Home News

Our final dinner for 2026 will be held on Tuesday, 13 October 2026

       The Visit of Dr Alister MacKenzie – 100 years on

Our guest speaker is longtime Society member Tony Rule – Past Captain and current Chair of the History & Archives Committee at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

Tony will talk about the visit to Australia 100 years ago by Dr Alister MacKenzie. MacKenzie left a lasting legacy on Australian golf and in the words of Tom Doak it was “two months that changed a continent”.

Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Cheltenham Road
Black Rock

7.00pm for 7.30pm

Dress; Jacket & Tie

Cost: $80.00 per head

RSVP: Monday, 5 October 2026

Please follow the link to register and pay.

https://golfsocietyaust.com/event/dinner-rmgc-2/

                 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.

            Kim Hastie wins the 2026 President’s Trophy

Congratulations to Golf Society President Kim Hastie, winner of the 2026 President’s Trophy at Commonwealth Golf Club on Monday 31 August.

Twenty-six members took part in one of the Society’s most distinctive competitions: nine holes of handicap stroke play with just seven clubs, followed by sudden-death match play for the top four nett qualifiers.

The four top Nett qualifiers were Jenny Picking, Kim Hastie, Andy Bassett and Hiromi Bum.

Fourth qualifier Hiromi Bum won the 1^st Hole first match over top qualifier Jenny Picking and Kim up against Andy won their 1^ST Hole

With good gallery following the finalists then continued on to the Par 5 2^ND  where Kim prevailed over Hiromi

For late winter, the course presentation was excellent, the greens rolled beautifully and, with glorious weather making it feel like a spring day, conditions could hardly have been better.

First played at Royal Melbourne in 1998, this mixed event is the legacy of former Society  President Daryl Cox, who donated the trophy. Its unusual format continues to call on a few long-forgotten golfing skills and remains a wonderful example of the history, fellowship and enjoyment at the heart of the Society.

Thank you to Marty Maguire for coordinating the day, to Commonwealth Golf Club for hosting us, and to everyone who played, followed the finals or joined us for lunch.

The President’s Trophy is one of the Society’s members-only playing opportunities.

If you share our interest in the history and traditions of Australian golf and would like to learn more about membership, contact info@golfsocietyaust.com.

Marty Maguire