The winners of the Australian Veteran Golfers Association National Championship on the Gold Coast were finally crowned Friday evening but all the beneficiaries of the week-long celebration of golfing and socialising would include just about all of those taking part.
More than 400 older golfers from around the country gathered for the championship held at Parkwood Golf Club and Royal Pines.
They were joined by a small army of organisers and volunteers who had the week running just about flawlessly, despite all the complicated logics involved.
Tournament director Tony Kent and Geoff Redman, president of the Northern Gold Coast & District Veteran Golfers Association, should be congratulated on their efforts.
The week teed off with registration day on Sunday followed by a very enjoyable ‘Cocktail Party’. Golf began Monday with a 4BBB at the two courses with the three championship rounds on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Parkwood was set up as the evening social hub active for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with daily golf presentations, meals, music, mini-golf and swing suite activities. On Wednesday there was a choice of a Broadwater luncheon cruise, and Outback Spectacular performance in the evening and various other options.
The presentation evening on Friday at the Sea World Resort began with a very inspiring dolphin display (see images in the photo gallery).
Another feature of the event was that golfers arriving Sunday could ditch their cars, hand over their clubs to organisers, and have them ferried to their daily events in a fleet of trucks. Turn up before your allotted tee time and your clubs would be already strapped to your cart. Afterward they would be cared for overnight.
Tournament Director Tony Kent had the following comments to make following the event:
“The 2026 AVGA National Championship has concluded with a finale at Seaworld with an impressive pre dinner drink with the Dolphins followed with great music and a great meal. Presentations went off without a hitch all 486 in attendance departing with a smile after a successful and stream lined week.
All days shotguns teed off on time with players completing each round in 4hrs 15minutes to 4hours 45minutes. Golf results were typically finalised in 30 minutes with some exceptions. The 54 hole results for 48 trophies were completed by 5.50pm on Friday evening a credit to the team we had managing Golf genius software.
Congratulations to our 91 volunteers who added great enthusiasm and cheer to the players when their heads were down after recording a par +5 . Notably all players completed the stroke event except if they incorrectly recorded the score and confirmed it post game.
The organising committee of 4 can hold their heads high knowing they have achieved the goals set in creating a high bar for others to follow. Happy Golfing.”
AVGA Championship winners
Women’s Gross Winner Jacgui Morgan, AVGA president Jeffrey Cruickshank and Men’s Championship Shayne Walker
The eventual gross champions of the event were Jacqui Morgan from Monash Country Club in NSW and Shayne Walker from the Launceston Golf Club in Tasmania.
Both golfers are no strangers to victory podiums and have a number of veteran and senior amateur trophies in their cabinets.
Shayne Walker said he had been playing veteran golf for some six years and was delighted with the win.
“It’s been a fantastic week. A very very well run competition. Four hundred and two of us keep us under control is quite an effort,” Walker said.
Morgan said she was “over the moon” with her win.
“I haven’t been playing. I haven’t been playing. I’ve been away travelling and for the last four weeks I’ve been in France, so just came back sort of a week ago. So it was quick trip up here and I got better as the week went on. So I was lucky,” she said.
Morgan said it was her first time playing at Parkwood and she was more than happy with the week.
“The organisation has been second to none. The volunteers have been just awesome. Everywhere from the bus drivers to the registration to everybody on the course. it’s been absolutely fantastic. Really impressed.”
Nett winner Ann Dickinson from Heywood
2026 AVGA National Championship Final Results
2026 AVGA National Champs – Final results
FULL PHOTO GALLERY
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The Australian Veteran Golfers Association National Championship is an annual event that rotates around the states and territories. In 2027 the event will be in the Illawarra area south of Sydney. Courses involved will be The Links Shell Cove, Kiama, Port Kembla, The Grange, Shoalhaven Heads.
In 2028 the championship will be in Tasmania.