The NSW Regional Open Series is back on the calendar.
New South Wales deputy premier, John Barilaro MP, announced the rescheduled series at Queanbeyan Golf Club today, alongside Golf NSW chief executive Stuart Fraser, ACT-based touring professional Matt Millar, Mayor of Queanbeyan Palerang Council Tim Overall and president of Queanbeyan Golf Club John Bull.
Mr Barilaro said the six-tournament $300,000 series would bring some welcome financial relief to towns across regional NSW.
“Queanbeyan, like many other regional communities, has been dealing with the impacts of drought, bushfires and COVID-19, and by staging events like these, we are bringing much-needed dollars to regional New South Wales,” Mr Barilaro said.
After being postponed due to COVID-19 in September, the addition of the six-event series is a welcome addition to the domestic golf scene for fans of Australian golf and tournament-starved golfers across the country.
Two-time PGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year and Canberra local Matt Millar echoed the comments of the deputy premier, saying the tournaments were a very welcome addition to the calendar.
“At the moment, pretty much anything to play in is great, and with the year that’s been, they will provide a bit of hope for the guys and something to start preparing for. This will boost the morale of a lot of professionals around to see these events Golf NSW has put on.
“It’s great to have something close to home too. I love playing at Queanbeyan,” Millar smiled.
The six-tournament series will now kick off with the time-honoured Geoff King Motors North Coast Open at Coffs Harbour Golf Club, beginning on December 9 with a pro-am followed by 36 holes of championship golf on December 10 and 11.
The second event on the schedule will be the Tweed Coast Open, which gets underway on December 13 at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club.
The Murray Region Open will kick off 2021 in some style, getting underway on February 15 at the famed Corowa Golf Club on the mighty Murray River.
Players will face a short turnaround for the next event with the Dubbo Open pencilled in for February 19 at Dubbo Golf Club in the state’s central west.
The next week, the penultimate tournament in the series, the Queanbeyan Open, will take place at Queanbeyan Golf Club from February 23.
The South Coast Open is the final of the series, with the pro-am and 36-hole tournament getting underway on February 27.
Fraser said all six regional centres involved should receive a timely economic boost.
“The Regional Open Series will bring big benefits to all of the host towns,” Fraser said. “Not only will there be a significant boost to the local economy, but golfers in regional NSW will see first-hand some of our sport’s brightest young stars.”
With a $50,000 purse on offer at each (for professionals only), the top three place-getters (professional or amateur) at each tournament will also secure a start in the 2021 NSW Open, to be held at the renowned Concord Golf Club beginning on March 25.
With the tournaments likely to attract plenty of interest from spectators, Fraser stressed social distancing rules would apply including strict observance of all Public Health Orders.
“We will be working with The Department of Regional NSW and following all appropriate COVIDSafe procedures. Appropriate social distancing rules will apply, and all rules governing entry into club premises as required by the NSW Government and the Department of Health.”
New South Wales Regional Open Series schedule:
Geoff King Motors North Coast Open, Coffs Harbour GC
Dec. 9, 2020 – pro-am and practice round
Dec. 10, 2020 – round 1 (18 holes)
Dec. 11, 2020 – round 2 (18 holes, seeded tee-times)
Tweed Coast Open, Tweed Heads GC
Dec. 13, 2020 – pro-am and practice round
Dec. 14, 2020 – round 1 (18 holes)
Dec. 15, 2020 – round 2 (18 holes, seeded tee-times)
Murray Open, Corowa GC
Feb. 15, 2021 – pro-am and practice round
Feb. 16, 2021 – round 1 (18 holes)
Feb. 17, 2021 – round 2 (18 holes, seeded tee-times)
Dubbo Open, Dubbo GC
Feb. 19, 2021 – pro-am and practice round
Feb. 20, 2021 – round 1 (18 holes)
Feb. 21, 2021 – round 2 (18 holes, seeded tee-times)
Queanbeyan Open, Queanbeyan GC
Feb. 23, 2021 – pro-am and practice round
Feb. 24, 2021 – round 1 (18 holes)
Feb. 25, 2021 – round 2 (18 holes, seeded tee-times)
South Coast Open, Moruya GC
Feb. 27, 2021 – pro-am and practice round
Feb. 28, 2021 – round 1 (18 holes)
March 1, 2021 – round 2 (18 holes, seeded tee-times)
