Recent rain has helped organisers prepare Binalong Golf Course for the world-class sand greens tournament next week. Photo: Binalong Community Club/Facebook.
Binalong is set to tee off on the world stage again, with the Men’s World Sand Greens Championship returning to the historic village from 26-28 September.
The 2025 event is set to attract 120 players, including 40 amateurs, to Binalong Golf Club, where a rare sand greens layout meets 170 years of sporting tradition.
Binalong Golf Club has a storied past, dating back to 1857, with a nine-hole course originally laid out in the middle of the town’s old racecourse to give racegoers a bit of extra fun.
Over time, golf took centre stage, expanding to a full 18 holes while keeping its distinctive sand greens – a practical nod to the hot, dusty conditions of regional NSW.
Perched 500 metres above sea level amid the district’s distinctive hills, the club is now enjoying a modern renaissance, hosting a new form of professional golf championship on a course rich in history.
Sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, the championship carries a $140,000 purse, but does not count towards the season-long points race.
While the prize money is substantial, players are equally drawn to the chance to test their skills on sand greens – a unique twist on traditional tournament golf.
Olivia Wilson, Golf NSW general manager, said players had eagerly embraced the nuances, quirks and challenges of sand greens golf, relishing a fresh twist on tournament play.
“Playing and putting on sand is quite a different experience for many players,” she said.
Found across rural Australia, sand greens are compacted sand surfaces that originated as a practical solution in areas where maintaining grass greens was difficult or expensive, and they remain a distinctive part of the country’s golfing tradition.
Before putting, players smooth the surface with a small rake to create a line toward the hole. They must adjust their approach shots, chips and putts, as the ball reacts differently to how it would on grass, requiring softer landings and careful judgment of speed and angle.
“There are fundamental differences between landing approach shots and knowing how to ‘smooth’ a putting line,” Ms Wilson said.
“If a player doubts what to do, plenty of locals will be ready to offer free advice on the correct way to chip, smooth a line and even hole a putt.”
The 36-hole men’s championship made its debut in 2024, when Queensland’s Brett Rankin claimed the inaugural non-Order of Merit title.
Earlier this year, the men’s event was followed by the Women’s World Sand Greens Championship in March, which also attracted top-tier international talent.
South Korean Min A Yoon won the women’s title with a four-under-par 66, finishing four strokes ahead of Thailand’s Cholcheva Wongras, with prizemoney increased to $175,000.
The 2025 men’s field features a strong mix of proven winners and rising stars.
Queensland’s Ben Henkel, who captured a tour title last year, will be among the contenders, as will Phoenix Campbell, a two-time Queensland PGA champion.
Another Queenslander, William Bruyeres, fresh from victory at the 2024 PNG Open, adds further depth, alongside Perth’s former world No. 1 amateur Brady Watt.
Jye Pickin, a young prospect from the Hunter Valley, will make his debut, while Canberra-born Josh Armstrong returns to familiar territory after a recent tour win.
They join Zach Murray, a former New Zealand Open champion, and seasoned professional Deyen Lawson, who has played across both the Asian and European tours.
Nick Dastey, PGA of Australia general manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relationships, said all reports from last year highlighted how much the players enjoyed the unique challenge and local hospitality when contesting the World Sand Greens Championship.
“Not only does it offer our players another chance to compete and potentially lift a trophy, but it allows for a unique experience playing tournament golf and highlights the variety on offer in Australian golf,” he said.
For Binalong, the benefits stretch beyond the fairways.
“It’s a huge honour for Binalong to be able to host such an event, and it’s a credit to all the people that stand behind us, who have put in a great deal of work to get the course up,” said Binalong Community Club president Michael Brayshaw.
“It’s really important to understand how much activity will be brought to the region through this tournament”.
The Men’s World Sand Greens Championship is supported by the NSW Government through Destination NSW, highlighting the significance of these tournaments for regional communities and the enduring appeal of sand greens golf.
