59club AU/NZ Announces Nominees for the 2026 Service Excellence Awards
SYDNEY – 59club Australia & New Zealand has officially unveiled the nominees for its 3rd Annual Service Excellence Awards. The accolades recognise the leading golf venues, teams, and individuals across the region who have demonstrated the highest standards of customer experience and hospitality.
The winners will be announced during a formal awards ceremony at the Coogee Bay Hotel on Friday, May 29, 2026.
Objective Benchmarking Drives Competition
The selection process for the awards is based on objective data collected through 59club’s mystery shopping program. The program evaluates the member and guest journey across multiple departments, including Golf Operations, Greenkeeping, Retail, and Food & Beverage (F&B).
This year’s shortlist features a mix of established resorts, public courses, and private member clubs. Notable venues securing multiple nominations include Elanora Country Club, New South Wales Golf Club, Portsea Golf Club, and Links Golf & Wellbeing.
Other contenders include Noosa Springs Resort, Glenelg Golf Club, Nudgee Golf Club, Long Reef Golf, and Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club.
In addition to individual and team awards, the ceremony will designate Bronze, Silver, and Gold Flags to venues that meet specific criteria for both service delivery and facility quality.
Management Perspective
Sam Hughes, General Manager of 59club Australia & New Zealand, noted the rising standards across the industry as the awards enter their third year.
“Now into our 3rd year hosting the 59club Australia & New Zealand Service Excellence Awards, it’s been great to see the measured improvements by every venue over last year,” Hughes said. “We have been fortunate that some of the most forward-thinking Managers across the country have sought out 59club’s industry-best benchmarking data as they all strive to be better than yesterday.”
Hughes added that he expects to see “some of our best venues join the ranks of nominees and Flag Winners, as a few new names make the list or transition from Bronze to Silver or Silver to Gold.”
59CLUB AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
‘SERVICE EXCELLENCE’ AWARD NOMINATIONS
(in alphabetical order)
Food & Beverage Manager of the Year:
- Dylan Barmby (13th Beach Golf)
- Jonnie Turnbull (Elanora Country Club)
- Victoria Trikilis (New South Wales Golf Club)
- Jade Henderson (The Lakes Golf Club)
Retail Manager of the Year:
- Jared Love (Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club)
- Mitchell Wilson (Elanora Country Club)
- Craig Stickling (New South Wales Golf Club)
- Levi Burns (Portsea Golf Club)
Golf Operation Team of the Year:
- Elanora Country Club
- Links Golf & Wellbeing
- Portsea Golf Club
- New South Wales Golf Club
Golf Manager of the Year:
- Geoff Black (Elanora Country Club)
- Paul Rolles (Links Golf & Wellbeing)
- Levi Burns (Portsea Golf Club)
- Craig Stickling (New South Wales Golf Club)
Superintendent of the Year (Under $120):
- Peter Lonergan (Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club)
- Peter Culross (Nudgee Golf Club)
- Kurt Schulenberg (Long Reef Golf Club)
Superintendent of the Year (Over $120):
- Jake Gibbs (Elanora Country Club)
- Mark Parker (New South Wales Golf Club)
- Kyle Wilson (Portsea Golf Club)
- Anthony Mills (The Lakes Golf Club)
59CLUB AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
‘SERVICE EXCELLENCE’ AWARD NOMINATIONS
Leading Individual Experience
(in alphabetical order):
Leading Individual Food & Beverage Experience:
- Elanora Country Club
- Links Golf & Wellbeing
- New South Wales Golf Club
- The Lakes Golf Club
Leading Individual Retail Experience:
- Cronulla Golf Club
- Elanora Country Club
- Manly Golf Club
- New South Wales Golf Club
Leading Individual Golf Operations Team:
- 7 Mile Beach Golf
- Links Golf & Wellbeing
- New South Wales Golf Club
- The Lakes Golf Club
Leading Individual Golf Visit Experience (under $120):
- Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club
- Nudgee Golf Club; Long Reef Golf Club
Leading Individual Golf Visit Experience (over $120):
- Elanora Country Club
- Links Golf & Wellbeing
- New South Wales Golf Club
- The Lakes Golf Club
