PGA to move in festive change
THE Australian PGA trophy will be presented under a Christmas tree in December with a date switch aimed at wooing a headliner from the Presidents Cup.
The tournament at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast has been moved three weeks later to December 19-22.
It optimises the chance of hooking a star from Tiger Woods’ American team which will duel with Ernie Els’ Internationals just days earlier at Royal Melbourne (December 12-15).
The same strategy in 2011 drew Presidents Cup trio Bubba Watson, KT Kim and YE Yang to the PGA at Hyatt Coolum beside Aussie Cup players Aaron Baddeley, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Robert Allenby.
The 2011 PGA was played a month earlier so the proximity to Christmas will be a conflict for many overseas stars this year.
At last night’s Golf Industry Awards night at Royal Pines, Gold Coaster Becky Kay and Shae Wools-Cobb won the major Amateur of the Year gongs beside Coach of the Year Grant Field.
Louis Dobbelaar (Junior Male Amateur of the Year) and Cassie Porter (Junior Female Amateur of the Year) are teens on the rise.
Surfers Paradise Golf Club’s membership secretary Pam Thrower had 35 years in the role recognised as Golf Club Staff Member of the Year.
Burleigh Golf Club’s Ian Cottle was named Manager of the Year.