With a substantial increase in prize money to $175,000 and official Rolex World Ranking Status, the event promises to attract top-tier international talent.
Proudly supported by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, the 54-hole championship will also elevate the profile of regional New South Wales and sand greens golf to a broader audience.
Olivia Wilson, General Manager of Golf at Golf NSW, said the success of the inaugural sand greens championship had attracted considerable interest, fuelling the extension of the tournament from 36 to 54 holes and an increase in prize money on offer.
“The success of our inaugural sand greens championship was a turning point and drew interest from professional players globally.
“Players from Europe and beyond have shown a lot of interest in next year’s championship, which speaks to the unique appeal of sand greens and the strength of the international field we expect to see compete.”
Ms Wilson added that the tournament being granted official Rolex World Ranking Status had given it extra lustre.
“This recognition by the Rolex Ranking board required us to extend the format to 54 holes. It is a change that raises the stakes for us, and aligns the event to a status similar to many other tournaments on international tours.
“Expanding the tournament and increasing the prize purse was an easy decision, and we expect the quality of the field will reflect this new status.”
Binalong Golf Club, situated in between Harden and Yass was chosen as next year’s venue due to its immaculate condition and accessibility for international competitors.
After successfully hosting the Men’s World Sand Greens Championship in September 2024, Binalong has established itself as a welcoming and vibrant community for elite golf.
“The competitors will find not only a challenging and well-maintained course but also a supportive community that will embrace the event.
“The enthusiasm shown by Binalong’s residents last year was remarkable, and I’m confident they’ll extend the same hospitality to the players in March,” Ms Wilson added.
Michael Brayshaw, President of the Binalong Community Club said, “It’s a big honour for the Club to be asked to hold the Women’s Rolex Sand Green Championships.
“It will be the real deal this time as it’s a Rolex world ranked event. It will bring players from all over the place with $175,000 and a three-day event, it is sure to attract more interest, even more than last time, with people seeing how the men’s was presented and the quality of players and the quality of the course I think there will be more people that want to come out and see the women’s as well.
“It’s a credit to everybody that has worked hard to present the Club like it was in September. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes again to secure the women’s and we are lucky that Golf NSW has the faith in us to hold both events for next year.”
The effort and professionalism that was put in helped seal the deal.
“We have a small team that is working with Golf NSW and the hard work and dedication by Pat and Dunc and myself has really paid off to get it.
“It’s also a credit to the Binalong community itself.
“They were pretty wrapped with the support that was shown by everybody in Binalong and the effort and appreciation that was shown.”
If it’s a dry summer, the committee has a plan for getting water onto the course.
“That has been one of our concerns that coming into March it could be a bit of a dust bowl, but we could sit on our hands and turn the event down, but we are looking at some irrigation at the moment to try and get some water in and around the Clubhouse, the 10th, the 1st, 18th, 14th and 16th to try and work on keeping that green.
“We do have some other gear coming in to help water and that will be in early January and we will try and green up as much as we can, especially around the tee boxes and the greens.
“We will do our best and hopefully we jag a couple of storms a couple of weeks before would be nice.”
Binalong’s appeal being a beautiful little village in the bush but close to Canberra sees some golfers fly in too.
“Binalong’s locality for us is a big thing as the girls will come off the women’s open in Wollongong and then come to us a couple of days after. That locality is not too far to come from there and it’s close to Canberra, close to Sydney, and I think it’s definitely a reason why we were picked because of the locality and the course is good and presented well and it’s all the little things that add up.”
The Club is looking for the same number of volunteers or the same people to put their hand up.
“It will probably be a little bit more of a challenge this time with volunteers, but we will need as many as the practice rounds start on the Tuesday and the Pro-Am Wednesday and then the Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the competition proper.
“We will need volunteers and hopefully there will be more people that want to be involved again, especially after seeing the Men’s in September.
Brayshaw and fellow clubman Will Grogan carried the scoreboards. Brayshaw joked, “I think it was a bit of a stitch up on the carry boards. Will Grogan and I will do what has to be done, but we will try and side-step the carry boards.
“I think the commentator Mark Hayes stitched us up a bit on how to hold them and straighten and all that sort of stuff.
“It’s going to be a big year for Binalong next year to have the women’s and the men’s. It’s an absolute honour and a privilege to be able to host them both.
“We are looking for partners and sponsors if anyone wants to get on board and they just need to give me a call or email me at michael@brayshawsfloorsanding.com.au
“We will have qualifying and open events like we did for the men’s for women that want to try and get in and get involved in the championships.”
