ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia adds Gippsland Super Six for 2019

A new tournament has been added to The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, which will be held next year at Yallourn Golf Club (YGC).

The inaugural ‘Gippsland Super Six’ will see a field of 132 professionals  visit the Gippsland region during the four day competition. The competition will include three days of stroke and match play qualifying, ahead of a  top 24 six-hole shootout  for spectators to determine a champion on the last day.

There will also be a plethora of various community activities during the four day period, in partnership with the Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA).

YGC Project Co-Ordinator Peter Brown said the club had been on the hunt for a major event for some time, with a $200,000 LVA Community Facility Fund grant to upgrade the championship layout boosting its appeal to the PGA of Australia.

“We have been working to attract a significant event to the Gippsland region for some time now and with the assistance of the LVA Community Facility Grant and members funds we are in the process of upgrading our course and facilities to make this a reality,” Mr Brown said.

“In addition to raising the profile of golf and its place in our local sporting community, we are looking forward to working with the PGA to provide the foundation for increasing participation from people of all ages and backgrounds in this healthy outdoor sport.

“We are excited that the event will bring significant economic benefits for a broad range of businesses and tourist destinations within the Gippsland region and encourage all businesses to get actively involved in making this an ongoing event on Australia’s major golfing calendar.”

Quotes attributable to PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman

“We know golf is a massive sport in Gippsland with 14,000 registered players within 100 kilometres of Yallourn and a further estimated 26,000 social golfers in the same catchment area. The PGA is excited to bring this thrilling ‘Super Six’ format to the Latrobe Valley; the fast paced action brings an element to golf different from your regular 72-hole stroke-play that the whole family can enjoy.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing MP

“An ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia event in Gippsland is a tremendous coup for our region and a credit to the local facilities, like the Yallourn Golf Club, we are so proud to support. The Gippsland Super Six is expected to chip in up to half a million dollars to the local economy during tournament week through the players and their entourages alone, which is a significant boost for our tourist economy and reputation as a regional sporting powerhouse.”