WA Golf Industry Awards Winner Announced at Gala Event

Photo: Courtney Holloway

Busselton and Margaret River Golf Clubs received multiple accolades, while Hannah Green was named as the Western Australian Golfer of the Year at the ADH Club Car WA Golf Industry Awards last Friday.

The glittering annual bash – a joint in initiative between GolfWA, the PGA, Golf Course Superintendents Association of WA and Golf Management Australia (WA) – was held at Crown Perth and recognised excellence across all areas of golf achieved in 2024.

There were 17 separate award categories on the night, with Busselton Golf Club and Margaret River Golf Club the big winners as they collected three awards apiece.

For Busselton, Head Professional Grant Williams was named the Hilary Lawler PGA WA Club Professional of the Year for the second consecutive year, while younger colleague Jeremy Crabb was awarded the PGA WA Associate of the Year.

The club’s third gong of the night came in the Outstanding Game Development Program category, where the highly successful ‘Swing & Sip’ Women’s Beginner Program was awarded top spot.

In an outstanding 2024, the club added 151 new members and increased revenue by $168k, allowing for significant reinvestment in course improvements and facilities.

In recognition of the role he played in driving this success, Margaret River’s GM Andrew MacAuslan (pictured top) was named as the PGA WA Management Professional of the Year, while Jackie Dickson took home the Volunteer of the Year Award.

Kalgoorlie Golf Course and Lake Karrinyup Country Club won the respective Regional and Metropolitan Golf Course of the Year categories, with Mandurah Country Club – host of the 100th WA Open last October – named as the Metropolitan Golf Facility of the Year.

Elsewhere, PGA WA Coach of the Year – Game Development was won by Mark Tibbles of The Vines Golf & Country Club for a second time, while there was an eighth win for Ritchie Smith in the PGA WA Coach of the Year – High Performance category.

There was also recognition for Lake Karrinyup stalwart John Hopkins, who received the Distinguished Service Award.

A loyal servant to the game both in Australia and abroad for decades, Hopkins has held key positions with Golf Australia and was previously President of the Australian Golf Union. He has also served as a referee at major tournaments around the world, including The Open Championship, US Open and Australian Open.

All the night’s winners are listed in full below.

Green named as WA Golfer of the Year

A three-time winner on the LPGA Tour in 2024, there was little surprise when Hannah Green received the Outstanding Golf Achievement Award and was announced as the WA Golfer of the Year.

One of six finalists along with Minjee and Min Woo Lee, Kirsten Rudgeley and amateur starlets Isabella Leniartek and Spencer Harrison, Green’s landmark season also saw her reach a career-high fifth in the world and represent Australia at the Paris Olympics.

Although unable to collect her award in person, Green recorded a video acceptance speech in which she said: “It’s such an honour to win this award. Back at home, being recognised is amazing.

“Last year was a great year. It’s going to be hard to back that up again this year but I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

This was the second time Green has been named as WA Golfer of the Year, the first coming in 2020 in recognition of her Major championship-winning breakthrough in 2019.

Award winners in full

• PGA Graduates: Tyler Clark (Royal Fremantle Golf Club & Wembley Golf Course); Jeremy Crabb (Busselton Golf Club)
• PGA WA Associate of the Year: Jeremy Crabb (Busselton Golf Club)
• PGA WA Club Professional of the Year: Grant Williams (Busselton Golf Club)
• PGA WA Coach of the Year – High Performance: Ritchie Smith (Royal Fremantle Golf Club)
• PGA WA Coach of the Year – Game Development: Mark Tibbles (The Vines Golf & Country Club)
• PGA WA Tournament of the Year: South West Isuzu South West Open (Bunbury Golf Club)
• PGA WA Management Professional of the Year: Andrew MacAuslan (Margaret River Golf Club)
• Course Apprentice of the Year: James Courtney-Bennett (Lake Karrinyup Country Club)
• Course Superintendent of the Year: Des Russell (Cottesloe Golf Club)
• WA Golf Industry Distinguished Service Award: John Hopkins
• Outstanding Game Development Program: Swing & Sip Women’s Beginner Program (Busselton Golf Club)
• Volunteer of the Year: Jackie Dickson (Margaret River Golf Club)
• Employee of the Year: Danielle Harrison (Joondalup Country Club)
• Regional Golf Course of the Year: Kalgoorlie Golf Course
• Metropolitan Golf Course of the Year: Lake Karrinyup Country Club
• Regional Golf Facility of the Year: Margaret River Golf Club
• Metropolitan Golf Facility of the Year: Mandurah Country Club
• Outstanding Golf Achievement Award: Hannah Green

SOURCE: Golf WA