Brendan Bowers
The tradition of the Burnett Cup continues at the Bundaberg Golf for the 53rd year from Saturday, the 28 January, to Saturday, 25 February 2023.
The annual event was initiated in 1971 by the club’s then President, Barry Blackadder, to promote larger fields in the early months of the year when fields were traditionally small due to “wet and hot” conditions.
The Cup is an Open Event that allows players from all clubs to participate and has always been played as a 4Ball handicap Match play with losers of the first round going into a Plate Event.
The Plate event was initially known as the Patrons Plate and is now known as the Peter Hitchcock Memorial Plate.
Players from Gayndah, Maryborough, Gladstone, Gin Gin, Childers and the local clubs of Bargara, Coral Cove and Oakwood participated last year.
This year already, over 70 teams have registered, with more expected in the next few days.
With a prize pool of $7200, the Cup is the richest event of its type in the Wide Bay region. Prizes go down to the 4th round of the Cup.
With the popularity of the Men’s Burnett Cup, the Ladies ran an equivalent event from 1979 to 1989. This event was re-established in 2008 and continues today. It begins on Saturday, February 4 and runs over four weeks to Saturday, February 25.
Club professional Craig Swift believes the event is a great way to start the new year.
“There aren’t too many match play events around anymore, and it’s great to play against each other,” Swift said.
He knows the tournament would not be successful without the support of partners DGZ Financial Planning, Ross Gray Motor City and Scott Burke Solar.
“They just add to an amazing event that is played over six rounds and is a lot of fun,”