THE Howeston Golf Course at Birkdale will host its 35th annual pro-am tournament when more than 190 golfers are expected to tee off next Tuesday, September 30.
The field will include more than 65 professionals with the remainder of the field being made up of amateur golfers who will compete over 18-holes for prizemoney totalling $11,000.
The Howeston event is the second oldest pro-am in Queensland and is sponsored by the Queensland Professional Golf Association as part of its Sunshine Tour which is played over 52 events across mostly Queensland with some in northern NSW and one each in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
A strong field of professionals from the eastern states and overseas will be tested by a competitive field of amateurs.
Among the starters is expected to be last year's winner Chris Woods, of Wynnum, who took the tournament with a sure-fire 67.
Steve Jeffress who has won 30 pro-ams across Australia and who has won acclaim on the world circuit, is expected to join the field again.
Popular professionals to appear at Howeston over the years have been Ossie Moore and Terry Price who are both expected to tee off again this year.
The Howeston course has been operating for 42 years and is owned by Lynn and Bill Weston with their children and now grandchildren involved in maintaining and operating the business.
The golf course was established from dairy farmland in 1972 by Lynn's parents, Jack and Kath Howard.
Firstly nine holes were established, then the 11th and 12th and built up to 18, creating a course of championship standard.
A further nine holes were developed in 2003 to give players a 27-hole option.
Bill and Lynn's son Kel is heavily involved in the operations of the golf course and his son Kerron, Bill and Lynn's grandson, has completed his greenkeeping and golf course management degree, to give the family its third generation running the business.
Kel's wife Sue is involved in administration, while their other son Jake has just moved onto the course to help out.
Their daughter Donna and son-in-law Keith West complete the family connection to Howeston.
They are joined by a strong team of staff who keep Howeston in tip top shape all year.
Lynn said the course was in first class condition for tee off next Tuesday.
The tournament will host popular competitions such as the longest drive and nearest the pin.
The pro-am is open to the general public with free admission and gives those interested an opportunity to view top quality golf as part of the public gallery.
The pro-am began in 1980 and has attracted some great golfers over the years, including Ian Baker-Finch, who carded a par 70 in 1980.
Others who have teed off in the pro-am over the years are Terry Price, Ozzie Moore who has nominated again this year, Randall Vines and the popular Rodger Davis.
Over the years the tournament has attracted golfers from New Zealand, the south Pacific, Japan and other Asian countries.