This year’s Australian PGA Championship won’t just be a golf tournament. It will be something much more, explains PGA of Australia Chief Commercial Officer, Stephen Ayles. "It will be a festival – an entire week of fun activities with a little bit of golf thrown in," he says. "It will be the culmination of a lot of things, including a fantastic golf tournament on the back of the World Cup of Golf, a Ladies Summer Soiree, a Cobra Puma Golf Orange Crush Kids Day, the Soniq Million Dollar Hole and live entertainment throughout the week and of course our night of nights, the Greg Norman Medal Dinner."

Ayles said it was crucial golf took extra steps to make its events more appealing to a wider audience and that there was no tournament more equipped to deliver such an initiative than the Gold Coast-based Australian PGA Championship.

"The Australian PGA Championship has a rich history of being the players’ favourite tournament of the year and it’s because it’s always had that festival vibe," says Ayles. "Players want to have fun with their families leading into their Christmas break and signing off the season with a fun week of golf in an iconic holiday destination is an attractive proposition. What we’re doing this year is taking that village feeling made famous at Coolum and taking it to a whole, new level at RACV Royal Pines Resort. We will have something for everyone."

For the true golf fanatics, Adam Scott’s return home is a major coup but the Aussie favourite might not be the only superstar walking around RACV Royal Pines Resort in December. With the World Cup of Golf being played in Melbourne the week before, there are high hopes a wave of international superstars will confirm they are boarding a plane to the Glitter Strip. 

"We’re confident we’ll be able to lock away a few more big names before play tees off on December 1st," says Ayles.

Scott [left], who won the Joe Kirkwood Cup in 2013, said he was looking forward to teeing it up in his home state for the first time since 2014.

"I always love coming back to Australia and competing," he says. "The support I receive from the Aussie golf fans makes for a special week, especially when I am playing in my hometown, the Gold Coast."

A long-time highlight on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Scott is also looking forward to experiencing the new-look Australian PGA Championship now that it’s co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

"The European Tour is where I first started my professional career so it’s great to see a co-sanctioning with tournaments in Australia," added Scott.

Delighted to welcome home Adam Scott is PGA of Australia Chief Executive Officer Brian Thorburn.
"Adam coming home and playing on the Gold Coast was a key focus for us this year when organising the Australian PGA Championship," said Thorburn.

"While the tournament is now co-sanctioned by the European Tour and we anticipate some quality Europeans competing, it is important to us that our home grown talent also tees it up."

But hardcore golf fans aren’t the only winners this summer. The par-3 16th at RACV Royal Pines Resort will be the most eagerly anticipated golf hole for any spectator. While the Soniq Million Dollar Hole gives every player at the Australian PGA Championship the opportunity to win $500,000, it may also deliver $500,000 cash and prizes for a fan on Sunday, 4 December.

Soniq is running a competition in the lead up to the Australian PGA Championship for a fan to be aligned with each Professional in the field. If their Pro aces the million-dollar hole the fan will receive half the value in cash and prizes.

"This is the second year that we are offering a million dollar prize for a hole-in-one on the 16th at RACV Royal Pines Resort," said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia, who manages the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

"Last year the 16th became the centre of attention for golf fans with everyone flocking to the green to see if a player could pull off the lucrative feat. This year with the support of our partner, Soniq, we have big plans for the Soniq Million Dollar Hole with even more entertainment and hospitality planned for fans, including live music."

Even Scott is excited about the initiative. "The Million Dollar Hole certainly has my attention," says Scott. "I can’t wait to have a crack at acing the 16th. It’s going to be an exciting week on the Gold Coast."

For those spectators wanting something extra special during the Australian PGA Championship week, There are a range of hospitality packages on offer, including access to the Kirkwood Club on the 18th, the Lexus Marquee on the Soniq Million Dollar hole or a seat in the Champion Club grandstand on the 18th green. 

For more information on hospitality packages, go to www.pgachampionship.com.au