrangements with COVID, it can have 50 people out there for meals, which helps because you can only have 10 in two rooms inside.
“So that has certainly been of benefit over the last couple of months.”