Some of the state's finest golf courses will be in full swing over the coming months with venues confirmed for the inaugural NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series for women, leading up to major tournaments, the NSW Women's Open and the Australian Women's Classic in early 2024.
With a record purse of $500,000 now set for each of the two major tournaments in 2024, the nation's brightest up-and-coming female golfers will go stroke for stroke vying for qualification, driving the fairways of stunning courses as well as the visitor economy of regional NSW.
The six tournaments making up the NSW Regional Qualifying Series for women, each with their own purse of $50,000, include:
- Mollymook Golf Club (Hilltop Course): 18-20 November 2023
- Wagga Wagga Country Club: 22-24 November 2023
- Duntryleague Golf Club, Orange: 3-5 March 2024
- Bathurst Golf Club: 6-8 March 2024
- Dubbo Golf Club: 10-12 March 2024
- Narrabri Golf Club: 14-16 March 2024
The events form part of a suite of 54 tournaments up until 2026 secured by the NSW Government through Destination NSW and the Department of Regional NSW in collaboration with Golf NSW. The program of events across the term 2024-2026 is expected to attract over 16,000 visitors to the host regions collectively, injecting $13.5 million into the regional NSW visitor economy.
The leading qualifiers will then tee off at the two key WPGA Tour of Australasia events, with the Women's NSW Open taking place at the Magenta Shores Golf Resort on the NSW Central Coast from 29-31 March 2024 and the Australian Women's Classic returning to Bonville Golf Resort on the Coffs Coast from 5-7 April 2024.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:
"The NSW Government is pleased to be supporting this major women's sporting events which will increase tourism in our regions.
"These tournaments will feature some of Australia's top female golfers, and also showcase some of the nation's best golf courses, putting these areas on the 'must visit' list for golfers who attend the tournaments and the fans who follow them.
"Sport brings communities together and having some of the nation's leading female golfers play at courses across regional NSW will bring social and economic benefit to these areas."
