This guide gives a state by state overview of veteran golf in Australia. For the latest veteran golf news and events see postings in the Events/Veteran Golf category.
VETERANS GOLF is played across Australia in a variety of formats.
As well as regular individual weekly or monthly competitions conducted by local golf club veteran groups, there are also Weeks of Golf, regional, state and national events.
Veterans golf events are usually open to golfers aged 55 plus who are members of a golf club affiliated with Golf Australia, have a current GA handicap, and are also members of an affiliated local, State or Territory veteran golfer association. Ladies veteran events have similar requirements.
The cost of joining a veteran golf group is typically minimal (maybe $5 to $10 annually) and usually efforts are made to keep competition and other fees as low as possible. Veterans golf can be a great way to play top courses at a value rate.
The overreaching national veteran golf body is the Australian Veteran Golfers Union (AVGU), which each year conducts a National Championship that rotates around the states and territories. The championship is open to all male veteran golfers with an official handicap and is usually conducted over three grades. Events for lady partners are typically conducted at the same time. The AVGU National Championships are a great way to see the country, play many top courses that you might otherwise never experience, and make lots of new friends. (And that goes for most veteran golf tournaments.) The AVGU National Championships was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid and rescheduled to the Yarrawonga area in Victoria in late November. Due to follow was WA and the ACT.
As of June 2020 there were some 32,000 affiliated veteran golf members across the country.
For individual state veteran golf organisations, calendars of events, qualifying, contact and other details see the information below.
Australian Veteran Golfers Union: A Proud History
Veteran Golf NSW
The NSW Veterans Golfers Association has some 15,300 members including around 1,500 lady members (as of November 2018). The state is broken into seven zones and has 32 Groups of Clubs, with a number of individual clubs participating in each group. Veteran golf is growing and you can be assured of a great day out wherever you decide to play. You meet all sorts of people, strange characters, brilliant golfers, burglars, academics, businessmen and others from all stations in life, the 19th hole conversation is never dull. Veteran groups have access to some of the best golf courses in Australia, and you get to play on any, or all of these courses, at our regular regional veteran golf days, at very reasonable rates. The NSWVGA conducts around 52 Annual Weeks of Golf throughout NSW each year plus state Matchplay, 4BBB and sand green championships.
ASG usually publishes a full calendar of events, contact details etc and you can also visit the NSWVGA website for more information.
Golfers aged 55 and over you are eligible to play with the ‘Vets’, the rules are simple and the cost is minimal, $10 to join and annual fees ranging from $5 to $25 per annum thereafter within NSW and the ACT. To become a member you must be a member of a golf club which is affiliated with the AGU and you must have a club handicap. To actually join up all you need to do is find out when and where the next ‘vets golf day’ is being held and turn up.
NSW Veteran Golfers Association website
Giving Back to Golf: Just Par says NSW Vets President (Current NSWVGA President Ian Vidler talks about NSW vets golf – Published 2018)
Dick Farrant: a moveable feast of veteran golf in NSW (This feature story gives a detailed overview of veteran golf in NSW – former president)
Sydney Vets a golfing treat (This story gives a good overview of the Sydney Veteran Golfers Association Sydney Veteran Golfers Association
Western Sydney Veteran Golfers go from strength to strength
NSW VETERAN WOMEN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Veteran Women Golfer’s Association of NSW Inc. is a voluntary organisation formed in 1950. The VWGA became incorporated in November 1995. Women golfers 50 years and over can join by paying the joining fee of $12.00 for Metropolitan Veterans and $7.00 for Country Veterans. In addition there is an annual subscription of $3.00 per year which is payable by 31st December each year.
Veteran Women Golfers Association of NSW Event Calendar 2019 – CLICK HERE
Contact details:
Website: www.vwgansw.org.au
Ph: 02 9299 2250
Fax: 02 9299 4415
Email: secretary@vwgansw.org.au
Veteran Golf Queensland
The Queensland Veteran Golf Union comprises 21 Districts stretching from Cairns to the Tweed. The Union has around 7000 members from over 100 golf clubs and in addition to the two major State Championships around 50 open events are held throughout the State each year. To become a veteran golfer you must be a male member of a golf club affiliated with the Australian Golf Union, be over 55 years and have a current AGU handicap. Membership can be arranged through your nearest District Secretary, as listed on their website.
Queensland Veteran Golf Union website
Veteran Golf Victoria
The VVGA was formed in 1982 and now consists of 21 Districts from all parts of Victoria. Each District has their own autonomy and culture and are affiliated with the VVGA. There are around 5000 veteran golf members in Victoria and 30000 in Australia. Monthly fixtures are conducted by the 21 veteran districts at over 250 golf clubs. Open VVGA Championships are conducted at 5 different locations annually. The Four Ball, Country, Sandscrape, Teams and State events make up the VVGA Majors. VVGA supported events are conducted at 10 locations annually and Interstate events are readily available.The Bill Mead International Match Play is played annually at Rich River under the auspices of the AVGU and VVGA. Joining the Veterans is easy all you need to be is 55 years of age and a member of a golf club affiliated with the VGA or VGL. Simply contact your local District Secretary listed in the Contact section of their website.
Victorian Veteran Golfers Association website
Veteran Golf Canberra
The ACT Region Veterans Golf Association was formed in the early 1970’s and now has some 300 financial members. Membership is open to male golfers 55 years and over and female golfers 50 years and over who are financial members of a golf club and have a current Golf Australia handicap. Since 2009 the membership has included lady members who play in the weekly competitions. The Association provides members the opportunity to play on all courses within the ACT Monaro region in a rotating weekly stableford competition usually held on a Monday (except long weekends when it is held on Tuesday). Membership cost is $20 annually plus an initial $20 joining fee. Visiting Veteran Golfers from around Australia are invited to play as guests in the weekly competitions.
For more information visit the ACTRVGA website:
ACT Region Veterans Golf Association website
Veteran Golf South Australia
The South Australian Veteran Golfers Association caters for all golfers who belong to a recognised golf club and wish to partake in regular competitions played on golf courses around the city and in country towns. Extended tours are also organised. To join members must have reached the age of 55. The joining fee is $5.00, and yearly membership is $10.00. All games are ‘shot-gun starts’, where members must report to the starter 30 minutes before hit-off time, which is, on most occasions, 9.00am. Competition is in three grades. “A” handicap 1-16; “B” 17-21; “C” 22-32. In addition there are nearest the pin holes.
Adelaide Veteran Golfers website Metro division website with links to other info
Veteran Golf Western Australia
The Western Australian Veteran Golfers Association Inc. was founded in 1982. It encourages fellowship amongst players while playing at each others’ courses weekly throughout the year. To be eligible for Membership of the “Vets” you must be over 55 and be a member of a WAGA affiliated metropolitan, suburban or country golf club. Nominate through your club representative or contact the Secretary at secretary@wavetgolf.org, with an initial fee of $100. This covers joining fee, badge, and the annual membership subscription. Following year’s subscription is $40. The golfing season commences on the first week of February with weekly games, mostly on Mondays, through to the first week of December. An annual four day South West Tour is organised in March. This includes golf at some of the most exciting courses in the South West, with wives and partners invited, providing a stimulating week of golf. The Country Veteran Golfers Association conducts monthly golf competitions and operates in the South West area of the State.
Western Australia Veterans Golfers Association website
Veteran Golf in Northern Territory
The Northern Territory Golfers Association was formed in 1991 and has four member clubs. These are Darwin, Palmerston/Humpty Doo, Katherine and Alice Springs and together represent approximately 250 active veteran golfers.
Annual fees for each club is $20 and each club hold a weekly competition on various days of the week. An NT veteran golfers championship is held in April/May each year on a rotating basis.
In 2015 the NTVGA will host the AVGU annual championships and will be held in the Top End on 16-21 August at the Darwin and Palmerston golf courses with lady partners competing at Garden Parks Golf Links.
Further information via their website www.ntvga.com.au
Veteran Golf News and Events Veteran Golf ForumAustralian Veteran Golfers Union: A Proud History