Western Australia’s Mandurah Country Club has taken out the top spot in the Most Outstanding Club, facility or Place to Play (Metropolitan) category of the inaugural Golf Australia National Awards of Excellence.
“We hope our entire club community feels a sense of pride in this recognition – it’s a testament to their dedication and time,” Mandurah Country Club general manager Grant Shortland-Jones said.
The awards recognise the clubs, venues, partners and individuals who have set new benchmarks for innovation, participation, and leadership in the game.
“The inaugural Golf Australia National Awards of Excellence are more than a celebration of achievement. They are a glimpse into the future of our sport,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“Each winner demonstrates how golf can evolve, diversify and thrive while staying rooted in community. Together, they form a blueprint for how golf across the country is growing stronger, more inclusive, and more relevant.”
Mandurah Country Club was recognised for undertaking a full governance overhaul, shifting from a committee model to a streamlined six-person board supported by specialist subcommittees in 12 months.
Additionally, the club also invested $350,000 into a clubhouse extension that created new spaces for members and guests, while a $2 million irrigation upgrade has been approved and fully funded to safeguard the course’s future.
The club has also been recognised for its inclusivity efforts, with women now representing almost 30 per cent of membership and its Indigenous programs seeing a growing participation among new communities.
“Our Indigenous golf initiative goes beyond the sport. We are now engaging in creating pathways to employment opportunities for Indigenous youth and want to continue to build on this,” Shortland-Jones said.
“Women have always played a vital role in our club. We were home to Australia’s first full time female manager, Billie Friedlander, and have had several women presidents over the history of the club. We’ve never had segregated membership categories. A huge strength of our club is our women.”
Looking ahead, Shortland-Jones said the club has recently updated its strategic plan, which includes a master plan.
“We also are developing a structured course utilisation plan that meets the requirements of the members as well as ensuring the long-term viability of the course,” he added.