Acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Ben Carroll confirmed the tournament would return for the eleventh year – from 1 to 4 February in 2024.
Attracting more golf players and fans to the region, the tournament will be played across the Beach course and the Creek course at the popular seaside facility near Barwon Heads. The men and women players will compete for equal prizemoney on the same courses at the same time, with $420,000 on offer for each event.
More than 200 men and women will start out in the first round, with the top 35 men and 35 women and ties making it through to the final day on Sunday, 4 February 2024.
The 2024 Vic Open will again coincide with the Victorian Inclusive Championship for golfers with a disability, and the Australian Wheelchair Golf Championship, which will return for its third year.
The Vic Open, owned and operated by Golf Australia, has become one of the marquee attractions on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia schedules. It continues to champion men and women playing at the same time, at the same venue, for equal prizemoney.
The Labor Government is ensuring equal prizemoney for the joint men’s and women’s Vic Open format, with its first instalment back in 2012 breaking new ground.
Golf in Victoria generates $883 million to the state’s economy and supports 6,900 jobs. Major events such as these are an integral part of Victoria’s Golf Tourism Strategy and help to attract more visitors to Victoria, supporting jobs across the tourism sector.
The Acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Ben Carroll said that Vic Open remains an important tournament for our golf superstars, and it’s fantastic that it will return to the sparkling Bellarine Peninsula next February.We know how much this tournament means to the local community and hosting it at 13th Beach will encourage fans and visitors alike to experience all this beautiful region has to offer.
WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn said that Our players love coming back to 13th Beach every year and competing in front of the wonderful galleries who turn out to enjoy seeing the women’s and men’s tournaments, plus the all abilities, contested side by side.
PGA Tour of Australasia Tournament Director Nick Dastey said that the Vic Open will be a key event on the second half of the 2023/24 Tour calendar. It has established itself as a major feature of our schedule and 13th Beach has played a huge role in its ongoing success.
Tags: golf courses, Ben Carroll, golf tourism, golf tournament, Victoria, 2024 Vic Open, WPGA Tour of Australasia, Karen Lunn, PGA Tour of Australasia Tournament, Nick Dastey
