Golf Australia

GA making the game of golf ‘modern and progressive’

GA making the game of golf ‘modern and progressive’

By James Sutherland GOLF is big. Golf is getting bigger. Golf is different.  These are the 10 words I unashamedly repeat every single day.  Why? Because as an industry, golf is enjoying huge positive momentum, and I want everyone to understand the potential of our game.  For Golf Australia, our purpose was laid bare in […]

Did you hear the one about a Pole, a South African and an Englishman?

Did you hear the one about a Pole, a South African and an Englishman?

IT was the day of the international raiders at the Australian Open as players from Poland, England and South Africa took the championships home. Before another big crowd at the sandbelt jewel Victoria Golf Club, Adrian Meronk became the first Polish player to win the Stonehaven Cup for the men’s Open in the tournaments’ long […]

Vic Open returns to 13th Beach

Vic Open returns to 13th Beach

By Michael Davis THE Vic Open is coming back to 13th Beach on the Bellarine Peninsula for 2023 and 2024. Golf Australia announced it would be staged at 13th Beach Golf Links near the village of Barwon Heads for the 10th consecutive time from February 9-12. A player and fan favourite, the tournament which includes titles […]

Brother and sister act at Aussie Open

Brother and sister act at Aussie Open

AUSTRALIAN golf’s dynamic duo, Minjee and Min Woo Lee, are set to light up the Australian Open next month with their brother-sister act. Golf Australia confirmed that both the siblings from Perth will tee it up in the historic first mixed-gender Open at Victoria Golf Club and Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne from December […]

Official GA Handicap App Now Available

Official GA Handicap App Now Available

The new Golf Australia Handicap App is now available for free in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The app is a convenient and easy-to-use handicap monitoring tool with a wide range of features including tap-of-a-button group look-up (see below for full feature details). It was released during the Easter period, with […]

Golf Australia, Apia announce partnership

Golf Australia, Apia announce partnership

Golf Australia (GA) has announced a new multi-year major partnership with insurance specialist, Apia. Apia will be recognised as an official partner of GA’s Get into Golf seniors’ program, and will support participants in staying active, connected to their community and learning the skills of the sport.  Apia will also be an exclusive partner of […]

Australia’s major golf events cancelled

Australia’s major golf events cancelled

This summer’s premier Australian golf events – the Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open and Women’s Australian Open – have been cancelled. PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman, ALPG chief executive Karen Lunn and Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland confirmed all three events, which were to have been played in February, won’t proceed because of […]

Drewitt claims first title at Lincoln Land Championship

Drewitt claims first title at Lincoln Land Championship

Australian Brett Drewitt celebrated Father’s Day with his first victory in his 116th career start on Sunday at the Lincoln Land Championship presented by LRS. “I was talking to my parents last night and I was kind of thinking about how cool it would be to win on Father’s Day,” said Drewitt, a father to […]

Former cricket chief James Sutherland named new CEO of Golf Australia

Former cricket chief James Sutherland named new CEO of Golf Australia

Golf Australia has appointed James Sutherland its new chief executive. Sutherland, 55, will begin his role from 1 October after an exhaustive recruitment process had yielded several quality candidates for the position. Golf Australia chairman Andrew Newbold said it was “exciting” for golf to have attracted a candidate with vast experience in sport, with Sutherland […]

2020 Australian Open to be rescheduled to 2021

2020 Australian Open to be rescheduled to 2021

The Australian Open will not be played in 2020. Golf Australia operations manager Simon Brookhouse remains very hopeful that the national championship, the fifth oldest in professional golf, will still be played this summer. “These are very challenging times for all Australians and the uncertainty the global pandemic has caused makes it very difficult to […]

Covid-19: The R&A announces Temporary Modifications to the Rules of Golf

Covid-19: The R&A  announces Temporary Modifications to the Rules of Golf

The R&A and Golf Australia have announced a series of temporary measures that will enable clubs to remove any hygiene implications related to complying with the Rules of Golf. These temporary measures are effective immediately and allow the Rules of Golf, and Model Local Rules, to be modified as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. […]

March 18: Latest advice from Golf Australia and the GMA

Golf Australia and the GMA have today announced the following advice regarding Covid-19: —– As you are aware, COVID-19 or the Coronavirus as it is more commonly known has created global health concerns regarding the disease and its infection rates. Golf Australia is writing to provide further assistance and guidance to our clubs and facilities […]

Covid-19: Golf Australia cancels, postpones some key events

Covid-19: Golf Australia cancels, postpones some key events

Golf Australia has announced key changes to several planned tournaments. The following is a statement released by Golf Australia: “In light of national and ongoing Covid-19 concerns, GA chairman Andrew Newbold reluctantly confirms the scheduled Australian Junior Championships in April, both for girls and boys, has been cancelled. “In addition, the subsequent girls’ and boys’ […]

Advice from Golf Australia regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Advice from Golf Australia regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Golf Australia and the GMA have released the following advice regarding golf clubs and Covid-19: Important updated information regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) As you are aware, COVID-19 or the Coronavirus as it is more commonly known has created global health concerns regarding the disease and its infection rates. Golf Australia is writing to provide further assistance […]

Min Woo Lee, Hee Young Park capture 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open

Min Woo Lee, Hee Young Park capture 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open

21-year-old Perth professional Min Woo Lee, and 32-year-old Korean Hee Young Park have taken out the Men’s and Women’s titles at the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open. Lee, from Royal Fremantle, was greeted with a hug from his sister, Minjee, after he birdied the 72nd hole to win by two shots from New Zealand’s Ryan […]

Micheluzzi and Windred join Professional ranks

Micheluzzi and Windred join Professional ranks

Top amateur golfers David Micheluzzi and Blake Windred believe they have what it takes to compete against the game’s best after making the choice to join the professional ranks of golf  this month. Micheluzzi and Windred elected to turn pro based on their results at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in China where a win […]

Garcia, Pan commit to Aussie Open

Garcia, Pan commit to Aussie Open

Spanish superstar Sergio Garcia will play the 2019 Emirates Australian Open. And in a field rapidly gaining international traction, Presidents Cup debutant CT Pan will also play at The Australian Golf Club from 5-8 December. The pair adds to a burgeoning list of superstars coming to Sydney, joining Aussie favourites Jason Day, Marc Leishman and […]

Australian Golf Club Equality Guidelines released

Australian Golf Club Equality Guidelines released

New guidelines have been released today to ensure Australian golf clubs provide equal opportunities for both genders. The Australian Human Rights Commission, in conjunction with Golf Australia, launched today a publication titled ‘Guidelines for the promotion of equal opportunity for women and girls in golf’. The launch was held at Mt Derrimut Golf and Community […]

Law, Boutier capture Vic Open

Law, Boutier capture Vic Open

David Law produced an incredible finish to overtake Wade Ormsby and win his first European Tour title at the ISPS Handa Vic Open. The Scotsman had called a penalty on himself to surrender a bogey on the ninth after accidentally making his ball move, which left him five shots back at the turn. He was […]

Min Woo Lee joins professional ranks

Min Woo Lee joins professional ranks

Western Australia’s Min Woo Lee will this week take his long-anticipated professional plunge. The 20-year-old, Australia’s top-ranked amateur for the past 18 months, will leave the world rankings at a career-high No.5 without a professional card, but with a busy 2019 planned as he strives to achieve one or more. Lee hopes to secure exemptions […]

Vic Open joins LPGA Tour

Vic Open joins LPGA Tour

Golf Australia has announced that the 2019 Vic Open will be co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour. The trailblazing tournament will be jointly sanctioned by the European Tour and ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia (men’s) and the LPGA and ALPG (women’s). The 2019 Vic Open will be held at 13th Beach Golf Links on the […]

Ancer, Kammerstad victorious at The Lakes

Ancer, Kammerstad victorious at The Lakes

It was a day of firsts at The Lakes on Sunday, following the final putts of the 2018 Emirates Australian Open. For Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, a runaway victory on the testing Lakes course resulted in his becoming the first Mexican and Latin American to lift the Stonehaven Cup.  In another first,  Sweden’s Johan Kammerstad became the […]

2019 Australian Open dates announced

2019 Australian Open dates announced

The 2019 Emirates Australian Open will be played in the week preceding the Presidents Cup. The 104th national championship will be held from 5-8 December at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney. Golf Australia anticipates that several of the world’s best players, who’ll head to Royal Melbourne to play in the biennial clash between the United […]

Lahiri, Colsaerts commit to 2018 Emirates Australian Open

Lahiri, Colsaerts commit to 2018 Emirates Australian Open

Indian superstar and dual Presidents Cup player Anirban Lahiri will contest the 2018 Emirates Australian Open. He will be joined by former Ryder Cup star and popular Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney from 15-18 November. Their commitment adds another layer to the growing international field chasing the Stonehaven Cup, with […]

Bradley, Steele and Ancer on board for Emirates Australian Open

Bradley, Steele and Ancer on board for Emirates Australian Open

Keegan Bradley will contest the 2018 Emirates Australian Open. The popular American, the 2011 US PGA Championship winner and four times a winner on the US PGA Tour, has confirmed he will play at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney from 15-18 November. “I’ve heard a lot about the Aussie Open and all the historic […]

Golf Australia, State Bodies launch One Golf

Golf Australia, State Bodies launch One Golf

Golf Australia’s One Golf structure has officially launched, bringing together nearly all of Australian golf’s state and territory governing bodies under a single, unified structure that is aimed at boosting golf in Australia. The state/territory governing bodies of golf in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have signed service agreements with Golf […]

European Tour signs on for 2019 Vic Open

European Tour signs on for 2019 Vic Open

European Tour professionals will join the continent’s top women at 13th Beach Golf Links in 2019 with the European Tour locked in to co-sanction the Vic Open from February 7-10. That means Australian golf fans will be able to enjoy back-to-back European Tour events on home soil for the first time in 15 years. The […]

Kingston Heath, Victoria GC set to host future Australian Opens

Kingston Heath, Victoria GC set to host future Australian Opens

Two of Australia’s most famous tournament venues have won the rights to host the 2020 and 2022 editions of the Australian Open. A strong field of contenders from Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt put their credentials to Golf Australia to fill the “release years” from the current eight-year contract with Sydney. GA chief executive Stephen Pitt was […]

Vic Open becomes Australian golf’s richest week

Vic Open becomes Australian golf’s richest week

The Vic Open will become Australian golf’s richest week in 2019 with the combined prize pool surging to an unprecedented $3 million. That’s more than double the $1.3 million on offer in 2018 and means since moving to 13th Beach Golf Links in 2013, the prize pool has increased ten-fold – from $300,000 to $3 […]

Tasmania first state to move to One Golf

Tasmania first state to move to One Golf

Tasmania has formally become the first state to join Golf Australia under the One Golf umbrella. Momentum towards the future of Australian golf administration continues to build with several other states and territories expected to soon move towards the more streamlined, cost-effective model. Golf Tasmania chairman Tony Bush is delighted to have committed, already hailing […]

Jin Young Ko captures ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open

Jin Young Ko captures ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open

Brilliant Korean Jin Young Ko dominated the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, but it was also a victory of sorts for Australia’s Hannah Green. Ko won by three shots when she rolled in a short par putt at the final hole, with Kooyonga’s 18th green surrounded by thousands of spectators. But the 21-year-old Green secured […]

Female participation, golf’s culture a focus for Vision 2025

Female participation, golf’s culture a focus for Vision 2025

Golf Australia’s plan to redress the game’s greatest imbalance – female participation – was launched in Adelaide today. “Vision 2025: The future of women and girls in golf” was made public during preparations for this week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide. GA chief executive Stephen Pitt, flanked by GA […]

Women’s Australian Open to stay in Adelaide

Women’s Australian Open to stay in Adelaide

Golf Australia has announced that the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open will be played in Adelaide for the next three years. GA chief executive Stephen Pitt said the extension had been signed with the South Australian Government on the eve of the 2018 national championship to make Adelaide the tournament’s home until at least 2021. […]

Davis snags the Stonehaven Cup

Davis snags the Stonehaven Cup

Cameron Davis lived the dream for four and a half hours at The Australian GC, and he is now an Emirates Australian Open champion. Davis, the 22-year-old Sydneysider who has had a difficult first year as a professional, bolted around the layout in just 64 – the lowest round of the day by three shots […]

Jordan Spieth to defend Emirates Australian Open title

Jordan Spieth to defend Emirates Australian Open title

Dual champion Jordan Spieth is coming back to defend his Emirates Australian Open title. American Spieth, the world No.3 fresh off his 10th career US PGA Tour victory, is the first big name to commit to what promises to be an impressive field for the national championship at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney from […]

OneGolf builds momentum

OneGolf builds momentum

Momentum is building around OneGolf as the administration of golf in Australia moves towards a more streamlined, cost-effective model. Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt confirmed that five of seven states (including the NT) had now made in-principle commitments to a model that stands to benefit Australian golf by in excess of $3million annually. OneGolf […]

Adam Scott to contest Emirates Australian Open, Australian PGA

Adam Scott to contest Emirates Australian Open, Australian PGA

He’s our Masters hero, a past Stonehaven Cup champion, a multiple winner on the 2016 US PGA Tour – and Adam Scott is coming back to to Australia this summer. Scott, 36, will tee it up in the Emirates Australian Open from November 17-20 at Royal Sydney Golf Club, and the Australian PGA Championship at RACV […]

Spieth to play Australian Open

Spieth to play Australian Open

American golf sensation Jordan Spieth is returning to seek a second Emirates Australian Open title to add to his bulging list of achievements. Spieth, the world’s No. 2 player, has committed to joining what promises to be an impressive field for Australia’s national championship at Royal Sydney Golf Club from November 17. The 22-year-old from […]

Australian golfers to ‘give back’ to the future

Australian golfers to ‘give back’ to the future

Australia’s new wave of elite professional golfers will help fund the future of Australian golf under a groundbreaking new program. Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt today announced the “Give Back” program, a revolutionary plan agreed by the body’s high performance staff and athletes. “In essence, when graduates of our high performance squads reach a […]

Jones clinches Aussie Open victory

Jones clinches Aussie Open victory

After a tough final round, Matt Jones has held on to secure his first victory on home soil at the Emirates Australian Open. Playing The Australian, his home course, Jones fired rounds of 67, 68, 68 and 73 for a tournament total of 8-under 276. It was a challenging day for Jones who described his […]