PLENTY of people – and not just golfers – are getting excited about the 2013 Australian Women’s Open, which is set to be one of the major events on Canberra’s Centenary calendar.

To take place at Royal Canberra Golf Club in February, the historical event will bring the world’s best golfers and the global LPGA golf tour to Canberra for the first time.

“It’s an event that Canberra really hasn’t seen before because it’s US sanctioned,” says Royal Canberra Golf Club’s women’s captain Gail Potts.

“This event probably won’t happen in Canberra again… It’s got the top 156 women players in the world so it’s a major event and it’s not only [exciting for] golfers but any people who appreciate quality sporting events.”

Big names to head to Canberra include Karrie Webb, American rookie Jessica Korda and leading world amateur Lydia Ko.
An event of this size needs volunteers to help with everything from holding up “quiet” signs to handing out bibs and drinks.

Tournament volunteer co-ordinator Nikki Brown says almost 300 people have signed up to volunteer already, but Golf Australia has asked for 400.

“The tournament will be held across four days, but we don’t expect people to volunteer for all four days, they might want to do one or two days or even a half day,” Nikki says.

Available positions include: caddy bibs, wardrobe notes, car park attendants, carry board holder, courtesy car driver, drinks distribution, hole marshal, media centre, on-course leader board attendant, roving marshal, walker scorer, program sellers and locker room attendants.

Gail says there is a great vibe at the picturesque Royal Canberra in the lead up to the event, which will launch the LPGA’s 2013 Global Tour.

“We’ve got the right golf course for it and we’ve had a number of international players play at Royal Canberra over the years,” she says.

“It’s probably one of the best inland golf courses in Australia. It is a green course – a lot of golf courses are going to couch now, which means grass turns brown.

“We also have the advantage of having a golf course in the middle of an arboretum and there’s nowhere else I know that has that.”

The  2013 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, February 11-17. For a full list of position descriptions and to register as a volunteer go to royalcanberra.com.au/guests/ladies/ladies-classic.mhtml

Caption: Royal Canberra Golf Club volunteer co-ordinator Nikki Brown and women’s captain Gail Potts. Photo by Silas Brown