Chris and I were discussing this last week, a town like Melbourne has so much quality sport, that it can get spread around quite a bit.
Whereas a tournament that is extraordinarily successful, the Victoria Open (Men & Women) at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links, which three years ago moved to a major regional centre in Geelong, Bellaring Peninsula and the seaside village of Barwon Heads, has seen significant crowds, 4 x 18 holes of Pro-Am sponsors sold out prior, Thursday's car parks almost full by lunchtime, 36 hole venue allows for Rds 1&2 to alternate with Men and Women, before the cut, when men and women alternate tee times on the Beach course, while members and guests can still play a round on the Creek course, before catching some golf. Players loved the event, no ropes allowing for crowds to interact with the players, listen to them, watch them closely and walk the fairways.
The prize pool is increasing approx $100k each year for both men and women, prize pools are equal.
It allowed for the unique outcome of Richard Green and his fiancé, Marieanne Skarpnord, to both win their titles at the same venue, on the same day. Incredible.
Entry for kids is free, so to locate the tournament in A regional centre a little over 60mins drive from Melb, allows for a more genuine interest in the actual golf, in this unique format.