Dubbo is leading the way in golfing tourism across Western NSW, according to a new report by Golf NSW.
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The report found golf tourism in Dubbo brought in $1.1 million, followed by Bathurst ($815,000) and Orange ($705,000).
However, when it came to money from regular participants, association and club expenditure, club events, coaching and retail sales, the highest was Orange.
The economic benefits of people playing in Orange was valued at $11.2 million, ahead of other local government areas in the central west, Orana and Far West NSW regions, with Bathurst on $9.4 million and Dubbo on $7.5 million.
Dubbo Golf Club professional Craig Mears said the funding received from the state government for upgrades and irrigation had dramatically improved the course, making it more appealing for larger tournaments and people stopping to play in Dubbo.
"We've had some major events here in the past 12 to 18 months, the Ladies European Tournament and the Men's Open qualifier.
"And later this year, on the success of the Men's NSW Open qualifier earlier, we have been given it again, so will host it on October 22.
"That's $50,000 in prize money and state qualification, with 120 players, 80 of them professionals.
"They are really impressed with the facility and the course."
Mr Mears said he had been working at the club for 21 years and had 'never seen the course better than it was now.'
"We are also the half way point between Melbourne and Brisbane, and with teh course right on the highway we are finding that people see the course looking so good, they've always wanted to play in Dubbo, so they are stopping to play here and stay in the city.
Mr Mears said players were coming from all over the country to play in Dubbo.
The Community Impact of Golf in NSW report also found golf provided health benefits.
"This new wave of keen golfers taking to the course has also included more millennials, an age demographic that the industry has traditionally had difficulty connecting with," he said.
Mr Fraser said golf courses around the state also offered environmental benefits.
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
Lynn Rayner
I am the editor of the Daily Liberal, Mailbox Shopper, Western Magazine and associated western publications (Wellington Times and Narromine News which are both online only publications). I have been the editor for three years. I have been a journalist for 15 years and was formally the digital specialist for the Western NSW area assisting with digital coverage and growth across 13 mastheads, including the three dailies. Before that I worked as a journalist in Lithgow and Mudgee covering a number of different rounds. I established the social media accounts in Lithgow and took an interest in the digital aspects of the paper. I started my journalism career at the former Myall Coast Nota based as the journalist-in-charge at Tea Gardens while also working part time in Forster as the council reporter for the Great Lakes Advocate.
I am the editor of the Daily Liberal, Mailbox Shopper, Western Magazine and associated western publications (Wellington Times and Narromine News which are both online only publications). I have been the editor for three years. I have been a journalist for 15 years and was formally the digital specialist for the Western NSW area assisting with digital coverage and growth across 13 mastheads, including the three dailies. Before that I worked as a journalist in Lithgow and Mudgee covering a number of different rounds. I established the social media accounts in Lithgow and took an interest in the digital aspects of the paper. I started my journalism career at the former Myall Coast Nota based as the journalist-in-charge at Tea Gardens while also working part time in Forster as the council reporter for the Great Lakes Advocate.
