TWIN WATERS, Qld Dec 15 AAP - There's no big prizemoney purse but the annual Jack Newton Celebrity Golf Classic here this weekend boasts a line-up worthy of a million dollar event.
Not all those taking to the Twin Waters course can play golf though.
The 36-hole event, celebrating its 22nd year, brings together the country's top professionals along with sponsors, amateurs and a celebrities from the sport and entertainment world.
Last week's Ford Open winner Peter Lonard, will be able to watch the golf skills of Newcastle rugby league star Andrew Johns while Stuart Appleby, who ran foul of Greg Norman this month for bailing out on the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, will do it tough playing alongside young Australian model Kristy Hinze, who can swing a golf club.
With the unexpected collapse of the 72 hole Coolum Classic a few kilometres up the highway, there were concerns Newton's tournament would suffer a player fallout.
But as always, the professionals have supported the event with the line-up not only featuring Lonard and US Tour regular Appleby, but also leading Australians Craig Parry, former Classic winner Peter Senior, popular Sunshine Coast pro Peter McWhinney and Wayne Grady.
"It's a really good line-up of professionals and some great celebrities," tournament host Newton said.
"The course is in excellent shape and fans will see some great golf and some great stars out there playing on the weekend.
Newton's cast of celebrities gets better every year and this year recently retired swimmer Kieren Perkins will be one of several Sydney Olympians making their Classic debut.
Perkins shouldn't have any problems with his 7.17am tee off time playing alongside visiting professional Michael Craperi.
The gold medal winning Hockeyroos will be out in force on the course tomorrow with Nikki Hudson, Angie Skirving and Renita Garard swapping their sticks for golf clubs and all playing off a generous 45 handicap.
Other celebrities having a hit this weekend include Brisbane's current Australian rugby league Test players Darren Lockyer and Wendell Sailor, Olympic high jumper Jai Taurima and Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis.
Newton, who's only missed one of his 22 Classics after surfing mishap two years ago, tees off with Sydney-born Gold Coast-based professional Grant Dodd at 12.03pm.