The draw has been released for the 2017 Victorian Play 9 Final to be played at Royal Melbourne on Sunday 5 November following 21 qualifying events held across the State during October.
100 players from 58 different clubs, including 28 country clubs will contest the 9-hole individual stableford event final on Sunday with the women playing the front nine of Royal Melbourne’s renowned West Course while the men will play the back nine. Play will commence at 4pm via a multi-tee start.
Click here to see the draw
The Victorian Play 9 Series has been conducted as a trial event throughout Victoria during October as part of National Golf Month.
Played as a 9-hole individual stableford competition with both a men’s and women’s section, the Series comprised two stages:
Qualifying Rounds– 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;
Victorian Play 9 Final– to be held at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West Course) on Sunday 5 November
The Victorian Play 9 Series is linked to an equivalent initiative by Golf Australia with the introduction of the inaugural Australian Play 9 event during the 2017 Emirates Men’s Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club on Saturday 25 November.
The two leading men and two leading women from Sunday’s Victorian Final will progress to the Australian Play 9 event and receive the following:
Entry into the 2017 Emirates Australian Open Play 9 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 presentation cocktail party;
– Tickets to the Emirates Australian Open champion’s cocktail party on Sunday evening;
– A player gift pack.
Encouraged by the R&A’s 9-hole events conducted as part of the 2016 and 2017 Open Championships to promote 9-hole golf as a legitimate and enjoyable playing option, in conjunction with state and territory golf associations, Golf Australia is staging this event to be played over the back nine at The Australian Golf Club with approximately 28 players from each state and territory competing at the conclusion of the third round of the 2017 Emirates Men’s Australian Open.
The primary objectives for introducing Play 9 events at both State and National level are:
– Demonstrate that golfers of all abilities and ages can have great golf experiences in a short amount of time – golf can be time- effective, fast and fun;
– Demonstrate that golf can flexible from a format perspective and fit into busy lives;
– Showcase the golf opportunity to make the most of late afternoons/evenings in daylight saving periods;
– Showcase the fact that nine-hole golf is legitimate for handicapping purposes;
– Highlight the importance of / opportunity provided by shorter forms of the game for the long-term health of our sport – in particular the need for many clubs and facilities to offer nine-hole opportunities to members and visitors alike;
Golf Victoria expresses its sincere appreciation to the Royal Melbourne Golf Club and the many clubs hosting the qualifying rounds of this pilot 2017 event to promote this golf option.