Magazine - Moonah Classic Ready for Tee Off

By Editor in Golf on 4th Feb 2010 12:30

While many of Australia’s most famous courses are in the famed sandbelt of Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula has undergone a relative explosion in golf course development over the past twelve years and this week it will play host to the Moonah Classic.

The Moonah Classic is being played at the Open Course at Moonah Links, a Thomson (Peter) Perrett designed layout, already used for two Australian Open Championships (2003 and 2005) and two Moonah Classics.

Situated nearly 90 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, the venue has struggled to attract large crowds when events have been held there in the past but like last week’s Hills Golf Club in New Zealand the venue is an outstanding viewing course for those who do make the effort to travel south.

There are many issues facing the future of this event, including whether it will remain as part of the Nationwide Tour and, if not, under what arrangement it will be played in the years ahead. Much needs to be decided if the nine year arrangement between the Australasian and Nationwide Tours is to be continued as both the New Zealand Open and this event need each other or at least another supporting event if the Americans can justify the long trip to Australasia.

The field this week is virtually a replica of that which played in Queenstown and where Robert Gates produced an amazing Nationwide Tour debut to win the New Zealand Open and set himself up for the possibility of PGA Tour status in 2011. Gates is looking to back up with another win and given the class and composure he showed in the heat of the battle last week then he should do well again.

Previous winners of this event Ewan Porter and Alistair Presnell are in the field, neither able to capitalise on their great starts to their respective seasons and secure their cards on the PGA Tour.

The tournament’s future is unknown but it will matter little this week as what is a high class field battles for a step on the ladder to the PGA Tour.

Source & More: www.iseekgolf.com
Article By Bruce Young

Read more articles in Golf, by Editor or from February 2010.