There will be no shortage of action at Coffs Harbor Golf Club from Sunday when the 71st annual Balter Festival of Golf kicks off. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing
THE biggest and best week in the calendar of the Coffs Harbor Golf Club is about to tee off.
The 71st annual Balter Festival of Golf begins on Sunday with rounds of competition taking place daily until the next weekend.
The festival culminates in its big events, the North Coast Amateur Open and the Coffs Coast Ladies Classic for gun golfers as well as the Coffs Cup and Coffs Plate for players with a higher handicap, which have been played in the last two days.
Coffs Harbor Golf Club’s chief pro Matt Allan said the week would be another busy week for him and the staff at the club’s pro shop.
“Over the course of eight days, we look at about 2,000 rounds of golf,” said Allan.
“Basically, it’s like having a Saturday competition every day for eight days.
“There are still some places for men or women who want to play a round, but they want to get in quickly as there aren’t many left.”
There are 4-Ball, Ambrose and Single Stableford Comps during the week.
Usually the event attracts players who travel to Coffs Harbor from all parts of the country to play, but travel restrictions mean this will not be the case for the second year in a row.
Allan sees a great silver lining in this cloud.
“The upside is that next year it’s going to be a blast,” he said.
“After two years of COVID and the people unable to travel to Coffs Harbor for the event, this bodes well for the next year.
“But this year’s festival is well supported by our fantastic club members and the surrounding clubs.
“This year’s Festival of Golf is definitely not a non-event.”
Another positive point is that the course will be in top condition again, as it is every year at this time for the players who take part in the festival.
Allan said the rain last week was a blessing.
“There was a dry spell and we were lucky with the club’s irrigation system and the sensational greens staff that the course is in good shape, but there is nothing like natural rain and the nutrients in the rain really make the space for this event make them jump and come in the summer, ”he said.
The 71st annual Balter Festival of Golf starts on Sunday. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing.