The Golf Society of Australia presents
12–13 September 2026
Queenscliff Golf Club · The Barwon Heads Golf Club
Victoria’s hickory major returns for its third staging. Two days. Two remarkable courses.
Queenscliff Golf Club, Swan Island · Image: Queenscliff Golf Club
An invitation to compete
The Victorian Hickory Shaft Championships bring two days of memorable competition to Queenscliff and Barwon Heads.
Canadian foursomes on Saturday. The individual championship on Sunday. Play one day or the complete weekend—everyone is welcome to join the field and experience one of Victoria’s great hickory occasions.
3rdVictorian championship
2renowned courses
30+players at each previous staging
Openeveryone is welcome
12–13 September 2026
Forum and Canadian foursomes on Saturday. The Victorian individual championship and a memorable clubhouse finale on Sunday.
Queenscliff Golf Club · Swan Island
Arrival and registration
Historians Forum with light lunch
18-hole Canadian foursomes
Results and presentation
Every visitor to Swan Island must carry photo identification and leave the island by 7.00 pm.
The Barwon Heads Golf Club
Arrival and registration
18-hole individual stroke championship
Drinks and simple snacks
Presentations and championship honours
Official close
Simple post-round snacks are included; drinks are purchased individually.
The host clubs
Saturday · Swan Island
Golf has been played on Swan Island since 1907. Surrounded by Swan Bay, wetlands and coastal vegetation, Queenscliff offers one of Australian golf’s most distinctive island settings—and a wonderfully fitting stage for hickory foursomes.
Format18-hole Canadian foursomes
Green fee$65 per player
Sunday · Barwon Heads
Founded in 1907 and established on its present seaside site after the First World War, Barwon Heads brings together celebrated links golf and one of Australia’s most recognisable historic clubhouses.
Format18-hole individual stroke
Green fee$135 visiting-player fee
Reciprocal arrangements will be confirmed during entry.
Championship honours
Two days of genuine championship competition, adjusted fairly for modern handicaps, with room for serious golf and a little period style.
Players without a recognised Hickory Handicap Index can still compete. We start with your current GOLF Link Handicap Index and add the British Golf Collectors Society hickory allowance:
GOLF Link Handicap IndexHickory allowance
+2.5 or betterPlay from scratch
+2.4 to 3.4Add 3 strokes
3.5 to 8.4Add 4 strokes
8.5 to 14.4Add 5 strokes
14.5 to 18.4Add 6 strokes
18.5 and aboveAdd 7 strokes
Singles calculation: adjusted hickory index × Slope Rating ÷ 113 + (Course Rating − par), rounded to the nearest whole number. A 100% allowance applies.
Example: a 12.0 index receives five extra strokes, producing an adjusted hickory index of 17.0. On tees rated Slope 120, Course Rating 70.0 and par 72: 17.0 × 120 ÷ 113 + (70 − 72) = 16.1, giving a playing handicap of 16.
Players who already hold a recognised Hickory Handicap Index use that index. Canadian-foursomes pair handicaps will be calculated from the two adjusted hickory indexes and printed on the scorecard.
The third championship
First contested at Barwon Heads in 2024, the championship attracted 33 players from four states. The second staging brought 31 golfers to Yarrawonga in 2025. Now the Victorian Hickory Shaft Championships return to the Bellarine for their third chapter.
2024
Barwon Heads
2025
Yarrawonga Mulwala
2026
Queenscliff & Barwon Heads
Men’s and women’s titles to be decided.
Gross scores determine the men’s and women’s championship titles. Nett prizes are separate handicap awards.
The championship trophy
Introduced at the inaugural championship in 2024, the Victorian Hickory Shaft Championships perpetual trophy features two miniature hickory clubs made by master craftsman Ross Baker.
Indicative pricing
The single championship entry applies whether playing one day or both. It is intended to cover the Historians Forum and light lunch, simple Sunday snacks, prizes, photography and shared event costs.
Championship entry$50
Queenscliff green fee$65
Barwon Heads green fee$135
Hickory set hire, if required$10
Estimated two-day total$250
Simple Sunday snacks are included. Hickory set hire, cart charges and drinks are additional.Plan your visit
Queenscliff and Barwon Heads are approximately 30 minutes apart by car.
Participants make their own accommodation arrangements on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Book and pay the relevant golf club directly. Instructions will accompany entry confirmation.
Every vehicle passenger must carry photo identification. All visitors must leave by 7.00 pm.
Simple post-round snacks are included in the entry fee. Drinks will be at individual cost.
Good to know
Yes. Enter Saturday, Sunday or both. The GSA championship entry applies once.
No. Left- and right-handed hickory sets can be hired for $10 per set.
No. We can calculate the appropriate adjustment from your current GOLF Link handicap.
Book and pay the relevant club directly. Instructions will be provided.
12–13 September 2026
Join us for one day or experience the complete weekend at two remarkable Victorian golf settings.
Online booking link coming soon.
Entries are expected to close Monday 31 August.