Australian Hickory Shaft Open Championships (Men’s and Women’s)

A 36-hole individual stroke-play event played over two days at The Royal Adelaide Golf Club – Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October 2025.

Australian Hickory Shaft Foursomes Championship (Unisex)

An 18-hole Canadian foursomes stroke-play event played at Westward Ho Golf Club (Patawalonga Links) – Sunday 12 October 2025.

Eligibility

The events are open to amateurs and Australian PGA members (or international equivalent).

Handicaps

Golf Australia handicap (or international equivalent) with the following adjustments:

• All professionals and Amateurs with +2.5 handicap or lower: add zero strokes to GA handicap (or international equivalent) add zero strokes to GA handicap (or international equivalent)
• +2.5 to 3.4 handicap: add three strokes to GA handicap (or international equivalent)
• 3.5 to 8.4 handicap: add four strokes to GA handicap (or international equivalent)
• 8.5 to 14.4 handicap: add five strokes to GA handicap (or international equivalent)
• 14.5 to 18.4 handicap: add six strokes to GA handicap (or international equivalent)
• 18.5 and above: add seven strokes to GA handicap (or international equivalent)

A player with a valid hickory handicap (DotGolf, HGQ or SoHG – with a minimum of ten submitted cards) – to use that handicap.

A player without a Golf Australia handicap (or international equivalent) or a valid hickory handicap – to play off scratch.

Maximum adjusted handicaps:

• Men–27
• Women–36

Each player’s championship handicap will be confirmed before the event and will be used for all three days.

Please note: A player’s daily handicap may vary from day to day according to the slope rating (difficulty) of the course being played.

The match committee reserves the right to allocate and review handicaps before and during the event.

Rules

• Current R&A Rules of Golf (excluding equipment rules)
• Local rules of the host club

• Ties – see: Deciding Ties
• Decisions of the match committee shall be final

• Shafts must be wood
• Heads must be original (pre-1935) or approved replicas (see below)
• Grips must be ‘leather-wrap’
• No limit on the number of clubs used

• BTI Co. (playhickorygolf.com)
• Players Special Edition RTJ irons
• JBL Swiss Hickory Golf Club Manufactory
• Nicoll Precision irons
• Nicoll Gem-style putter
• Louisville Golf Co
• All hickory-shafted models
• Ross Baker Golf
• All hickory-shafted models
• St. Andrews Golf Company
• All hickory-shafted models
• Tad Moore Hickory Classics
• All hickory-shafted models
• ALL OTHER CLUBS
• Submit to match committee for approval

• Any ball from the R&A/USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls
• Any remoulded ball from the R&A/USGA List of Conforming Golf Balls
• Any gutta percha or remoulded ball manufactured by the McIntyre Golf Company, Tad Moore Hickory Classics  or Play Hickory Inc.
• ALL OTHER BALLS
• Submit to match committee for approval

• Distance measuring devices

• Allowed – players to make own arrangements with pro shop

Competitors whose home clubs have reciprocal agreements with The Royal Adelaide Golf Club are responsible for making the appropriate arrangements.