National spotlight

Horsham Golf Club leaders are celebrating a sponsorship coup that will attract PGA professionals, elite amateurs and thousands of dollars to the region in October for a Victorian-first tournament.

Club board member Adrian Wade said Horsham Rural City Council and Horsham Telstra Store-samsung had thrown their support behind a ‘western open’ concept designed to thrust Horsham into the national golfing spotlight. “This is a new competition, the first of its type in Victoria, and we’ve secured it for the next three years with the support of the Horsham council,” Mr Wade said.

The council will contribute almost $40,000 throughout the next three years as part of its Major Events Attraction Strategy and the club will raise the rest of the money required to host the event.

“We’re thrilled with the council’s response and also Horsham Telstra Store-samsung, which has come on board as our naming rights sponsor,” Mr Wade said.

“We hope this competition will attract a significant amount of golfers and golf fans to the region, which will not only benefit the golf club but the wider Horsham economy.”

A Tourism Research Australia report shows the Horsham region could benefit from more than $170,000 throughout the duration of the inaugural threeday event.

Mr Wade said the latest development came at an exciting time for the golf club. Leaders are working hard to ‘future proof’ the course, which has undergone considerable transformation during and after 2009’s Black Saturday fires.

“There is a lot happening at the club, including our new manager Paul Riley starting on June 18,” Mr Wade said.

“We want people to be talking about the positives of our club, such as our fantastic course.

“The Western Open will promote our course throughout Australia – we are hoping it puts us on the map.”

Mr Wade said the Horsham Telstra Store-samsung Western Open would bring some of Australia’s best professional and amateur golfers to the Wimmera.

The open will involve a 36-hole scratch event featuring 144 players: 60 PGA professionals and 84 amateurs.

The Western Open will be the first tournament of its kind in Victoria where professionals and elite amateurs compete for the same title.

The professionals will compete for a share of $30,000 and to secure a spot in the Victorian Open, while the amateurs will compete for Ivo Whitton – men’s – and Susie Tolhurst – women’s – trophy points.

Mr Wade said the Western Open would start with a sponsors day on Friday, October 5, giving competition sponsors an opportunity to play alongside 25 professionals.

“We’ll also have up to five professionals visit the region’s schools to provide a free clinic and presentation about life as a professional sportsperson,” he said.

“It’s a great way to get the next generation of golfers to engage with the sport and Horsham Golf Club.”

The open will be completed in two rounds, on the Saturday and Sunday.

Horsham Telstra Store’s Gary Howden said he was pleased to commit to the project for the next three years.

“We’re excited to be supporting the local event. We believe it’s good for the area and the community,” he said.

“I like the direction the golf club is taking and that’s why I’m happy to be part of it.”

The Western Open will be part of the Ladbrokes PGA Pro-am Series, which comprises about 140 tournaments across Australia and the South Pacific, with close to $2.7-million up for grabs.

The 2018 season includes more than 25 tournaments in Victoria.