Royal Canberra Golf Club is set to showcase some of the worlds best female golfers when the ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic tees off in January 2011.

The 54-hole tournament will be an Official Order of Merit event on the Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) tour. The Classic is the first in a series of five major tournaments over five weeks on the ALPG schedule, including the ANZ Ladies Masters and Women's Australian Open.

A number of high-profile Australian and international players have already committed to play, including reigning ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic champion, Kristie Smith.

Englands former world number one and 2010 Women's New Zealand Open champion Laura Davies has also assured her entry to the event, saying, I am looking forward to returning to Royal Canberra.

With such a top-class field, the event is expected to attract a large number of interstate and international visitors, which will benefit local businesses. Golf fans should also note that Canberra will host the 2013 Women's Australian Open as part of Canberra's centenary celebrations.