SLE WORLDWIDE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
SLE Worldwide Australia is a Managing General Underwriter specialising in insuring risks in the world of Sports, Leisure and Entertainment. Be it relaxing, playing, organising or watching sports,…
read moreGolf Australia has advised that Australian Open will not be played in 2020, and is likely to be held early next year.
Due to have been held at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in the Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham in November, the 105th edition of the Australian Open has been impacted by uncertainty over the impact and extent of Coronavirus lockdowns.
With multiple dates having been availabe, Golf Australia Operations Manager, Simon Brookhouse advises that public health considerations had been the main reason behind making the decision to postpone.
Remaining hopeful that the national championship, the fifth oldest in professional golf, will still be played this summer, Brookhouse advised “these are very challenging times for all Australians and the uncertainty the global pandemic has caused makes it very difficult to be definitive in relation to future dates at this time.
“We will continue our positive ongoing discussions with our major stakeholders which include the Victorian Government, our corporate partners, the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia and other international tours about potential dates. However, it must be noted that there are many unknowns at the moment, which is problematic.
“Then, when you consider the rescheduled major championships, particularly the Masters from 12th to 15th November, assembling the customary world-class field was also becoming increasingly difficult.
"Unfortunately, it is not a simple matter of whether or not we could co-ordinate any international stars to visit. The uncertainty of the quarantine requirements for any players coming from outside Australia needed to be considered. These requirements would undoubtedly have an impact on our homegrown heroes before they would be able to consider playing, too.
“With all that in mind, we would like to think we could still play the Australian Open this summer and will work with the host, Melbourne’s Kingston Heath Golf Club, to find a date suitable for all.
“However it may have to be in the January-March 2021 window with so many variables still to play out.”
The decision means the Australian All Abilities Championship, which features the top 12 players on the World Rankings for Golfers with a Disability, will also be delayed as the tournament is played as part of the Australian Open field.
Brookhouse said Golf Australia and its event partner, Sportfive, would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates when any additional information is available.
Image: Matt Jones winning the 2019 Australian Open. Courtesy: Golf Australia/Justin Falconer.
24th July 2020 - 2019 Golf Australia Participation Report reveals increase in participation
22nd July 2020 - Australian Golf Industry Council releases report highlighting golf courses’ role in environmental sustainability
21st July 2020 - Reclink welcomed to City of South Perth’s 27-hole Collier Park Golf
14th July 2020 - X-Golf facilities create inaugural virtual golf tournament
8th July 2020 - Golf can play on through new Melbourne lockdown
1st July 2020 - PGA of NZ to relocate headquarters to North Shore Golf Club
12th June 2020 - New Australian Golf Centre to unite golf’s peak bodies
25th May 2020 - Golf Business Australia and PGA of Australia renew partnership
22nd May 2020 - Vietnamese clubs set out golfing route to recovery
6th May 2020 - Frankton Golf Centre partially reopens in Queenstown
1st May 2020 - Northern Territory Government commences easing of Coronavirus restrictions on golf courses, gyms, pools, parks and gatherings
29th April 2020 - Fremantle Public Golf Course unveils updated design
22nd April 2020 - Golf Australia ‘encouraged’ to see golf being played with minimal risk
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
SLE Worldwide Australia is a Managing General Underwriter specialising in insuring risks in the world of Sports, Leisure and Entertainment. Be it relaxing, playing, organising or watching sports,…
read moreParkequip is an approved supplier under the NSW LGP Contract 308 for a range of products including play equipment, shade, shelters, safe fall, park furniture and school outdoor seating. All materials…
read moreQuayclean are a national cleaning and waste services partner with proven results in the understanding and delivery of cleaning needs and challenges faced by facilities including; major venues and…
read moreAIS Water, the trading name of Australian Innovative Systems, is a multi-award winning, Australian owned leader in the design, production and supply of commercial and residential chlorine generators…
read moreiDwala is the Community Sports Facility Specialist offering the highest quality designs and technical expertise to Councils, Schools and Sporting Clubs looking to create sporting…
read moreGeoff Ninnes Fong & Partners (GNFP) is a structural, aquatic and civil engineering consultancy with broad experience in the design of new municipal and institutional swimming pools, hydrotherapy…
read moreAustralia’s leading manufacturer of horizontal and vertical media filters suited to all types of commercial pools, water playgrounds marine parks, aquaculture and zoos. They are an ideal…
read moreYellowbox is an Australian technology company that has developed smart locker technology operated through an app with a focus on experience for users and facility managers. Found at Beaches, Aquatic…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!