There will be an international flavour to the inaugural City
of Dunedin Legends Pro-Am Golf tournament at the Balmacewen
course tomorrow, with 47 professionals from Australia and New
Zealand competing.
Peter Fowler has been forced to withdraw because of injury
but other notable golfers competing include Sir Bob Charles,
Walter Godfrey, Rodger Davis and Jim Lapsley.
"Most of the professionals will fly out to Dubai for a
tournament next week," tournament organiser Bill Medder told
the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
It is a single-tee tournament and the whole field will start
on the No 1 tee.
The first golfers will start at 7am.
The funds raised from the Pro-Am will be donated to the
Dunedin Hospice.
The tournament will be held for two more years and organisers
have the right of renewal after that.
A lot of volunteer work has been done this week to get the
course at Balmacewen in pristine condition for the
tournament.
"We have brought a major tournament to Dunedin and have to
bring the course up to another level," Medder said.
"Volunteers have been picking up pine cones and doing other
work on the course this week."
There will be sponsors' signs on each hole and the 15th will
be known as the party hole, with three grandstands and a bar,
Medder said.
"The spectators can have a cold beer and give the golfers
heaps.
"It is the first time this rowdy hole has been used for a
tournament in Dunedin."
Food tents will be spread around the course and spectators
can also use the facilities in the clubhouse.
There will be a practice round at Balmacewen today and
spectators are invited to watch the professionals as they get
a feel of the course.
Medder wanted to bring other city clubs into the action and
this will be done when five of the professionals take clinics
for juniors at five clubs.
It has been organised by the Sport Otago Coach Force golf
co-ordinator Michael Smith, who has arranged for five of the
professionals to take a clinic for 75 of Otago's elite young
golfers.
Coaching sessions will be held for an hour after school today
at the Island Park, Port Chalmers, Chisholm Park, St Clair
and Otago clubs.
"We wanted to take advantage of the Pro-Am with the top guys
in town.
"It will be someone new to give tips to the players."
Smith has organised 19 junior tournaments this year and the
first one will be held at Cromwell on Sunday, for the Greg
Turner Order of Merit Trophy.
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