Golf Victoria is pleased to announce the introduction of the Victorian Play 9 series, a trial event to be held in October as part of Golf Month.
The Victorian Play 9 series will be a 9-hole individual stableford competition with both a men’s and women’s section, with a series of qualifying rounds culminating in a state final to be held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
The two leading men and women from the Victorian Play 9 Final will book a spot in the field at the inaugural Australian Play 9 event, held following the third round of the 2017 Emirates Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club.
Qualifying Rounds
Golf Victoria is staging multiple qualifying rounds in Melbourne and country Victoria from early October with the leading men and women from each round progressing to the Victorian Play 9 Final.
The qualifying round venues and dates can be seen here with majority of the rounds to be played in the late afternoon from the start of daylights savings.
State Final
The Victorian Play 9 Final will be held at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West Course) on Sunday 5 November for the leading 100 men and women who progress from the qualifying rounds.
National Final
The Australian Play 9 event, an initiative by Golf Australia, will be conducted following the third round of play (Saturday 25 November) on The Australian Golf Club’s back nine.
The two leading men and women will represent Victoria in Sydney, while also receiving the following:
– Entry into the 2017 Emirates Australian Open Play 9 Event National Final;
– A weekend pass for the 2017 Emirates Men’s Australian Open as guests of Golf Australia;
– Return economy air travel to Sydney from the nearest major city;
– Two nights’ accommodation (Friday and Saturday nights), transfers and all meals in Sydney;
– Attendance at the Play 9 Event presentation cocktail party;
– Tickets to the Emirates Australian Open champion’s cocktail party on Sunday evening;
– A player gift pack.
The Play 9 initiative from Golf Victoria and Golf Australia has come about following the success of The R&A’s 9-hole events at the 2016 and 2017 Open Championships.
Golf Victoria supports The R&A’s motives to promote 9-hole golf as a legitimate and enjoyable playing option for golfers old and new.
Golf Month provides the perfect opportunity to host the inaugural Victorian Play 9 series, as golfers across the state are urged to ‘share the golf bug’.
Golf Australia expects approximately 28 players to take to The Australian’s second nine once it is cleared by the day’s final groups.
Along with showcasing 9-hole golf as a way for everyone to enjoy a time-effective, fast and fun experience, the national and state bodies hope golf can be shown to be the perfect way for Australians to spend the last hours of daylight on a long summer’s day.
Golf Victoria hopes 9-hole golf can open up more opportunities to play for golfers new to the game, while proving that 9-hole golf can also be used as a legitimate tool for handicapping purposes.
Interested players with GA Handicaps may directly enter a Victorian Play 9 qualifying round at www.golfvic.org.au/play9.
Players may participate in as many qualifying rounds as they desire with the entry fee established at $35 per metropolitan qualifying round and $25 per country Victorian qualifying round. No additional entry fees are applicable for players to progress through the various stages of the event.
Golf Victoria expresses its sincere appreciation to the Royal Melbourne Golf Club and the many clubs hosting qualifying rounds in 2017.