Birkdale golf course to host top golfers in pro-am tournament

About 70 professionals will be joined by almost 100 amateur golfers in the 36th annual 18-hole tournament.

Competing for $11,000 in prize money will be a strong field of professionals from Australia and overseas and they will be tested by a competitive field of amateurs.

Among the nominations already is professional golfer and host of Foxtel Sports Channel’s The Golf Show Ossie Moore, and Australian professional golfer Terry Price.

Local golfer Aaron Wilkin, of Wellington Point, who has been playing the course for about ten years and who in 2010 as an amateur equalled the top professional score of 66, will participate this year for the first time as a professional.

Course owner Bill Weston said the Howeston course had been operating for 43 years.

Owned by Bill and Lynn Weston, the golf course was established from dairy farmland in 1972 by Lynn's parents, Jack and Kath Howard.

Mr Weston said the family held the pro-am tournament becasue of “our love of the place”.

“It also helps up-and-coming young pros and helps promote the sport of golf,” he said.

Mrs Weston agreed and said the course was in great condition for the tournament, which would host popular competitions such as the longest drive and nearest to the pin.

The pro-am is open to the general public with free admission and offers an opportunity to view top level golf in action.