State’s best acknowledged at Victorian Golf Industry Awards
THERE was a spread of regional and metropolitan recognition while two of the biggest names in Victorian golf were inducted into the Hall of Fame as the industry gathered at Southern Golf Club for the state’s Golf Industry Awards.
Robert Allenby, a dominant force in Australian golf at the turn of the century, along with turf management pioneer Graeme Grant, acknowledged for his near 50 years in the industry, joined an illustrious list in the Victorian Hall of Fame, while the Devilbend and Warrnambool Golf Clubs were named winners of the prestigious Most Outstanding Club, Facility or Place to Play, Metropolitan and Regional.
Other award recipients on the night included Barwon Valley Golf Club as the best Get Into Golf Venue of the Year, while Maroondah Golf was the MyGolf Powered by Ripper GC Venue of the Year.
Rosanna Golf Club’s Luke Bleumink took out the PGA Club Professional of the Year and Brandon Rave (Metropolitan Golf Club), was recognised as PGA Coach of the Year – High Performance.
An event which brings together celebrities and professionals, Portsea Golf Club won the Metropolitan Pro-Am of the Year, while the PGA Legends Tour Event of the Year went to Gardiners Run Golf Course.
The Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association (VGCSA) also recgonised their highest achievers, as did Golf Management Victoria, with Catherine Firth, after 38 years of service given to both the Royal Melbourne and Yarra Yarra golf clubs, named GMV Club Employee of the Year.
Graeme Grant a turf management pioneer, was inducted into the Victorian Golf Hall
of Fame.
2025 VIC GOLF INDUSTRY AWARDS
PGA Club Professional of the Year: Luke Bleumink, Rosanna GC
PGA Coach of the Year – High Performance: Brandon Rave, Metropolitan GC
PGA Coach of the Year – Game Development: Scott McDermott, PGA Academy
PGA Management Professional of the Year: Mark Lazenby, Beaconhills GC
PGA Legends Event of the Year: Gardiners Run Golf Course
Regional Pro-Am of the Year: Axedale Golf Club
Metropolitan Pro-Am of the Year: Portsea Golf Club
VGCSA Apprentice of the Year: Zac Amer, Port Fairy Golf Links
VGCSA Superintendents Recognition Award: Leigh Yanner, The National Golf Club
Golf Management Victoria Excellence in Management Award: Brad Robb, Southern Golf Club
Golf Management Victoria Employee of the Year: Catherine Hirth, Royal Melbourne and Yarra Yarra golf clubs
Most Outstanding Club, Facility or Place to Play – Metropolitan: Devilbend Golf Club
Most Outstanding Club, Facility or Place to Play – Regional: Warrnambool Golf Club
Most Outstanding Facility – Off Course: Morack Swing Factory
Get Into Golf – Venue of the Year: Barwon Valley Golf Club
MyGolf powered by Ripper GC Venue of the Year: Maroondah Golf
Volunteer of the Year: Anthony Hargreaves, Charlton GC
Women & Girls in Golf Award: Melinda Binding, Merbein GC
Female Amateur Golfer of the Year: Jazy Roberts
Male Amateur Golfer of the Year: Max Moring
NSW Golf Industry Awards – highlighting passion, innovation and community spirit
NSW golf’s finest came together at the Shangri-La Sydney for the 2025 NSW Golf Industry Awards, celebrating the players, clubs, and volunteers driving the game forward across the state.
From elite amateurs achieving international success to grassroots programs inspiring the next generation, the evening highlighted the passion, innovation, and community spirit that makes golf in New South Wales thrive.
For the second-year running, Declan O’Donovan and Ella Scaysbrook claimed the state’s top honours.
O’Donovan, who made his professional debut at the recent NSW Open, was named Male Amateur Player of the Year after a history-making season that saw him defend his NSW Amateur title — the first player in nearly 50 years to do so. He also captured the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, earning a start in the 2026 RBC Canadian Open, then capped off the year by representing Australia at the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Dubai.
Ella claimed Female Amateur Player of the Year, following a breakout season highlighted by a semi-final appearance at the US Women’s Amateur and multiple state titles.
NSW Club Professional of the Year Kurt Stegbauer (right) with PGA Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman.
Other significant awards on the night included Metropolitan Club of the Year – Roseville Golf Club, Country Club of the Year, taken out by Fairbairn Golf Club, while the Thornleigh Golf Centre, led by PGA Member Steve Aisbett, was named Facility of the Year.
A highlight of the evening was the acceptance speech delivered by John Crampton, husband of the late Frances Crampton AM, who was posthumously presented with a special Services to Golf in NSW award, recognising her lifetime of visionary leadership and service to sport.
Frances, a trailblazer across golf, gymnastics, and wider sport, served as CEO of Women’s Golf NSW (2002–2007) and later as National Director of Golf Development at Golf Australia. Her influence also extended through governance roles with Jack Newton Junior Golf, Golf Australia, and Softball NSW. Frances passed away in May this year, leaving a legacy defined by inclusion, innovation, and opportunity.
Riedell Jeffs of Frederickton Golf Club was a popular winner of the Volunteer of the Year, in recognition of her extraordinary dedication and resilience, even while undergoing cancer treatment.
Other winners on the night included the Hawks Nest Beachside Apartments Pro-Am, named PGA NSW/ACT Tournament of the Year, and Tamarra Wong and Luke Grinham, recognised as Coach of the Year for Game Development and High Performance respectively.
From the NSW Golf Course Superintendents Association, David Stone was honoured as Superintendent of the Year, with Greg Stynes receiving the Environment Award.
Stuart Fraser, CEO of Golf NSW, said the awards night was a resounding success and highlighted the level of excellence across the state.
“These awards celebrate the very best of our golf community,” Mr Fraser said.
Declan O’Donovan, for the second year in a row named NSW Male Amateur Player of the Year.
2025 NSW GOLF INDUSTRY AWARDS
GOLF NSW
Metropolitan Club of the Year: Roseville Golf Club
Country Club of the Year: Fairbairn Golf Club
Facility of the Year: Thornleigh Golf Centre
Volunteer of the Year: Riedell Jeffs – Frederickton Golf Club
Services to Golf in NSW: Frances Crampton AM
Male Amateur Player of the Year: Declan O’Donovan
Female Amateur Player of the Year: Ella Scaysbrook
PGA of AUSTRALIA – NSW/ACT DIVISION
Tournament of the Year: Hawks Nest Beachside Apartments Pro-Am
Coach of the Year – Game Development: Tamarra Wong
Coach of the Year – High Performance: Luke Grinham
Management Professional of the Year: Steven Sandilands
Club Professional of the Year: Kurt Stegbauer
GOLF MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA (GMA) NSW DIVISION
Employee of the Year: Craig Geeve – Duntry League Golf Club
Excellence in Management: Andy Hugill – Mona Vale Golf Club
Future Leader in Management (Female): Bella Wood – Belmont Golf & Bowls Club
Future Leader in Management (Male): Duard Nel – Nelson Bay Golf Club
NSW GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION (NSWGCSA)
Outstanding Achievement Award: Rob Sain – Monash Country Club
Environment Award: Greg Stynes – Nelson Bay Golf Club
Assistant Superintendent of the Year: Steve Kazurinsky – New South Wales Golf Club
Superintendent of the Year: David Stone – Pymble Golf Club
JACK NEWTON JUNIOR GOLF (JNJG)
Junior Club of the Year: Castle Hill Country Club
South Australia’s high achievers recognised
MORE than 230 guests from the South Australian golf community came together at the Hilton Adelaide for the 14th annual South Australian Golf Industry Awards Night.
Honours handed out on the night recognised excellence and SA’s high achievers, in Turf & Facility management, Club and Community categories and in relation to the SA PGA. South Australia’s best amateurs and Vardon Trophy winners were also announced.
A special moment during the evening was the induction of champion amateur Chris Bonython into the South Australian Golf Industry Hall of Fame. Bonython, boasting a standout amateur career dating back to his wins at the 1973 SA Amateur and 1978 Australian Amateur. He also represented Australia at the Eisenhower Cup and has inspired generations of South Australian golfers.
Bonython joined an illustrious group of local golfing greats including the late Pauline Sanderson, Bob Tuohy, David Cherry, and siblings Jane and Neil Crafter in the SA hall of fame.
Chris Bonython was inducted into the South Australian Golf Industry Hall of Fame.
2025 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOLF INDUSTRY AWARDS
SA Management Professional of the Year: Damian Wrigley (Mount Osmond Golf Club)
Excellence in Golf Club Management: Robert Vincekovic (Glenelg Golf Club)
SA Club Professional of the Year : Jay Fuss
SA Coach of the Year – Game Development : Anne Marie Knight
SA Coach of the Year – High Performance: Adrian Wickstein
SA Girls Vardon Trophy winner: Alice Cho
SA Boys Vardon Trophy winner: Malachy Marshall
SA Women’s Vardon Trophy winner: Raegan Denton
SA Men’s Vardon Trophy winner: Jackson Leonard
Senior Order Of Merit – Women: Amanda Heapy
Senior Order Of Merit – Men: Phil Chapman
Super Senior Order Of Merit – Men: Michael Richards
TURF EXCELLENCE & FACILITY EXCELLENCE
Golf Graduate of the Year: Oliver Davis (Royal Adelaide Golf Club)
Excellence in Turf Management: Sam Smith (Willunga Golf Club)
CLUB AND COMMUNITY
MyGolf Program of the Year: Glenelg Golf Club
WHS Club of the Year: The Vines Golf Club of Reynella
Venue-Facility of the Year – Off Course: SHANX @ Little Para
Club, Venue or Facility of the Year – On Course: The Pat GC
Women & Girls in Golf Award: Aston Hills Golf Club
Volunteer of the Year: Deb Christie
South Australian Hall of Fame: Chris Bonython
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