THE Golf NSW Men's and Women's Senior Amateur Championships are set to tee off in the Shoalhaven on Monday.
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To be held at Shoalhaven Heads and Nowra Golf Clubs from April 19 to 22, the event will see more than 260 golfers descend on the region for five nights to contest both men's and women's championships.
The week will begin with the men's and women's NSW Senior Foursomes on Monday, followed by the 54 hole men's and women's NSW Senior Championships starting Tuesday.
Competitors will play one round at each of the venues, followed by a 36-hole cut.
Those who make the cut will play the final round on Thursday at Shoalhaven Heads.
Entrants in the championship coming from across Australia, with a few New Zealand competitors taking advantage of the Trans-Tasman travel bubble.
Reigning champions David Bagust of Port Macquarie and Louise Mullard from Wyong on the Central Coast will be back to defend their crowns.
Locals will be well represented, with The 'Heads' Ian Asbury, playing off a handicap of plus one, a big threat on his home course.
"Knowledge of the course should definitely be an advantage for locals like myself, especially if the wind picks up in the afternoon," Asbury, 58, said.
"I've been hitting them solidly lately and hope to play well enough to be in the mix next week.
"I won't be expecting too much of myself though, as I'll be treating it just like any other round of golf - which is the mentality I always try to approach the game with.
"To win on my home course would be fantastic but also hopefully bring more recognition to the club.
"I've been at the club for 14 years now and it's an amazing community club, which is a huge asset to the area - which is a credit to all the volunteers and staff for the work they do, especially on the greens.
"The club held the Mid Amateur a couple of years ago and everyone left super impressed, so we're all looking to put on another strong show next week, as it's great top-level events want to come and play at our course.
"It's really exciting and I hope everyone enjoys their time here at Shoalhaven Heads."
Golf NSW operations manager Graeme Phillipson said the senior amateur always attracted strong fields with many competitors travelling great distances to take part.
"The NSW Senior Amateur Championships are a highlight of the golfing year for those aged over 55, and with the number of visitors staying multiple nights, it will be a boon for the Shoalhaven region," Phillipson said.
"Despite COVID-19, the number of interstate entries is very pleasing."
Phillipson added the quality of the courses chosen to host the 2021 championships would be another inducement for golfers who were thinking of taking part.
"Shoalhaven Heads and Nowra are renowned for being courses of exceptional quality," he said.
"We had rave reviews about 'The Heads' when we hosted the NSW Mid Amateur there back in 2019, and Nowra Golf Club, with its setting beside the river and tee boxes back in caverns in the cliffs, will be a special experience for many of the players."
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