Golf greats set to descend on Coast greens

Past champions and lucky amateurs are preparing to descend on the region for one of the most lucrative senior golf events in the country.

WINNER: Ian Baker-Finch (R) with the 1991 British Open trophy.

PAST champions and lucky amateurs are preparing to descend on the region for one of the most lucrative senior golf events in the country.

The Sunshine Coast Masters is coming to Twin Waters and Pelican Waters golf courses from December 12.

More than 500 participants, including 80 professionals and more than 400 amateurs will play the courses.

Among the names coming are former British Open champion Ian Baker-Finch and Australian golf royalty Peter Senior.

Mr Baker-Finch is the event founder and was eager to grow it in future.

SET TO PLAY: Sunshine Coast product and ex-British Open winner Ian Baker-Finch. Picture: Contributed

Defending champion David McKenzie was returning for another shot at the title too.

The lucrative tournament's prize pool was about $80,000.

Twin Waters Golf Club general manager Steve Hutchison said the prestige of the event had helped others launch in the region on either side of the Masters.

Tournaments in Maleny and Noosa had been able to offer some decent prizemoney as well, taking the total amount on offer to the professionals to more than $100,000 in just a week.

Mr Hutchison said the Masters tournament helped to grow the sport on the Coast, but also brought in valuable dollars to the region through accommodation and transport.

"It's all about promoting the game,” he said.

"It's bringing good money into the local areas.”

The three-day, 54-hole event is played as a Pro-Am but with a tournament set-up, as the top 50 professionals make the cut to earn a slice of the prizemoney and a shot at winning the tournament at Twin Waters.

The professionals will play at both courses and they will come from across the globe.