2027 Australian Hickory Shaft Championships Brisbane QLD
An international field of 66 players from across Australia and the Asia Pacific region assembled in Brisbane in July to contest the 2026 Australian Hickory Shaft Open Championship.
This was the 32nd staging of the national tournament that celebrates the traditions, camaraderie and craftsmanship of hickory golf. Brisbane’s winter weather was perfect for three days of golf at courses that challenged and delighted the players in equal measure. The entrants came from every state of Australia and from New Zealand, China, Japan and South Korea, illustrating hickory golf’s ability to foster international friendships. One notable local entrant was 15-year-old Hannah Thomas, a young plus-marker from Royal Queensland GC who was initiated into the mysteries and delights of hickory golf.
The tournament was expertly organised by Hickory Golf Queensland, this year’s state host under a new arrangement that sees the national Hickory Open travel around Australia. The 2027 event will be in Melbourne’s Sandbelt in October, followed by NSW in 2028, Tasmania in 2029 and WA in 2030. This year’s host courses included The Brisbane Golf Club, founded in 1896, and championship venue Royal Queensland GC, on the edge of the Brisbane River.
The presence of players from NZ, China, Japan and Korea meant the Asia Pacific Hickory Championship was played concurrently.
Day 1, Sunday 5th July
The first day was devoted to Canadian foursomes at The Brisbane GC. The best stroke score saw the winners named the Australian Hickory Foursomes champions, and prizes were also awarded for handicap honours. Weather on the day was fine and warm, and the golf was followed by a casual dinner in the 100-year-old weatherboard clubhouse overlooking the course.
The foursomes Champions were Anthony Doyle, Head professional at Christchurch GC, and Chris Cooper from Brisbane. The handicap foursomes champion pair went to Brett Dudley and Nathan McGrath.
Day 2, Monday 6th
The Australian championship and the Asia Pacific titles were conducted over 36 holes of singles. Round 1 was at Royal Queensland GC, a championship venue which proved a challenge for many hickory players with upturned greens and difficult bunkers to be avoided. Almost half of the 66 competitors could not manage to break 100 strokes. Champion Anthony Doyle’s 78 was the only sub-80 score, and just 13 players scored in the 80s.
Royal Queensland turned on a wonderful buffet dinner on the clubhouse terrace, where competitors traded stories of what could have been.
Day 3, Tuesday 7th
The championships concluded with the second 18 of singles at Brisbane GC. Players who had seen the course in foursomes two days earlier navigated the undulating layout far more successfully second time around and scoring improved markedly. Anthony Doyle carded an excellent 68 to be crowned 2026 Australian and Asia Pacific Hickory champion. Hannah Thomas was crowned the women’s Australian and Asia Pacific champion. Her rounds of 86/89=175 showed the challenge of adapting to antique golf for the young champion.
Other results:
Handicap champion, Men: Ross Bishop
Handicap champion, Women: Tae Hyun Park
Leading Amateur: Matthew Morris
Senior champion: Hugh Dolan
After a rest day, 34 players stayed on for the 2026 Queensland Hickory Championships, playing over 18 holes at nearby Indooroopilly GC. Winner was Bendigo’s Justin Ryan (80) followed by three players on 82 strokes (Alex Sutherland, Brett Dudley and Michael Brown). The women’s champion was Kathy Every-Burns. The handicap winner was New Zealand visitor Peter van Eekelen with a fine 83/65.
