Ballarat has been the home of the national event since 2014 and is rapt to again host the week-long tournament that welcomes more than 100 of the best trainee professionals from around Australia, as well as some international guests.

Last year’s winner Frazer Droop, who recently won the Southern Trainee Championship, will return to defend his title – the opening round of play commencing on October 23.

The event will be part of Golf Australia’s Golf Month initiative, a bid to get more people, particularly youngsters, involved in the sport.

The winner of the event not only receives a $60,000 cheque, but earns entry into the Australian PGA Championship.

Ballarat Golf Club president John King said securing an event like this was a great thing for not only the club, but golf in Ballarat.

“The great thing about this event is the opportunity to welcome these passionate young advocates of the sport – the next generation of professional golfers – to our course and show them the great things our club and the city of Ballarat has to offer,” King said.

“We work hard to secure quality events such as this and the club is thrilled to be the home of the Futures Championship for 2018.”

There will also be community events run by the PGA and the competing trainees, including school clinics and the ‘Give Golf A Go Open Day’ event. While the popular Pro-Am event will take place on the day before round one.

The event also gives great exposure to Ballarat Golf Club’s course.

The course has been recognised as a top course on a number of occasions. Being ranked in the top 100 public access courses in Australia by Golf Australia magazine four times and achieved rankings in the top 50 of the Australian Golf Course guide best conditions and course lists in 2018.