Bannockburn Golf Club’s 93rd Annual Open Tournament: A Weekend to Remember
Every November, golfers from across Victoria make their way to Bannockburn Golf Club for one of the region’s most beloved and long-standing golfing events — the Bannockburn Annual Open Tournament. In 2025, the club celebrated its 93rd edition of this incredible tradition, and by every measure, it was the best one yet.
Held over four days from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd November, the tournament welcomed a total of 286 golfers across four separate events — a magnificent achievement that reflects just how much the club and its reputation have grown in recent years.
A Truly Community Event
Before a single ball was struck, the spirit of the Bannockburn Open was already on full display. As has been the tradition for many years, the clubhouse was filled with the beautiful fragrance of freshly arranged flowers, all grown in the garden of Melissa Gillett and donated in loving memory of her late mother, Heather Phillips – the namesake of the Women’s Open trophy. It was a deeply personal and touching gesture that perfectly captures the warmth and community spirit that makes Bannockburn so special.
Day 1 – Thursday 20th November: Women’s Individual Stableford and Noel Tanner Salver
With 57 ladies taking part in perfect golfing conditions, Day 1 was a wonderful start to the tournament. The Heather Phillips Memorial Trophy for the Women’s Individual Stableford was awarded to Julie Crooks from Portarlington with an excellent score of 42 points. The A Grade winner was Chris Angus, also from Portarlington, with 40 points, with Vicki Hannah from Apollo Bay taking the runner-up spot.
The Noel Tanner Silver Salver Team Event was claimed by the team from Lorne — Rose Lloyd, Chris Angus and Tina Walker — with a terrific combined total of 111 points. After play, participants were treated to a delicious lunch and homemade cakes, with fresh fruit provided at the halfway point on course. A perfect day all round.
Day 2 – Friday 21st November: Norm Carroll Memorial 4BBB Par
The Norm Carroll Memorial Trophy brought 17 teams together for an afternoon of competitive and social golf. For the third consecutive year, the father and son pairing of Jordan and Andrew Richards proved unstoppable, claiming victory with an impressive score of +9. Runners-up were Mick Doherty and Richard Puckett with +8 — and the latter added a wonderful international flavour to proceedings, having travelled all the way from Sacramento, California for the event. Here’s hoping Richard makes the trip back for the 94th Open in 2026! Players were treated to mixed sandwiches, party pies and homemade cakes at the presentation — all lovingly prepared by the club’s incredible kitchen volunteers.
Day 3 – Saturday 22nd November: Men’s Open Championship 18-Hole Stroke
Day 3 was arguably the most momentous day in the history of the Bannockburn Open. With 89 players in the field, this year’s Men’s Open Championship carried extra significance — the winner would not only claim the Open title but also be awarded the Inaugural Perpetual Trophy, commissioned by the club to commemorate the introduction of the new grass greens course. It was a historic occasion, and it produced a historic result. Frank Fowler from Torquay Golf Club claimed the title in style, setting a new course record of 68 gross. Congratulations Frank — your name will be forever etched in Bannockburn history.
The day also produced one of those magical moments that every golfer dreams of. Mick Skene from Inverleigh recorded a hole-in-one on the 11th – a brilliant achievement on the new grass greens course.
Adding a lovely touch to the day was the participation of three young juniors from Geelong, playing alongside Ian Wiseman. Bobby Wiseman (aged 10), Mason Murry (aged 12) and Murphy Coote (aged 13) all competed with great credit – a wonderful sign of the next generation embracing the game.
Day 4 – Sunday 23rd November: 4-Person Ambrose
The final day of the tournament saw 26 teams – 104 players – compete in the 4-Person Ambrose event, open to any combination of players. It was a fitting finale to a fantastic weekend, with the day culminating in a thrilling play-off to decide the Gross runners-up.
The winning Gross team with a score of 63 was Trent Robins, Jack Dalton, Richard Dalton and Bill Simpson, while the best Nett team with a score of 54.75 was Bill Archer, Phillip Morgan, Mark Rintoul and Craig Holt.
The Real Winners: Our Volunteers
No article about the Bannockburn Open would be complete without acknowledging the extraordinary volunteers who make it all possible. From Tournament Secretary Sandra Le Maitre, who coordinated the entire event with remarkable dedication, to Course Superintendent Dave Johnston and his team who presented the course in immaculate condition, to Pam Graham and the kitchen team who kept every single competitor well fed across four days of competition — the 93rd Open was truly a team effort in every sense.
Visiting golfers repeatedly praised both the condition of the course and the quality of the food and hospitality on offer — and that is a wonderful testament to everyone who gave their time so generously.
Join Us for the 94th Annual Open Tournament in 2026
The Bannockburn Annual Open Tournament is one of regional Victoria’s great golfing weekends – a warm, welcoming and well-run event that brings together golfers of all abilities from clubs across the region. Whether you’re looking to compete seriously, catch up with old friends, or simply experience a wonderful golf course in a brilliant community setting, we’d love to see you here on 19-22 November 2026.
Keep an eye on our website and social media for details on the 2026 program as they become available.
Tournament Sponsors:
Clubhouse Golf
Bannockburn & District Grants
Zantagra Group
Andrews & Co Estate Agents
B&S Stock & Pet Supplies
Ken & Sandra Le Maitre
