The history of the Australian Hickory Shaft Championship began in 1995 when the Tom Moore led Australian Golf Heritage Society organised the inaugural event at Rosnay Golf Club in suburban Sydney.

In the ensuing years, it has been played at diverse venues – The Coast, Cronulla, Georges River, Carnarvon and Long Reef – and seen many notable winners, including Peter Read (7-time winner) and 2-time winners Perry Somers, Alan Grieve, Derrin Morgan and Darron Watt. In the ladies’ event, Shuri Yasuda-Hines (6), Jane Buckley (3) and the late Margery McWilliam (2) have been multiple winners.

It has been a long-held wish to take the Championship interstate, and the Australian Golf Heritage Society and the Golf Society of Australia are proud to announce that the 24^th Australian Hickory Shaft Championship will be held on Tuesday 11 September 2018 on the Royal Melbourne Golf Club’s West Course.

The Royal Melbourne Golf Club’s West Course is generally acknowledged as one of the best works of golf course architect Dr Alistair MacKenzie and is consistently rated Number 1 in Australia. This wonderful opportunity will hopefully be followed in future years by rotation of the event between states, and – where possible – at prominent venues aligned to historically significant events. By way of example, plans are in place to hold the Championship at the Royal Queensland Golf Club in 2020 and at the Long Reef Golf Club in 2021 as part of their respective centenary celebrations.

The event is open to all Australian golfers with a GA handicap with scratch and handicap events for both women and men. The cost per head will be $135 including light snacks after golf when the presentations take place.

The event will be played to AGHS Conditions of Play to ensure the past event results are consistent with this event. Please ensure your clubs satisfy those conditions of play.

Shortly an entry form will be drafted & attached to the AGHS & GSA websites. The field is limited to 60 players & the organisers reserve the right to determine the participants.

Sincere thanks are due to Tony Rule (GSA Committee member) and the Match Committee of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club for allowing this event to be played on this renowned course.

For those golfers who normally play in the AHSC event on Sydney courses and do not wish to travel we have initiated a new event this year and for future years of the NSW Hickory Shaft Championship and this event will be held at Long Reef Golf Club on Thursday 20 September 2018.