Bec Judd the surprising new face of Australian Open, with 19th ‘party hole’
Melbourne influencer Bec Judd — who says she’s become a golf “addict” and plans to design a golf fashion range and travel the world playing the game — is the face of the Australian Open’s new fun 19th party hole.
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Bec Judd has emerged as the unlikely face of a family-friendly party hole to be unveiled at next month’s Australian Open golf in Melbourne.
“The 19th Hole” will be introduced when the major event returns to Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Clubs from November 28, modelled on the LIV Golf attraction that has changed the face of the sport.
Bars, live music, food and entertainment close to the action will form part of the drawcard, as crowds flock to see stars such as Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman and Hannah Green.
In the centre of the action will be model and influencer Judd, who revealed she has become obsessed with golf in the past year, taking weekly lessons and challenging her AFL legend husband Chris and their kids at the driving range.
“I didn’t take myself as a golfer either but over the past 12 months I’ve become a bit of an addict and guess what? I get it now,’’ she said.
“I 100 per cent get it.
“Our kids are going to be golfers and will want to travel the world playing golf and we don’t want to be left behind so our future plan is to make our family holidays around golf trips.’’
It comes as new Golf Australia research shows a spike in females taking up golf with 49 per cent of new players women.
Judd said Melbourne snatching the major event from Sydney was a win for Victoria’s major events calendar and the party zone added a touch of fun.
“No one does events like Melbourne and Victoria, we are the events capital and this is where it belongs,’’ she said.
“I never say no to a party and to bring the kids, even better.’’
While her game was “improving’’, Judd confessed she found it “a very frustrating game’’.
“You can just hit something so sweetly and then the next three roll along the ground or into the bush, oh gosh you need to be patient.’’
“You can be good one day and horrendous the next and I think that is part of what keeps you coming back for more.’’
She said golf was a way to combat family screen time stress.
“I really struggle with my twins with screen time and getting them off a screen and I love that they are super keen to play golf,’’ she said.
“They are outside among nature, always in such a good mood when they play golf and they would rather do that than be on a screen.’’
Golf Australia major events head Antonia Beggs said the party hole would “evolve the Australian Open experience’’ and “create a buzzing social atmosphere”
“It’s about blending the best of entertainment and lifestyle in one vibrant hub, where the
off-course energy is just as exciting as the tournament itself,’’ she said.
“We understand that Victorians are expert event goers and we need to provide what they
expect at great value for money.’’
Tickets will be $36 for adults and free for children 17 and under.
Judd said her latest passion was sparked by her son Oscar, 13, and twins Tom and Darcy, 8.
“They have been playing and I thought ‘well I don’t want to get left behind here’ so I dipped my toe in, started getting weekly lessons at Victoria Golf Club.
“And now I find myself daydreaming and talking about golf.’’
She also planned to take her love of the game into the fashion world.
“I was saying to the Jaggad team, we will have to bring out a golf range,’’ she said.
“I will be heading down to the Jaggad designers and saying ‘we need golf dresses, golf skirts, the full golf kit’.
“I’ll shoot it all, I’ll market it, let’s do it.’’
Tickets from $36 | Kids 17 & under are FREE
Originally published as Bec Judd the surprising new face of Australian Open, with 19th ‘party hole’
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