Cessnock City Council is excited to partner with Golf NSW to grow the city’s reputation as a great golfing destination. The Council is negotiating to host a NSW Open Golf Championship Regional Qualifying tournament over the next three years.

Golf NSW is now engaging with golf clubs in the Cessnock area that are interested in providing their course for the 2019 event.

Council decided to partner with Golf NSW to showcase Cessnock and the Hunter Valley to many of NSW’s amateur and elite golfers, and invigorate the region’s reputation as a prime location to visit and participate in golf.

Tourism in the Hunter Valley continues to be an economic powerhouse, which welcomes around 1.5 million visitors every year who enjoy the wide range of tourism offerings that Wine Country has to offer.

More opportunities need to be embraced to continue building on the Hunter Valley as a destination for events and other diverse experiences which complement food and wine. Golf generates over $3.6 billion every year in Australia with over 1.5 million golfing getaways taken each year. Cessnock playing host to the prestigious regional qualifying events can incrementally increase the profile of the Hunter Valley into prime golfing market segments.

Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent encouraged local clubs to participate and reap the benefits of this opportunity.

“It’s an exciting prospect to be recognised as a pinnacle destination for elite sports through the NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event. We call all golfers to Cessnock in the second half of 2019 to vie for their place in the NSW Open.

Council has also allocated resources to producing up to date resources to promote the region’s golfing assets to attract and excite more visitors through a golf experience.

For more information on the initiative, please contact Acting Economic Development Manager, Rhiannon Stevens on 4993 4257.