Griffith Golf Club assistant professional and tournament organiser Wayne Rostron said funds raised would go to the Griffith and District Motor Neurone Disease Information and Support Group.

“The pro-am is raising money for a local charity and this year we’re going with MND, it’s pretty close to our hearts here at the golf club, so it fits really well,” Mr Rostron said.

He said Tania Magoci, the wife of the club’s greenkeeper Jason Magoci, suffered from MND.

The pro-am will be held on March 13 and Mr Rostron hopes to raise about $2000 for the charity.

“We're on track and if we can raise that it would be great,” Mr Rostron said.

Griffith and District Motor Neurone Disease Information and Support Group president Michelle Vearing said any funds would help the charity support residents in the city battling the disease. “That would be enormous for us ($2000),” Ms Vearing said.

“We've just helped out a patient with refitting their bathroom – they’re in a wheelchair so we have widened the door and put ramps in. They need to be able to wheel themselves into the shower and that’s a big expense for families and we’re here to try and support them as much as we can.”

Ms Vearing said the group had also purchased other equipment for the 10 people suffering from MND in the district.

She said there was a high number of MND sufferers in town and there was research being conducted on a possible link with the disease to blue-green algae.

“There is a province in the south of France and it has a very large lake that is known for blue-green algae and there is a number of people in that town that are downwind of the lake and there’s a high number with MND,” Ms Vearing said.

A field of more than 200 professional and amateur golfers is expected to take part in the pro-am event. Past Griffith pro-ams have attracted quality players, including current PGA Tour professional Steven Bowditch, who was joint winner in 2010.