Golf Australia announced today that the age to qualify for its women’s senior events will reduce to 50 years.

This change is in line with events conducted by major international golf organisations including The R&A, USGA, Golf Canada, England Golf and Golf New Zealand.

It also assists the strength of senior women’s golf reflecting that of senior men’s golf.

Golf Australia’s general manager of events and operations Therese Magdulski said, “whilst the major catalyst to the change was to ensure we aligned to all other major countries in the world, we also know that the quality in men’s and women’s golf is not quite similar enough at this time to have the same age range that would provide suitable strengths in field for our national and state championships,” she said.

“Whilst 55 years and above in men’s senior golf provides the requisite strength, it doesn’t in women’s senior golf, hence we feel the lower age of 50 years is more suited to women’s senior golf at this point in time,” Magdulski said.

The change will be effective for events from 1 January 2022 and will apply to the Australian Women’s Senior Amateur, various state and territory amateurs, and the GA women’s senior Order of Merit national and state competitions.

The Australian Mid Amateur Championships will remain unchanged and are open to men and women aged 30 to 54 years.

Note: it is at the discretion of each committee to determine its own age criteria for senior events at its club.