Golf director says Vic Open preparations "shaping up well"

THE PGA Tour of Australasia’s director is excited to see what the men’s field will bring to 13th Beach Golf Links between February 9-12, as anticipation ramps up leading into 2023 Vic Open.

Tour director Nick Dastey said players will be fresh off two prior tournaments before action begins in Barwon Heads on Thursday, February 9.

Golfers will check off play in Rosebud this Sunday (January 29) at the TPS Victoria, before heading up to the Murray River for TPS Murray River a week later (February 2-5).

“Everything seems to be shaping up really well for a couple weeks from now,” Mr Dastey said.

“We use the Vic Open to kick off the second half of our season and it really caps off a strong three-week stretch of golf for athletes in and around Victoria.

“Players have had a good break over Christmas and the New Year, now they’re raring to go and 13th Beach will again provide a terrific backdrop for some great golf.”

Dastey said next month’s Vic Open will be his third in four years but commended the work that volunteers in Barwon Heads provide the tournament.

The PGA Tour of Australasia’s director Nick Dastey said the familiarity of 13th Beach Golf Links offers a beneficial element to players each year at the Vic Open.

“Golf tournaments of any size, never mind one of this size, across two courses, two fields, and everything that goes into it logistically from car parking to spectator transport, can’t happen without volunteers,” he added.

“Many of the same faces are there in Barwon Heads year in and year out making sure our lives are made a hell of a lot easier.

“That’s one of the main things that springs to mind when I think of 13th Beach, the familiarity creates an atmosphere that other tournaments just don’t have.”

The Vic Open is one of six Victorian events on the 2022/2023 PGA Tour of Australasia and the correlating WPGA Tour schedule.

It was also announced last November that Golf Australia signed a two-year partnership extension to keep the Vic Open in Barwon Heads until at least 2024, a big bonus for the Tour.

“It’s a huge positive for us, you want to continue going back to places that embraces our events, and certainly everyone in and around Barwon Heads enjoys the Vic Open, so it was amazing to hear that news,” Mr Dastey concluded.

The full men’s and women’s fields have yet to be confirmed. For more information about the Vic Open head to www.golf.org.au/vicopen/info