Fore! The Big Hits Are Back As ANZ Stadium Becomes A Golfer’s Paradise

By Julian Keith

TEE-TIME has replaced try-time and greens have replaced goals as Sydney’s Stadium Australia prepares to host one of Australia’s most unique sporting events.

With the footy finished for the year, a nine-hole golf course has been built inside the Olympic stadium with golfers of all standards being invited to swing in to 2020 G9 Stadium Golf from Friday 4 December.

Players will hit out on to the hallowed turf from tees built on Levels 1 to 4 of Stadium Australia, with Head Curator Graeme Logan and his team establishing nine golf greens across the arena.

Reckon you can go nearest the pin on the hallowed turf where Aloisi scored to take the Socceroos through to the 2006 FIFA World Cup? Can you hit the green closest to where Cathy crossed the finish line at the Sydney 2000 Olympics?  A Birdie might even replace the Goanna where GI scored for the Rabbitohs in the 2014 Grand Final.

Tickets go on sale Friday 20 November at 10am via Ticketek, with tickets starting from $79 for an adult and $59 for a child.

The 2020 G9 Stadium Golf series will be staged under the same COVID Safe practices that have been in place for recent major events at Stadium Australia.

The event is being brought to Sydney by TEG Live, in conjunction with Stadium Australia, while Drummond Golf – Australia’s biggest golf retailer – is the official equipment partner and Taylormade the official golf ball partner for the tournament.

Event partner Mitsubishi will be sponsoring the 5^th hole at the Stadium, the location where Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee, Australian Ladies Professional Golfer Tahnia Ravnjak, Parramatta Eels star Mitchell Moses, Future Matildas and Sydney FC player Jada Whyman and NSW Blues legend Benny Elias hit the ceremonial first balls at the launch on Friday 20 November.

A prize pool will be up for grabs for the overall individual and team winners

TEG CEO Geoff Jones said: “Together with Stadium Australia, we’re looking forward to hosting the G9 tournament in Sydney that will provide some much-needed relief for golf enthusiasts, friends, family and colleagues. Given its timing this year, it’s a perfect chance for businesses to celebrate the end of a challenging year with some light-hearted fun.”

Stadium CEO Daryl Kerry believes introducing a unique golf event to Australia’s home ground is the perfect way for fans to have a bit of fun after a challenging year.

“Golf is one of the highest participation sports in Australia with some 1 million Aussies regularly swinging a club and over 10.5 million rounds of golf played annually around the country,” he said.

“2020 G9 Stadium Golf is a unique concept that can be played in a safe and controlled environment and which allows groups of people to test their golf skills and just have a bit of fun.

“The Stadium has hosted some of Australia’s biggest sport and entertainment events in a very challenging year . . . everything from Queen & Adam Lambert and the unforgettable Fire Fight Australia concert in February through to NRL Grand Final and State of Origin in the past few weeks.

“The fact that we now have G9 Stadium Golf ready to tee off shows the range of events that Sydney has hosted despite the challenges of a global pandemic.”

Gates open for 2020 G9 Stadium Golf from 6.45am Friday 4 December with the first tee time at 7.30am each day and the last tee time 7.45pm Sunday to Thursday or 9.30pm Fridays and Saturdays.

A Stadium Golf Clubhouse has been established on the north-western terrace of Stadium Australia for golfers to enjoy a beverage post-game, again in a COVID Safe environment.

Players are invited to bring their own clubs.