$50,000 early Christmas present for Coffs Coast golfers
Premier event doubles as NSW Open qualifier to bring biggest purse to region in years
Coffs Harbour
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coffs Harbour. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LOCAL golfers competing in this year’s North Coast Open will have a shot at their share of a boosted prize pool as part of a push to bring qualifying tournaments to regional NSW.
Originally slated to be held in September, this year’s North Coast Open will officially get underway on December 9 and will be the first in a series of regional qualifiers for the NSW Open.
The increased purse of $50,000 is expected to attract more golfers to what is Coffs Harbour’s premier golf tournament.
Last year’s ‘Norco’ was won by local golfer Jason Barby, who overcame a tense playoff to claim his second title in three years.
Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said the NSW Government has been working with Golf NSW to bring qualifying competitions to the regions, investing more than $2 million toward them.
There will be a total of six held across the state.
“These NSW Open qualifiers will help regional communities like ours hit hard by drought, bushfires, floods and COVID-19,” Mr Singh said.
“I’m proud Coffs Harbour Golf Club has been selected as a host and I congratulate their hardworking board, management, staff and members on this terrific outcome.”
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said bringing the NSW Open qualifying tournament to Coffs Harbour will help boost tourism.
“Golf clubs are an essential part of regional sporting communities across the state and for the first time the NSW Government and Golf NSW are providing an option for regional clubs to host qualifying events for the NSW Open,” he said.
“Usually professional and amateur golfers have to travel to Sydney to qualify for the NSW Open but this allows them to do so in their own backyard, bringing tourism to the regions and valuable economic dollars to boost local coffers.”
‘Melted’: Toddler horribly burned on playground slide
A shell-shocked mother is demanding answers after her two-year-old daughter suffered severe burns from an overheated council-owned playground slide. Here’s the latest.
Ground ‘covered in junkie needles’ ahead of kids sporting event
Several syringes have been found strewn across the grass near a major international sports stadium in the lead-up to one of the state’s biggest junior sporting events of the year.