Hole in One: Club takes out state award

13TH Beach Golf Links’ hard work over the past year has been recognised, after the Barwon Heads-based club secured one of Victoria’s most prestigious golf awards.

13th Beach Golf Links edged out all other Victorian golf clubs to be named the Victorian Golf Club of the Year for 2023 at the Victorian Golf Industry Awards, a joint initiative of Golf Australia, Professional Golfers Association, Golf Australia, Golf Management Victoria, and the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association.

“The response to the award has been tremendous from our members and word has spread very quickly,” 13th Beach Golf Links managing director Craig Skimming said.

“The members are feeling the win as much as anyone else in their own right, they’re really proud of the fact their club is the recipient of this prestigious award – it is probably the highest accolade you can get in Victorian golf.

“To win the award this year is great for everyone involved.”

Home to the Victorian Open since 2013, 13th Beach will again host one of the country’s biggest golfing tournaments from February 1-4, 2024 following a one-year extension announced in July this year on the back of a successful 2023 event.

The club’s junior program continues to thrive, currently boasting three junior pennant teams and 60 playing members, led by club committee member and Victorian Golf Volunteer of the Year finalist Sam Breguet.

In 2023, 13th Beach’s Beach Course was ranked sixth in Golf Australia magazine’s Top-100 Public Access Courses, while the club’s Creek Course was ranked 23rd.

13th Beach was also named October’s ‘Visionary of the Year’ by Golf Australia for its strategic approach to attracting more female players to the club and encouraging gender equity among the sport.

Deputy general manager Sally McKenna said the club had been working extremely hard to improve its initiatives around female participation at both the senior and junior level.

“From when we were established as a club back in 2001, men and women have had equal access to the course, but now we’re really working hard on driving some actual results participation-wise,” Ms Skinner said.

“We’ve been at 18 per cent female membership for quite some time, which tends to be the standard number across all golf clubs.

“Our aim is to get to at least 30 per cent by 2027 with different initiatives that we’re working on such as more social events, different membership options, and nurturing young female golfers throughout the golfing journeys.”

The club is presently home to more than 1,400 members.