And once off the course the group will be greeted by the news that the nation’s top course, Royal Melbourne, will welcome the tournament next year.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the return to Australia and Royal Melbourne Golf Club,” Asia-Pacific Golf Federation Chairman Taimur Hassan said in a press conference today in Thailand.

Host of this tournament, that began in 2009, back in 2014 when Aussie Antonio Murdaca triumphed, Royal Melbourne was set to host the Asia-Pacific Amateur again in 2020 before COVID forced the cancellation of the event.

But more than just a return to a postponed venue, those in charge of two of the most powerful forces in the game of golf and co-organisers of this event spoke glowingly of their own feeling towards the Alister Mackenzie design on the Melbourne Sandbelt.

“As long as I can remember, growing up and reading about golf around the world, Royal Melbourne has always been among the top courses that I wanted to visit and we were very pleased when we were there the first time for the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship,” Chairman of The Masters Tournament and Augusta National Golf Club Fred Ridley said.

RIGHT: Antonio Murdaca won the Asia-Pacific Amateur the last time it was held at Royal Melbourne in 2014. PHOTOS: Asia-Pacific Amateur (right); Gary Lisbon (top).

“I think being able to take this championship to the top venues in the Asia-Pacific region is very important because it's the interest that creates that really drives these young players. These are venues that they would not otherwise ever get to see, and just the way that increases interest in the game in the region I think has allowed the organisation and the APGC to carry on its mission to grow the game in the region.”

Added Chief Executive of The R&A Martin Slumbers, “This is all about creating a pathway and an opportunity for the great players, and the platform really matters and the quality of the golf course and the facility really matters … Royal Melbourne is just world class.”

Ridley was joined in Thailand by six other green jacketed members of Augusta National for the announcement and to take in the action. Also on site was Tony Rule, the current captain of Royal Melbourne and a true lover of all things golf.

“In the rules of the club and under the purposes, one of the purposes is the holding of golf tournaments for the advancement of the game. So that is part of the club’s culture, and it is as simple as that.” Tony Rule.

“It’s all about embracing the younger amateurs and giving them a chance to provide a pathway to go on to a bigger part of the game,” Rule told Golf Australia magazine. “We now in Australia get 10 players because we are the host country, so we are giving another three Australian players the opportunity to potentially play in The Open and The Masters, which is fantastic.

“In 2014 Antonio Murdaca came in as one of those extra players, if that had been played outside of Australia he would have not have gotten that opportunity. We are very please as a club to give these young guys an opportunity like this.”

The tournament continues Royal Melbourne’s tradition of hosting all varieties of events, showcasing the top-ranked course in the country, something of a rarity in the global game.

“In the rules of the club and under the purposes, one of the purposes is the holding of golf tournaments for the advancement of the game,” Rule said. “So that is part of the club’s culture, and it is as simple as that.”