First National Real Estate is delighted to announce a new partnership with Golf Victoria as the inaugural naming rights partner of the 2015 GV Heart Open, to be held at Royal Melbourne on Monday 1 June.
The GV Heart Open which has run for the past 25 years will be known as the “GV Heart Open, presented by First National Real Estate”. The event is perhaps the most unique on the Victorian golf calendar. All participants must hold an official Australian golf handicap and have undergone a heart procedure to be eligible to compete.
The event previously named the “Open Heart Open” was initiated by Commonwealth Golf Club member, Con Davie and the late Don Lawrence, a Victoria Golf Club member and renowned golf writer for many years with the Melbourne Herald.
Lawrence and Davie approached the former Victorian Golf Association in 1988 with the suggestion to start an event for both men and women players who had undertaken various forms of open heart surgery after becoming aware of a similar concept in the United States.
This year, the GV Heart Open will not only serve as a celebration of its participants continued involvement in the game but will also contribute financially to heart research.
Thanks to the support of the First National Real Estate Foundation, two thirds of the $15,000 total partnership will be donated to a selected Heart Hospital to assist with research.
Ray Ellis, CEO of First National Real Estate highlighted the uniqueness of the GV Heart Open and the opportunity to contribute to heart research as major factors in deciding to support the event.
“The First National Real Estate Foundation is proud to present the GV Heart Open,” Ellis stated.
“Our Foundation not only reflects the generosity of our offices throughout Victoria but our commitment to the wider community.”
This year’s field is already full with 100 participants set to tee it up alongside their peers who have undergone heart surgery.
Golf Victoria CEO, Simon Brookhouse was complimentary to First National Real Estate’s generosity in supporting such a wonderful event and cause.
“This is a special partnership with First National Real Estate. The aim of this partnership is to make a contribution to heart research and we’re absolutely thrilled that via First National Real Estate’s support, the event is in a position to accomplish this,” said Brookhouse.
“Not only does the event now raise awareness and provide a unique opportunity for golfers that have undergone heart surgery to play together on a special day at a world class course; now there are funds being put towards research. On behalf of Golf Victoria and all our Heart Open participants, we thank First National Real Estate for their exceptional generosity.”
For full event information click here.