The opportunity to watch top golfers up close is a rare thing in our state, making events like the Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open worth their weight in gold.
If you feel you need an excuse to head to Joondalup Resort to watch the action unfold between October 5-8, here are five to get you going…
1. It’s free
You can’t get better value for money than attending a high-calibre event for FREE, but that’s precisely what’s on offer at the WA Open. Spectators can gain free entry on any day of championship week, from pre-qualifying and practice rounds on Monday-Tuesday right through to Sunday’s final round.
Free parking is available throughout the event at Joondalup Resort, however will be strictly limited over the weekend. A free shuttle bus service is being provided to take spectators to and from the resort from nearby overflow car parks. Download the map here.
With fine weather predicted throughout championship week, ask yourself: what could be better than striding Joondalup’s pristine fairways, while watching world-class golf with friends and family in tow? There are certainly a lot worse places you could be…
2. Get up close to Australia’s top golfers
You might never be able to hit it as well or as far as a seasoned tour pro or elite amateur, but observing how they approach course management, pre-shot routines, putting and damage limitation can be a valuable and educational experience for golfers of all standards.
Featuring a glut of rising stars in the field, the WA Open also represents a chance to see tomorrow’s tour stars and household names ‘before they were famous’.
Finally, with manageable galleries following the action you can also get closer to the players without being overly jostled or blocked by your fellow spectators. Quite literally, everyone’s a winner in that equation…
3. It’s fun
As well as the golf, there’s plenty to keep the family occupied, particularly over the weekend, which will be jam-packed with food trucks, live music and food and beverage specials across Joondalup Resort.
There’ll also be fun activations to be found, such as the Crunch& Sip Blender Bikes, where folk are welcome to rock up, hop on a bike and use peddle power to blend themselves a delicious fruit smoothie.
4. It’s inspiring
The WA Open field doesn’t only feature a host of Australia’s top male golfers. Five women will compete in the event (read more here), and there’s also the 36-hole All Abilities Championship for golfers with physical impairments. This is played at the same time, on the same course and in the same conditions as the WA Open itself.
This variety underscores the fact that golf is a game for everyone and provides potential role models that any golf fan can get behind – regardless of age, gender and physical attributes.
And while you’d have to be up with the larks to see it, the ceremonial opening tee shots on Thursday morning will be struck by pint-sized juniors from the GolfWA Crunch&Sip Junior Tour.
5. Game improvement opportunities
As well as the on-course action, GolfWA is also staging a number of free golf clinics for beginners throughout championship week.
With sessions aimed at juniors, women and girls and All Abilities golfers throughout championship week, it’s a great opportunity to get non-golfers in your household hooked.
All sessions are led by PGA professionals, all equipment is provided and the onus is on fun and inclusion, reducing any fear factor newcomers might have of giving it a go. Register for these free sessions here.
The Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open takes place at Joondalup Resort & Country Club from October 5-8. Entry is free for spectators. The closing two rounds will be televised live on Fox Sports, Kayo and SportNZ between 1.30pm-4.30pm AWST on Saturday, October 7, and between 11.30am-4.30pm on Sunday, October 8.
You’ll also be able to follow the action through the GolfWA Facebook and Instagram pages.
