A legend of amateur golf in NSW and more specifically around the Newcastle region, Owen Beldham was recently honoured with induction into the Hunter Region Sports Hall of Fame.
In a fitting tribute, Owen’s family submitted the following letter, detailing his outstanding golfing career and in a display of the respect he enjoys, not just in relation to family, but with all those he has come into contact with over many years.
I am writing to respectfully submit this letter in recognition of one of New South Wales’s most distinguished amateur golfers, Mr Owen Beldham, a Life Member of Newcastle Golf Club, NSW Open Champion, Australian Senior Champion, and recently inducted member of the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame.
Owen joined Newcastle Golf Club in 1962, but his association with the club began even earlier, caddying there as an eight-year-old boy in the 1950s. From those early days, his commitment to the game was unmistakable. Through dedication, discipline, and exceptional natural ability, he developed into what many regard as the finest player ever produced by the club.
His most celebrated achievement came in 1972 when Owen won the NSW Open at Newcastle Golf Club, defeating a field that included Australia’s leading touring professionals. In doing so, he became only the second amateur in history to win the championship, a feat achieved on his home course and still regarded as one of the most remarkable moments in NSW golf history.
Owen Beldham beat a field of Australia’s leading tournament professionals to win the 1972 NSW Open.
Owen’s competitive record is extensive and distinguished. He represented New South Wales from 1973 to 1976, winning Australian Medals in Perth in 1973 and Sydney in 1976, leading Moore Park to multiple Sydney Pennant titles, and claiming Interstate and State Foursomes honours. Throughout his career, he qualified five times for both the NSW and Australian Championships and finished runner-up in the NSW Medal.
Regionally, Owen dominated for more than a decade, setting course records at Newcastle, Maitland, Muree, Port Macquarie, and Belmont, and winning numerous open and district championships. At the club level, his achievements are unmatched. He won nine Club Championships, including becoming the youngest ever winner at age 17, with 10 runner-up finishes, nine Summer Cups, nine Club Foursomes, nine Mixed Foursomes, and multiple Champions of Champions titles. His consistency and competitive longevity set a benchmark that still stands.
In 2002, Owen completed a rare full circle moment by winning the Australian Senior Amateur Championship at Newcastle Golf Club, 50 years after caddying there as a child. That victory earned him selection in the Australian Seniors Team, where he helped Australia secure the Asian Pacific Championship in New Zealand.
Uniquely, Owen remains the only member in Newcastle Golf Club’s history to have represented the club across Junior, Senior, Masters, and Super Seniors pennants, spanning four generations of competition over more than five decades.
Beyond his own results, Owen’s contribution to the game has been enduring. He served on the Newcastle Golf Club committee from 1978, captained senior pennant sides, and contributed over 20 years of service to the Newcastle District Golf Association. His mentoring of junior golfers, including work alongside Mark Patterson at Cessnock Golf Club, helped lay the foundations that later formed part of the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation.
Owen Beldham (centre with plaque) surrounded by his proud family after his induction into the Hunter Region Sports Hall of Fame.
In August 2025, Owen’s lifelong contribution to sport was formally recognised with his induction into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame.
Former Newcastle Golf Club President Laurie Curran described him simply as; “the best player developed by the club. In Owen Beldham, Australian golf has been enriched not only by an extraordinary competitive record but by a standard of sportsmanship, humility, and commitment that continues to influence generations of golfers.”
He has always maintained a strong connection to Stockton and the Newcastle area, taking pride in the place where he grew up and enjoying sharing local history and stories with family and friends.
Family has always been central to his life, and he values time spent with his children and grandchildren, taking particular enjoyment in being present for everyday moments.
Away from the golf course, one of his simple pleasures is coffee, and he is well known for his regular order, a large cappuccino, half strength, one sugar, extra hot, always enjoyed in a proper mug rather than a takeaway cup. These interests offer a glimpse into his life beyond competition and provide context to the person behind the golfing achievements.
– From Sienna Beldham-Collins
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