Winners Announced For Inaugural National Awards of Excellence Winners

Golf Australia today revealed the winners of its first-ever National Awards of Excellence, honouring the clubs, venues, partners, and individuals who have set new benchmarks for participation, growth, sustainability, and leadership across the game.

From metropolitan powerhouses to grassroots champions, this year’s recipients reflect the strength, diversity, and momentum of Australian golf.

“The inaugural Golf Australia National Awards of Excellence are more than a celebration of achievement — they are a glimpse into the future of our sport,” said Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland. “Each winner shows how golf can evolve, diversify, and thrive while staying rooted in community. Together, they form a blueprint for how golf is growing stronger, more inclusive, and more relevant.”

General Manager – Places to Play, Damien de Bohun, added:

“These winners embody everything that makes Australian golf great. They’ve transformed facilities, grown participation, driven innovation, and built stronger communities. Their contributions demonstrate how leadership, inclusion, and innovation can reshape the game — on and off the course.”

Highlights from the 2025 National Awards of Excellence

Mandurah Country Club (WA) demonstrated how good governance fuels growth, introducing a streamlined board model and reinvesting in course and clubhouse upgrades. Participation reached record levels, and the club confidently hosted the WA Open.

Mollymook Golf Club (NSW) combined major facility investment with a strong community spirit. Its $8 million Beachside redevelopment and Hilltop’s climb inside Australia’s Top 100 have driven higher rounds, revenue, and membership — while delivering six-figure community giving and thriving junior pathways.

In the NT, X-Golf Palmerston showcased golf’s future with simulators, mini-golf, and hospitality-driven programming. As an R&A Women in Golf Charter signatory, its “Sip & Chip” nights and wet-season TeeMates series make golf accessible year-round.

South Australia’s The Pat GC embedded sustainability into its identity — from solar power and recycled water to over 10,000 native plantings and a Kaurna Cultural Heritage Action Plan that blends cultural knowledge with daily practice.

On junior development, Glenelg Golf Club (SA) continues to lead as a MyGolf powered by Ripper GC hub, meeting kids where they are with structured yet fun programs that keep families engaged.

In Victoria, Barwon Valley Golf Club is redefining the adult beginner journey with clear pathways, social play, and membership conversion strategies — in partnership with X-Golf Geelong — proving that all golf counts.

Queensland’s Windaroo Lakes Golf Club has built a model for women’s engagement, with more than 1,400 women participating through clinics, leagues, and social events, resulting in a 33% rise in female membership and a culture of visible female leadership.

Public golf received recognition through Maroondah City Council (VIC), whose 10-year strategy transformed two municipal courses into thriving community assets, embedding sustainability and inclusive programs that drive participation.

Among individual honourees, Esther Rika (NT) was recognised as Volunteer of the Year for her decade-long commitment to taking golf into schools and mentoring girls in remote communities.

Greenway Turf Solutions was named Golf Supplier of the Year for its innovation, reliability, and educational contributions to the industry.

“These stories remind us that excellence isn’t measured on a scorecard,” said de Bohun. “It’s about vision, resilience, and generosity — the qualities that help golf thrive in every corner of the country.”

2025 Golf Australia National Awards of Excellence Winners

• Most Outstanding Club, Facility or Place to Play (Metropolitan): Mandurah Country Club (WA)
• Most Outstanding Club, Facility or Place to Play (Regional): Mollymook Golf Club (NSW)
• Most Outstanding Club, Facility or Place to Play (Off-course): X-Golf Palmerston (NT)
• Most Outstanding Environmental Initiative: The Pat GC (SA)
• MyGolf powered by Ripper GC Venue of the Year: Glenelg Golf Club (SA)
• Get Into Golf Venue of the Year: Barwon Valley Golf Club (VIC)
• Women & Girls in Golf Award: Windaroo Lakes Golf Club (QLD)
• Local Government Recognition Award: Maroondah City Council (VIC)
• Volunteer of the Year: Esther Rika (NT)
• Golf Supplier of the Year: Greenway Turf Solutions (National)

The winners will be formally celebrated at the Men’s Australian Open on Thursday, 4 December, where their stories will be showcased to inspire the next generation of leadership and innovation in golf.