Summer of golf tees off in Darwin

Golf in Australia is back underway this week as the inaugural Northern Territory PGA Championship tees off the second half of the 2016 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia schedule.

The 2016 season got off to a huge start with professionals competing for more than $3.8 million in nine tournaments that spanned three countries.

Following a winter hiatus, the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia has travelled to warmer climates for the first staging of the Northern Territory PGA Championship.

Being played at Palmerston Golf Course, Professionals are vying for a prize purse of $150,000 with the tournament teeing of this morning and the champion crowned on Sunday 14th August.

From Darwin the Tour will travel to its fourth different country of the season; New Caledonia.

The South Pacific Open Championship in Noumea is a favourite among the Tour Professionals, with the island's French flavour providing the ideal backdrop for the $140,000 tournament which is played from 21st to 24th September.

The Tour will stay in the South Pacific region when the Fiji International is played from 6th to 9th October at the stunning Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course for $1.5million.

For the first time the tournament will be co-sanctioned by the European Tour and already has attracted a superstar line up headlined by World Number 24 Brandt Snedeker as well as three time Major champion and hometown hero Vijay Singh.

Heading back to Australia, the Isuzu Queensland Open has taken on a new timeslot and venue for 2016 with the prestigious title to be contested from 20th to 23rd October at the Brisbane Golf Club.

The next tour stop; the NSW Open has also taken on a new look in 2016 with the tournament being elevated to Tier One status on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

As well as an increased prize purse, which is now at $400,000, players will be competing for more Official World Golf Ranking points and an exemption onto the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of 2018.

The NSW Open will be played at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Course from 10th to 13th November.

Staying in Sydney, one of the most coveted titles in Australian golf is next in line to be contested on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

The Emirates Australian Open will be played at Royal Sydney Golf Club from 17th to 20th November with World Number 1 Jason Day and World Number 7 Adam Scott returning to support their home tour.

They will be joined in the field by World Number 3 Jordan Spieth who is hoping to claim the Stonehaven Cup for a second time.

The best players in the world will then converge on Melbourne for the World Cup of Golf at Kingston Heath Golf Club from 24th to 27th November.

A return to a two-man teams format, Tour Pros are excited to partner up to represent their country as a team.

Australia’s most energetic golf tournament, the Australian PGA Championship will complete the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season at RACV Royal Pines Resort from 1st to 4th December.

Co-sanctioned by the European Tour for the second consecutive year, local hero Adam Scott will headline a stellar list of Australian and international players from all over the globe.

The 2016 tournament will feature an array of entertainment on and off the course, but it’s the Soniq Million Dollar Hole where the tournament really comes alive. While players aim to ace their way to a big pay day, fans will be celebrating in the sun with great food, music and entertainment.

A festival of golf, the Australian PGA Championship week also includes the Cobra Puma Orange Crush Kids Day, Greg Norman Medal and Summer Soiree; the Aussie PGA is where everyone plays!

For the 2016 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia schedule please visit pga.org.au

Images: Victorian Matthew Griffin currently leads the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit following his win at the ISPS HANDA BMW New Zealand Open (top) and RACV Royal Pines Resort (below).

12th July 2016 - EVENT HUB PARTNERS WITH PGA OF AUSTRALIA FOR AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AND FIJI INTERNATIONAL

9th July 2015 - NSW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE PLAYED ON NEWEST GOLF COURSE IN SYDNEY

28th February 2013 - GOLD COAST NEW HOME OF THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

26th September 2012 - PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOUR ATTRACTS TOURISTS TO NEW CALEDONIA