28 WEEKENDSPORT Gippsland Weekend | Friday, August 28, 2026 Golf Australia (GA) has revised its Gender Policy created in 2016 to fall in line with international standards, changing rules around handicapping for transgender club golfers. A recent review of the gender policy established in 2016, which placed bans on any transgender female players who went through male puberty competing in elite women's events, has resulted in changes which officials believe maintain golf as "inclusive for all". A new process has been introduced for transgender athletes to compete in women's and girls' "scratch" events, which include amateur and professional events run by GA, as well as pennant competitions. Applications from transgender players to compete would have to be lodged six weeks in advance of any scratch competition and meet strict medical guidelines, including new testosterone levels that fall in line with international rules. More crucially, however, there are new guidelines around golf handicaps, which are considered the greatest measure of fairness, regardless of gender. Under the new policy, transgender and gender diverse players can play and compete in club competitions under either a men's or women's GA handicap, based on their gender identity. There will be no medical testing required or eligibility restrictions placed on them in competitions, with application for any handicap changes kept confidential. However, those chosen gender handicaps will remain in place for four years for "sporting purposes". It is understood the changes could impact around 20 current players at clubs across Australia. The changes have been made to create a clearer pathway for new participants, with the number of people playing golf increasing in recent years and more than 500,000 people now members of clubs in Australia. To enable smooth transition to the new rules, deal with complaints and solve all club issues with the policy, GA has established clear processes, with online help providing answers to frequently asked questions, as well as offering education sessions for club administrators. While the policy is not binding on clubs, Golf Australia's National Integrity Manager, Brooke Irvine, said using it would enable all club officials to navigate any problems which might arise. "It is a much easier process to follow now, than what's currently in place and it gives a lot better guidance to clubs on what is and isn't allowed," Irvine said. She said clubs were seeking clarity amid emerging instances of gender questions and eligibility and this update provided that. Irvine conceded there would still be problems which needed resolution and the changes should help. "There's a referral process, so that if anyone has any concerns or wants to voice their concerns, the referral process is in place in the new policy," she said. "They can follow that process and voice those concerns straight to us at GA." The changes come into effect immediately, less than two years after GA changed its policy to bring Australian golf in line with the world's leading bodies, which imposed the transgender ban for female players who went through male puberty. Golf Australia unveils gender policy Conditions were perfect recently for the playing of the annual Sale Plate at the Sale Golf Club. The event attracted a field of 120, with visitors coming from Drouin, Trafalgar, Moe, Morwell, Yallourn, Churchill Monash, Mirboo North, Foster, Yarram, Maffra, Heyfield, Newry, South Pines and Loch Sport, to take on three teams representing Sale. Sale's team three was victorious with a score of 104, a team of the club's young members, with Noah Chaffey leading the way with 41 pts, which saw him win the "A" grade event. Trafalgar one were runner-ups on a countback from Sale two, after both finished on 101 points. Other individual winners were Dale Burridge ("B" grade), Mark Helberg ("C" grade) and Tony Carrolyn ("D" grade). Winner of the Sale Plate were Sale team three, pictured are Noah Chaffey and Cooper Rimington. Absent, Remy Sutton and Kai McDonald. (PS) Sale’s young guns take the Plate Trafalgar team one were runners-up, Stu Marriot, Paris Christian, Tony Shearer and Mark Ando. (PS) Division winners at the Sale Plate were Noah Chaffey (“A” grade), Dale Burridge (“B” grade) and Tony Carrolyn (“D” grade). Absent, Mark Heiberg (“C” grade). Great to see some nice fish still being landed in the region. LOCH SPORT: Andrew Mason at a great morning recently down at the beach, using the butter knife lures. (PS) GIPPSLAND LAKES: Ace angler, Nikki Byrant knows how to find the big fish, and she was at it again last weekend. (PS)
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