Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Spring 2015 | Page 17

... A LOOK BEHIND
THE SCENES
By Bernie Pramberg
A glimpse behind the scenes at the successful 2015
Isuzu Queensland Open in August revealed a range
of initiatives aimed at promoting and growing the
game.
Whilst the actual tournament was the primary
focus of the golf and sporting public, it was also the
platform for a number of events on the periphery.
On the Sunday preceding the tournament,
juniors played nine holes of Pee Wee pennants
on a modified course at Brookwater. It was a
big occasion for the kids who later attended a
ceremonial cutting of a birthday cake to celebrate
the 90th year of the Queensland Open.
Modern sports administrators are ever mindful of
“community engagement” which is perceived as a
necessary component for success. Golf Queensland
showed it is right on the pace of community
engagement with a busy schedule of activity during
the week of the Open.

Golf Queensland’s participation development officer
and PGA professional Lee Harrington was closely
involved with all the school sessions and was
assisted by a number of teaching professionals
including Neville Austin, Scott Simmons, Bronwyn
Russell, John Collins and Matt Victorsen.
Media exposure of the 2015 Isuzu Queensland
Open expanded significantly with coverage across
all sections of traditional and social media. Golf
Australia’s media and communications manager
Mark Hayes provided saturation coverage on Twitter
and Facebook which gained a major following,
especially as on-course drama unfolded on the
engrossing final day.
Channel 9 will screen a one-hour feature package of
the Open on 20th September which will highlight all
aspects of the tournament. Produced by TPD Media,
the Open coverage includes such diverse angles
as professional Matt Griffin taking a helicopter ride
over Brookwater and surrounds a day prior to the
opening round.

Eight schools were visited under the MyGolf
Schools program, junior clinics were conducted on
the Brookwater driving range and older students
enjoyed a “behind the ropes experience” which
encompassed a day of golf activities which focused
on opportunities for students wanting to start in the
industry.

Valuable pre-tournament coverage was gained
when radio 4TAB conducted their popular three and
a half hour sports breakfast show on the morning
of the opening round. The show included interviews
with prominent players and Golf Queensland
chairman Peter Castrisos.

Golf Queensland’s manager of participation
development Adrian Hewat targeted more than
1,500 students in the seven-day exercise which
included the following schools; Ipswich West Special
School, Springfield Central, Springfield Anglican
School, St Peter’s Lutheran Springfield, Durack
State, Kenmore State and Goodna Special School.

Sponsors, corporate supporters and countless
others who contribute to the task of running a golf
tournament wer