The Seaside Classic Week of Golf kicks off on Sunday with a four ball, best ball stableford, and concludes with the Morgan's sponsored 48th classic championship over 36 holes the following weekend.

The Ladies Championship is also a 36 hole event and is being played on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Other events are a single stableford for both men and women on Monday, a men's 4BBB stableford on Thursday, and a medley 4BBB stableford on the Friday.

The Seaside Classic over 36 holes on the final weekend is a vardon event from the compulsory list.

To qualify for the Vardon Trophy, which is the symbol of supremacy in NSW amateur golf, a player must play a number of rounds from the compulsory list.

Once again the Seaside Classic will count towards the Senior Order of Merit.

The Ladies' Classic is a Jean Derrin event which is the women's equivalent of the Vardon trophy.

The Seaside Classic always attracts a quality field and this year is no exception with entries from all over the state as well as some from interstate. Many of its past winners have gone on to make successful professional careers.

Once again the field will include a number of players with plus handicaps and there are almost 30 players on a handicap of scratch or better.

There are particularly strong contingents coming from both the Sydney and Newcastle areas and there are several players from interstate.

Queenslander Brad Oliver, who first won the Seaside Classic in 1992, and has played here every year since, has again entered.

The defending champion is Tim Hyland of Bonville and again he looks the one to beat. Last year Hyland had rounds of 71 and 73 and then beat Andrew Kirkman in a playoff.

Kirkman has since turned professional and is ineligible.

The Port Macquarie Golf Club has a strong junior contingent and it wouldn't surprise to see one of them do well. Jackson Jubelin has recently made the state schoolboys team and Sam Hutchison, Tom Biron, Lachlan Richards, Ollie Payne and James Turner have all got in plenty of practice over the recent school holidays.

Among the more experienced brigade Kyle Flynn and Wayne Stewart are probably the best local chances and others include John Hutchison, Dave Bagust, Terry Davis and Stefan Walker.

There are a number of past winners in the ladies event with strong entries coming from Wauchope and Coffs Harbour. The local challenge will be led by Geri Lavender, Sheena Gunn and young Lily Baker. Last year's winner Rhondelle Ollett of Redcliffe has not entered.

The Port Macquarie Golf Course is a challenging layout where the wind has a strong influence on scoring and despite the wet year the course is in excellent condition. The course record, which stands at 63, was set by Paul Marantz in the 2001 Pro-am and equalled by Nathan Goodchild in winning the 2002 Seaside Classic.

The ladies' course record of 73, which is even par, was set by Vikki Tutt in winning the 2000 Ladies' Classic and equaled by Chantelle Hodson in the Australian Schools Championship in 2010.

The Port Macquarie Golf Club extends an invitation to members and visitors to view some of the state's best golfers testing their skills on the demanding links layout.

A seeded draw will be used for the final round on the Sunday with the leading players hitting off at about 11.30am.