AusLeisure

The PGA Tour of Australasia has arrived in its most exotic location, New Caledonia for the South Pacific Golf Open Championship.

To be played at Noumea's Tina Golf Course from 26th to 29th September, 63 Australian and New Zealand touring professionals will tee it up alongside five local professionals and 24 amateurs from the golf club.

The South Pacific Golf Open Championship starts the summer of golf for the PGA Tour of Australasia with the Tina Golf Course providing a challenge for the professionals on the course, whilst Noumea offers many attractions off the course.

Simon Butterly, General Manager of the Tournament Division for the PGA of Australia, explains "we are pleased to be heading to New Caledonia again in 2012, it is always an excellent week of golf for our Professionals, being so close to Australia and scheduled in the school holidays it also allows the players to bring their families for the week."

Known for its crystal-clear waters, exceptional marine life and water sports, Noumea (the capital of New Caledonia) has many activities to entertain the professional's families while they compete to become the 2012 South Pacific Golf Open Champion.

Away from the water, golf is one of the most popular leisure pursuits for tourists in New Caledonia. With three 18 hole golf courses; Tina Golf Course, Dumbea Golf Course and Paillotes de la Ouenghi Golf Course it provides the golfing tourist with a diverse range of holes to test their skills.

Tina Golf Course is a par 72, 5600 metre course. Featuring contrasting landscapes from the mountains to the lagoon and mangroves it will provide the Tour Professionals in the field this week with a challenge yet it also caters for the weekend golfer.

Through hosting a PGA Tour of Australasia tournament, awareness of the region (located only a one hour 40 minute flight from Brisbane) as a golfing destination is growing amongst golfers.
Championship Tournament Promoter Patrick Koch explains "having the Tour in Noumea is really helping us push the region as a golfing destination, golf fans back in Australia and New Zealand following the tournament are being exposed to the golfing possibilities that we have to offer.

"We anticipate that thanks to this tournament and other marketing efforts we will start to see more international tourist heading to New Caledonia for their golfing holiday rather than more traditionally popular golf destinations."

The tournament will also provide the local amateurs in the field, many of them young up and coming golfers aspiring to turn Professional, and the crowds in attendance a firsthand look at the quality of golf played by the elite Professionals.

Koch adds "golf is growing in popularity among people living in New Caledonia so by having the Tour visit Noumea it allows our local players the chance to see the Professionals in action and learn from them.

This is an opportunity that previously they would not have had unless they travelled outside of New Caledonia."

This is the second year the South Pacific Golf Open Championship will be played on the PGA Tour of Australasia, having grown substantially since its humble beginnings as a pro-am on the NSW/ACT Pro-Am Circuit.

The winner of the South Pacific Golf Open Championship will earn a spot into the season's biggest tournaments; the Perth International, Australian Masters, BMW New Zealand Open, Emirates Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, as well as Official World Golf Ranking points and the champion's share of the A$120,000 prizepurse.

The PGA Tour of Australasia is the elite tournament destination for Professional golf in the Australasian region staging many world class tournaments and attracting some of the world's best golfers.

For more information go to www.pga.org.au

15th July 2011 - NEW CALEDONIA SHOWS ITS HEART THROUGH NEW BRANDING

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