Ballarat Golf Club has retained hosting rights to the National Futures Championship until 2017.

The announcement was made at Sovereign Hill on Tuesday, with the venue throwing its backing behind the Futures as a sponsor.

Ballarat GC has been chasing a long-term deal on hosting rights since last October and general manager Michael Phillips said a highly successful maiden edition had encouraged the club to keep the tournament on a long-term basis.

“To be able to host the event for three years has a much more significant advantage to our sponsors and the community of Ballarat than just a one-off, one-year arrangement,” he said.

“It (last year) was the first time we hosted a national event and we needed to understand that A, we could do it, and B, that the facilities were up to scratch.

“It was really successful for us. The engagement we had from the community and the engagement we had from our membership and the players was fantastic.”

The Futures’ $55,000 prize pool makes it one of the biggest tournaments on the trainee calendar, and the kind of event that can springboard a full-time professional career.

Last year’s winner, Taylor Cooper, took home a $9900 cheque and an exemption to the 2015 Australian PGA Championship.

However, Ballarat’s trademark wind made the going far tougher than expected, with Cooper the only player from a 120-odd field shooting under par on the Peter Thomson-designed layout.

Australia’s top-ranked trainee, Deyen Lawson, is keen to return to Ballarat after finishing tied for 17th at +15 last year.

The Curlewis third-year trainee hopes a strong showing at the 2015 edition will assist in his bid to succeed on a professional tour in Asia next year.

“Over the last year, I’ve pretty much won all the state titles,” Lawson said. “It’s (the Futures) one of the biggest and one that I want to get over the line and give it a crack.”

“The course is set up very well and you’ve got to grind out scores at Ballarat.”

This year’s Futures will run from October 18-23, with the PGA of Australia running several community events, including school clinics and a free open day.

Phillips said Ballarat would wait until 2016 before deciding to negotiate another deal.

A major sponsor for the event is still being sought by Ballarat GC and the PGA of Australia.

michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au