More than 50 local and visiting competitors will have their eye on the prize, including $10,000 for a hole-in-one, when they tee off in the 2024 Cooktown Open on 29-30 June. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Competitors will be aiming to leave the course with a bulging wallet when they tee off in the fight for 2024 Cooktown Open glory on 28-29 June.
More than 50 golfers have already nominated for the 36-hole showdown, but it will be on the ninth that most will be hoping their short clubs are dialled in.
A stunning $10,000 is on offer for any golfer who can record a hole-in-one on the ninth on the Saturday or Sunday, something Cooktown Golf Club vice-president Sam Godfrey-Roberts said he would love to see occur.
“It’s hole nine and it’s a pretty short hole, so there’s a chance it will go off,” he said.
“[The $10,000] is an attraction for people as well; we do try to tie it into the tourist season to attract some of those players who may be visiting Cooktown from down south.”
The annual Prawn Run will be held on 27 June to give visiting golfers a taste of the Cooktown course, which Mr Godfrey-Roberts said was playing the best it has in more than a decade.
“The Prawn Run is a just a nine-hole hit for a lot of the visitors if they haven’t played the course before the 36 holes on the weekend,” he explained.
“The course has never been in better nick; we are all volunteers and the greens have always been an issue, that’s the feedback we’ve had at times, but they are running better now than they have in probably 14 years.
“It’s never looked better for an Open.”
While Cooktown’s ultimate golfing bragging rights will be on the line this weekend, Mr Godfrey-Roberts said the club was proud of its welcoming, relaxed approach to its biggest competition of the year.
“The people that come up, they just love it’s a really relaxed club, even for an Open,” the vice-president said.
“We’re pretty casual in that regard and it’s a very relaxed atmosphere over the weekend.”
The first playing groups will get away from about 7:30am on both days.
To nominate for the event, email [email protected] or download an entry form from the Cooktown Golf Club Facebook page.
