Local golf enthusiasts are lining up to get close to their sporting heroes, with more than 50 volunteers already signed up to officiate at the prestigious Titanium Enterprises PGA Seniors Championship from October 14-17.
Titanium Enterprises has put up $240,000 to sponsor a fantastic week of golf at Club Pelican, which includes the $150,000 Titanium Enterprises PGA Seniors Championship and the $80,000 Titanium Invitational for regular Tour Players.
The senior professionals missing out on the Top 50 cut will play off in a $10,000 repechage event, and the tournaments will be run concurrently at the Greg Norman designed golf course at Pelican Waters.
The volunteers will be kept busy scoring, spotting, marshalling and providing a drinks service to the players.
A call for assistance to the Caloundra Veterans, a 225 strong club of Over-55 players, quickly unearthed 26 volunteers and many more individuals have signed up to help.
Masahide “Nagasan” Nazahama, a Japanese executive who retired to Pelican Waters three years ago, was one of the first to volunteer, hoping to meet his idols and improve his golf game.
“My main motivation was to watch how they play,” said Mr Nazahama.
“I’m very interested in meeting the professional players as I’ve seen them play in Japan and watched them on the television and seen how beautifully they play,” he said.
“I’m very happy to be involved. Surely, this can be a very good lesson to me,” he said.
Mike Bugler, who lives adjacent to the fifth green at Club Pelican and is an original member of the golf club, is also looking forward to the experience.
“If I can, I always volunteer for these golf events, it’s a way of getting closer to the players and providing assistance and making the day go a bit smoother for them,” he said.
“It’s also a way for me to show my pride in the course and give a bit back to the game. You can get nice and close to the better players and watch how they go about their business, and it’s a great day out in the open.”
Confirmed players for the Titanium Enterprises PGA Seniors Championship include the defending champion, John Clifford; 2002 champion, Team Titanium leader and Queensland Legend of Golf, Mike Ferguson; Randall Vines, Brian Jones, Ross Metherell, Trevor Dowling and Club Pelican resident professional Kyle Francis.
They will be joined by an international contingent of elite golfers from New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, and South Africa.
A top field has also been assembled for the $80,000 Titanium Invitational. The talented line-up includes Von Nida Tour winner Brad Macintosh and Matthew Ecob, as well as Terry Price, Lucas Parsons, Marcus Cain, Ken Druce, Shane Tait and Team Titanium members Mark Bruggemann, Graham Sheppard and Adam Le Vesconte.
The October 14-17 tournaments will be open to the public and admission is free.
A variety of junior and beginner clinics hosted by the Holden Young Lions Coaching Team will also be conducted during the week.
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