THE 2020 Latitude One NSW Veteran Golfers Association (NSWVGA) Matchplay Championship had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak but will now hopefully be able to be staged in late November/December at its planned new venue in Port Stephens.
With the proviso that the Coronavirus situation has been stabilised by then [and here’s hoping we all ride out the storm in as good a shape as possible], the tournament will be played the week of 30 November to 4 December 2020.
New tournament director Dave Flatt has his fingers crossed the event will be able to go ahead in the new timeslot and has advised all those who had previously signed up of the change and offered full refunds.
The 2020 Vets Matchplay week was looking a very attractive proposition with its new venue and new sponsors ramping up its possibilities.
The annual matchplay event is a big favourite for many regular veteran golfing participants who enjoy the chance to play a week of competitive matchplay in a friendly environment. The tournament has struggled at times in the past as it has moved around various venues across the state.
Hopefully with this big new disruption out of the way (and we write this with full acknowledgement of the desperate and life threatening situation many in the world currently face) the matchplay championship could find a permanent and happy home in Port Stephens, a top tourist area with some great golf courses.
As well as being located in a very tourist friendly area, some healthy sponsorship deals will not only mean a rev-up of prize money available, but will also provide more scope for the tournament week experience generally, including a Meet & Greet & Registration on the Sunday and a full Presentation Dinner on the Friday.
The other thing the 2020 edition had going for it is that it is in the hands of experienced tournament director Dave Flatt, who ran the very successful and enjoyable 2018 Australian Veteran Golfers Union National Championships at the same venues that will be used for the matchplay.
Flatt ran a seamless operation in 2018 and the matchplay is sure to benefit from that experience.
Vets Matchplay Tournament details
The Latitude One NSWVGA Matchplay Championship will be held at Nelson Bay, Horizons and Pacific Dunes golf clubs from 30 November to 4 December 2020.
Tournament director Dave Flatt says the event is one of the “Majors” on the NSWVGA program, with A Graders playing for the Bob Coulson Shield and the Ladies Shield respectively.
Flatt says under the draw devised by previous organisers, Men and Ladies are assured to play four rounds of matchplay, and each day competitors will be playing against someone with a similar handicap on the same win/loss record.
“Not only that, under these arrangements, a prize will be awarded for every match won. This has been made possible by a grant from NSWVGA,” Flatt says.
“Through the sponsorship of Latitude One and Port Stephens Council we will be able to put on a high class event, including a Meet & Greet function, a Presentation Dinner, four rounds of golf and generous prizes. This is all for an entry fee of $150 per player.”
Flatt says intending participants should be aware that there is a limit of 128 players (Men and Ladies), and that places will be allocated in the order that entries are received.
Entries are being accepted for the new dates. You can use the original entry form available here:
Download entry form here
View/Download poster here
Or you can visit the NSW Veteran Golfers website
Contact Dave Flatt on 0410419967 or at vetsmatchplay@gmail.com if you have any queries.