The PGA of Australia (PGA) joined Golf Queensland and the Queensland Olympic Council (QOC) at Links Hope Island last week for the QOC Celebrity Golf Day.

Offering a
unique corporate golf experience, the day saw supreme golfing
excellence among the
who’s who of business and sport to fundraise for Australia’s Olympic
Team bound for Rio in 2016.

Thanks to the Australian PGA Championship, competing teams
had the
opportunity to experience life as a Tour Professional with the 18^th
tee transformed to emulate the first hole of the 2014 Australian PGA Championship, which will be
contested on the Gold Coast in December.

"We are so excited to see golf introduced as an Olympic sport for Rio in
2016 and as an avid golfer myself, I can’t wait to see the first medal awarded,"
said five time Olympian and President of the QOC, Natalie Cook. 

"Our golfers who are selected for the inaugural team will hold a very
special place in our history and we look forward to welcoming them to the
Olympic family."  

Against the backdrop of
official PGA Championship tee signage what proved even more popular was the
opportunity to be photographed holding one of the oldest trophies in Australian
golf, the Kirkwood Cup.

Adorned with names like
Norman Von Nida, Kel Nagle, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, Peter Thomson, Greg
Norman and Adam Scott, it was a rare opportunity to touch a piece of sporting history.

Joining the sport and business elite was PGA Championship winner Randall
Vines who after 42 years was reunited with the trophy he won in 1972 and 1973.

Golf will make its long awaited return to the Olympic program in Rio with the
Australian Olympic Golf Team operating under the watchful eye of Team Leader
and PGA Life Member, Ian Baker-Finch.

"The
Olympics add another platform to showcase golf on the world stage and its
inclusion provides significant opportunity," said Brian Thorburn, Chief
Executive Officer of the PGA.

"With
it will come new prospects for growth at both grass roots and elite level."

The Celebrity
Golf Day is run by QOC to support and fundraise for future and rising Olympic
stars.

All funds
raised by QOC directly supports the preparation, participation and recognition
of the Australian Olympic Team.

The QOC acts
as the state office of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and provides
Queensland athletes with the best opportunity to reach their highest potential
and achieve the ultimate goal of representing Australia at the Olympic Games.

The Australian PGA
Championship will be played at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast from December
11-14, 2014.

Tickets are currently on sale through Ticketek