‘The Premier is not involved in this decision’: Dan Andrews’ club scores big bucks President’s Cup
Dan Andrews’ home golf course Kingston Heath has scored the lucrative and prestigious 2028 Presidents Cup tournament.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The battle to host the prestigious Presidents Cup golf tournament has been won by Premier Daniel Andrews’ home course.
Kingston Heath in Cheltenham will stage the 2028 PGA Tour showpiece event.
In April, the Andrews Government announced it had secured the tournament for 2028 and 2040 in a deal between Visit Victoria and its owner, the US PGA.
Mr Andrews, a keen golfer who at one point played off a handicap of nine, has been a member at Kingston Heath for a number of years.
How much taxpayers will shell out for the two events has not been made public but it is understood it’s more than $40 million.
According to a source familiar with the matter taxpayers shelled out $25m to host the 2019 tournament which was held at Royal Melbourne.
Visit Victoria is a limited liability company whose sole shareholder is the Premier of Victoria.
Three clubs were in the running to host the event which sees the United States take on a team made up of the world’s best non-European golfers.
Last month, members at Royal Melbourne were told by the club that their bid had been unsuccessful.
Peninsula members have also been told by their club it wouldn’t be going there either.
Event organisers are planning to delay the announcement until after Saturday’s state election.
The government has estimated the 2019 Presidents Cup was worth more than $121 million to the state though in global television exposure, bringing more than 47,000 visitors to Victoria.
A government spokesman said: “No announcement has been made about the venue for the 2028 Presidents Cup. These are matters for the PGA.
“The Premier is not involved in this decision.”
A source close to the government said “the funding agreement pertaining to the Presidents Cup venue is between the venue and the PGA Tour of America”.
“Visit Victoria does not have commercial oversight of this agreement,” the source said.
More Coverage
Top Melb restaurateur charged with Nazi sign at pro-Palestinian rally
A leading restaurateur — who owns two celebrated Melbourne eateries — has been charged with holding up a Nazi swastika sign at a pro-Palestinian rally.
Top scientist warns schools at risk of losing physics as more students drop out
Students are being pressured to drop out of physics because schools fear low ATAR scores, putting the subject at risk of being phased out entirely, a top astrophysicist warns.