The new tournament will be held on the weekend of March 20-21 at the Forbes Golf Club courts, and organisers are hoping for a full field of 70 ­players.

There will be five grades (open, A, B, C and D) for men and women, with finalists to share the $900 prizemoney ($300 for men’s and women’s winner, $150 runners-up).

Forbes Squash Club president and tournament director, Garry Dempsey, said flyers had been distributed widely around the Central West and beyond, and some of the top amateur players in the state were expected to nominate.

“The committee have circulated the flyers to many players on the Masters (over 35s) squash circuit and also to others who will display it at their local clubs, and I’ve also been working on developing a mailing list of squash businesses,” Dempsey said recently.

“I’ve also spoken to quite a few of the top open players and we’re hoping to attract at least two, a man and woman, to be our marquee players and attract a few spectators,” he said.

Dempsey said players from Sydney, ACT, Dubbo, Springwood, Bathurst and Crookwell had so far indicated an interest in visiting Forbes in March.

He said the impetus for the open came from the Forbes Services and Golf Club management who wished to bring visiting players to the Golf Club courts.

Forbes Squash Club discussed the idea and decided to organise the tournament for the third weekend in March, which was the traditional date of the defunct Orange Squash Open.

“Orange have traditionally held an event on that weekend and we realised there was a bit of a vacancy on the calendar for us to step in,” Dempsey said.

Forbes Golf Club boasts three modern glass-back squash courts, but with a capacity field of 70, some matches may have to be played at the nearby Parkes courts at Parkes Services Club.

Players will be guaranteed a minimum of three matches.

Dempsey said several Forbes businesses had given their support to the event, and local players too were keen to participate.

Organisers have also planned a dinner and entertainment at Forbes Golf Club on the Saturday evening of the open.

Entries close on Monday, March 15. For more information contact Garry Dempsey (0404 007 644 or email zinmet@bigpond.com).