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Australia has been announced as the world’s most desirable golf location at the World Golf Awards, a global travel body that celebrates and rewards excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations.

Held at the Park Hyatt Dubai and The Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, the 7th annual World Golf Awards attracted leading names from the golfing world to mark the first World Golf Awards Gala Ceremony to be staged in Dubai.

World Golf Awards presented a range of categories during the evening gala ceremony, with leading golf tourism destinations having competed for titles including Best Golf Resort, Best Golf Course, Best Golf Tour Operator and Best New Golf Course.

World Golf Awards Managing Director, Chris Frost notes “despite the many challenges that the golf tourism and hospitality industry has faced in this most unprecedented of years, votes were cast by hundreds of thousands of golf consumers from a record 129 countries.

“Strong support has also come from the leading golf industry professionals and media from every single participating nation in the program. I can happily report that the appetite for golf tourism has never been as keen, as golf fans pushed for World Golf Awards to continue, and for the leaders in our industry to be acknowledged and rewarded.

"This bodes well for golf tourism’s future as the global recovery begins.

“With all of this taken into account, this year’s World Golf Awards winners are more deserving than ever before. Rewarding your commitment to excellence, whatever the challenges, and the determination to become the undisputed market leader.”

Australia held off countries including Vietnam, USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Dubai and Mexico for being awarded best golf destination, after what has been a challenging and disruptive time for international travel due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Vietnam secured the award for World's Best New Golf Course while the award for World's Best Eco Friendly Golf Facility went to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore.

As reported in Golf Australia, Richard Tessel, whose company Easygolf Worldwide Australia also took out the award for Oceania’s Best Golf Tour Operator for 2020, commented “I’m ecstatic Australia has been recognised as the world’s best golf destination.

“We all know just how tough the tourism industry has been hit during the pandemic. It’s been a disaster unlike anything we have ever experienced. This accolade provides some level of comfort and a lot of hope that, when everything does return to normal, Australia will be No.1 on the list for travelling golfers far and wide.”

Tessel, who himself has lobbied for Australia to be recognised as the world’s best golf destination for more than five years, paid credit to PGA of Australia boss Gavin Kirkman, who helped present a formidable case to the judges this year.

Tessel notes “all the kudos goes to Gavin, along with the state of Victoria and the US PGA Tour for allowing Australia to once again host the Presidents Cup and The World Cup of Golf in recent times. I have no doubt the exposure those two events gave our country certainly helped with this award.”

Full list of winners here 

Image top: Barnbougle golf course in Tasmania; image centre: World's Best New Golf Course 2020 - Hoiana Shores Golf Club (Vietnam); image above: World's Best Eco Friendly Golf Facility 2020 -Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore) 

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