Adelaide to host Women’s Australian Open for next three years

Professional tournament golf will return to Adelaide’s sandbelt from next year.

Elite level golf will return to Adelaide after it was announced that the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will move to the city of churches for the next three years. And perhaps beyond.

The Grange Golf Club’s West Course will host the 2016 LPGA Tour co-sanctioned event from February 18-21 next year. The tournament will move to Royal Adelaide Golf Club in 2017 during its 125th anniversary and Kooyonga Golf Club will be the host course in 2018, with an option for further tournaments in South Australia after that time.

Golf Australia chief executive officer Stephen Pitt, in conjunction with South Australian Minister for Recreation and Sport and Minister for Tourism, Leon Bignell, announced the historic move today at next year’s host venue, The Grange Golf Club.

“We are incredibly excited to bring such a high-profile international event as the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open to Adelaide,” Pitt said. “The South Australian Government, Golf South Australia and the clubs involved have all shown huge interest in bringing the event to Adelaide.

“And with the city not having hosted an elite level golf tournament for a few years, we are thrilled to engage with the entire community here in bringing the world’s best players back to the people of South Australia.”

Mr Bignell said the championship would put Adelaide firmly in the global spotlight.

“Hosting the Open means we can showcase the state’s premier golf courses, as well as highlight our spectacular tourism assets,” he said. “This is huge news for golf fans and for our visitor economy. The 2016 event alone will deliver an estimated $3.7 million to our visitor economy and will have massive flow-on effect for hotels, taxis, hospitality and small businesses.

Founder and chairman Dr Haruhisa Handa was delighted to confirm ISPS’s ongoing support for the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open.

“ISPS is a strong believer in the power of sport – it has a unique ability to create hope, inspire people and change society for the better,” Dr Handa said. “After supporting many events and initiatives across Australia, I believe Adelaide is the perfect place for the Open and I am so excited about creating new relationships.”

The ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will again attract the best field in Australia this summer by world rankings with its full status on the LPGA Tour and prizemoney of $US$1.3million. The first formal player announcements are expected within weeks and tickets will go on sale through Ticketek in December.

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