The 2018 Emirates Australian Open will be played at The Lakes Golf Club, south of Sydney.
The storied Eastlakes venue will host the national championship for the seventh time from November 22-25.
Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt was delighted to return to The Lakes, which most recently hosted the Open in 2012 when Peter Senior defied gale-force winds to win his second and final Stonehaven Cup.
“The Lakes has been a great venue for our national championship in years past and its imagery really helps showcase Sydney and New South Wales to our growing global audience,” Mr Pitt said.
“The weather was a little bit trying when Peter won in 2012, but the story that generated, plus the other great champions we’ve crowned there, means we’ll all be excited to see what history is generated.
“The Lakes and Golf Australia have a great relationship and we know the club, board and the members very well and we very much look forward to working with them again.”
Golf Australia, along with partners the New South Wales Government and its tourism and events agency Destination NSW and event commercial partner Lagardère Sports (formerly World Sport Group), announced in 2015 a deal that will keep the Open in Sydney through 2023, with the scope for two “release years” in that period.
“We’ve been thrilled with the support from the New South Wales Government, our naming rights sponsor Emirates and the players. Along with golf clubs and fans from around Australia who’ve really embraced the event, we have raised the global awareness of the championship and also of Sydney as a world-class golfing destination,” Mr Pitt said.
“The Open continues to deliver the world’s best players to Sydney, as evidenced in recent years when Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth have each springboarded to world No.1 status and major championship victories after winning the Stonehaven Cup.”
Mr Pitt said it was his intention to continue to formalise plans about future host clubs for the Emirates Australian Open as soon as possible with plans already announced for The Australian Golf Club to host in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
“We’d like to give golf fans and all involved in the industry a degree of certainty with their planning,” he said.
“The tournament has grown to the point that it’s only logical to allow people and our partners to plan around it in their long-term schedules.”
The tournament’s official website, www.ausopengolf.com, will keep you up to date with all the information around the championship, both today during the third round of the 2016 championship and for ongoing updates.
Upcoming event date and venues:
2017 Emirates Australian Open – The Australian Golf Club, NSW, Nov 23-26
2018 Emirates Australian Open – The Lakes Golf Club, NSW, Nov 22-25
2019 Emirates Australian Open – The Australian Golf Club, NSW
2020 Emirates Australian Open – TBC
2021 Emirates Australian Open – The Australian Golf Club, NSW
