industry
Ballarat to host the
future of Australian golf
T
he PGA of Australia announced last
month that the PGA National Futures
Championship will be played at the
Ballarat Golf Club from October 21 – 24, 2014.
As the national championship for Members
of the PGA Trainee Program, the Futures
Championship is the finale in a playing
schedule that features six four-round
tournaments for Trainees, including the
recent CPM Southern Trainee Championship.
The Futures Championship attracts a strong
field of both domestic and international
trainees.
“With a prize-purse of AU$55,000, the PGA
National Futures Championship currently
boasts the most prizemoney of any PGA
Trainee or Apprentice tournament in the
world,” said Geoff Stewart, Executive Officer –
Training and Education of the PGA.
“A strong field is all but guaranteed for
the prestigious title with all state Trainee
Champions in the field as well as the Trainee
or Apprentice champions from New Zealand,
Great Britain and South Africa making the trip
to Ballarat,” Stewart added.
Being played at the Ballarat Golf Club for
the first time in the 37-year history of the
championship, the club is looking forward
to welcoming the future of Australian
professional golf to their course.
“Ballarat Golf Club and the city of Ballarat
are certainly looking forward to being the
new home of the PGA National Futures
Ballarat Golf Club (Photo by David Scaletti)
Championship. Staging such a prestigious
event for the future members of the PGA
is a boost for the entire Ballarat golfing
community,” said Dominic Azzopardi, Head
PGA Professional at Ballarat Golf Club.
As an ideal location and course for the
Futures Championship, the Ballarat Golf
Club has a long and proud history spanning
back to 1895 as Australia’s oldest continually
played course.
Ballarat Regional Tourism CEO George
Sossi welcomed the announcement,
congratulating the club on securing another
major sporting coup for the region.
The championship course has been
redesigned by five-time British Open
Champion, Peter Thomson via ThomsonPerrett and will provide an excellent
challenge for the world’s best Trainee PGA
Professionals.
The decision is a reflection of the quality
course at Ballarat Golf Club and the ability of
the region to host such events,” Sossi said.
“Events such as these play a key role in
promoting the sports tourism industry and
positioning Ballarat as Victoria’s premier
regional sporting hub,” he added.
In addition, the course has