Decades of tradition will take a back seat on Thursday as tour golfers welcome the chance to tee off in the Victorian PGA Championship wearing shorts.

A dress code amendment passed recently by PGA Tour of Australasia management allows the wearing of tailored shorts in non-televised tournaments.

And it’s expected to prove a popular change with temperatures tipped to soar into the high 30s for the opening round of the Victorian PGA at the Forest Resort Course near Ballarat.

Tour boss Brian Thorburn said the relaxing of rules to allow shorts at some events was a commonsense one in keeping with the climate and times.

“A number of our state-based tournaments are played in regional areas where heat can become a real factor,” said Thorburn.

“But this isn’t just about player comfort. It’s about ensuring our game evolves to suit modern day realities, and this is a small but positive step forward.”

Other state championships are staged annually in towns such as Kalgoorlie and Toowoomba during the summer months when the mercury climbs.

New Zealand lefthander Gareth Paddison is back to defend his Vic PGA title on the tricky Forest Resort course where patience is a virtue.

The 31-year-old from Wellington described it as an “unforgiving test of golf” and a “thinking man’s course”.

“You can really stuff up if you chase it,” said Paddison.

“There are a lot of holes you can bogey just as easy as birdie. If you’re slightly off-line, bogey is a good score.

“So the key is to stay calm and try to create opportunities when you can.”

Andre Stolz, a former winner on the demanding US PGA Tour, and veteran Peter O’Malley, whose impeccable tee-to-green game is ideally suited, are also winning chances.

Victorian Anthony Brown will be trying to go one better after being the surprise runner-up in last month’s Australian PGA Championship while talented Victorians Matthew Griffin and Ashley Hall, West Australian Kim Felton and the consistent Terry Pilkadaris are others with realistic chances.