Media Release from Ford NSW Open
Ford NSW Open heading to the Hunter Valley
The Greg Norman-designed The Vintage Hunter Valley, nestled in the state's premier wine region, will host the storied championship from November 13th to 16th, 2025.
No stranger to tournament golf, The Vintage Hunter Valley has hosted the tournament four times from 2007 to 2010. Like last year, this year's championship will carry a minimum purse of $800,000.
Stuart Fraser, CEO of Golf NSW, was thrilled with the decision to return to The Vintage for the first time in over a decade.
"This year's Ford NSW Open presents a fantastic opportunity for us to ensure the tournament continues to be the most prestigious state championship on the Australian golf calendar.
"Murray Downs was a fabulous venue for last year's tournament, and the crowds we saw throughout the week proved how thirsty the public are for elite-level golf.
"The general public of the greater Newcastle and Hunter region has a real love of world-class sport, and we know fans of the game will throw their support behind our flagship event," Mr Fraser said.
Ripper GC Star Lucas Herbert confirmed his status as one of Australian golf's best in November last year with a three-shot win over his Ripper GC teammate and 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith, Sydneysider Alex Simpson, and the Hunter's own Corey Lamb.
"Lucas' win last year at Murray Downs captured the imagination of fans nationally, while Corey, or 'Chops', established himself as a crowd favourite with his quest for the Kel Nalge Cup. Hopefully, we'll see them battle it out again this November," he added.
Ambrose Henderson, Director of Marketing at Ford Australia, was excited that Golf NSW is building on the success of the 2024 Ford NSW Open by taking it back to the Hunter Valley region, where Ford has great connections with the local community.
“Since we started our partnership with Golf NSW late last year, we have already seen how golf in regional areas of NSW connects with the local community, and we are proud of the important role Ford and our Ford Dealers play in these communities too.”
“The 2025 Ford NSW Open promises to be a spectacular event, with the anticipation of Lucas Herbert's return to defend his title adding a dynamic edge. It's thrilling to see such talent continue to grace our tournament, underscoring its prestige in the realm of Australian golf.”
“This week we celebrate 100 years of Ford in Australia. As we stride into a new century, partnerships like Golf NSW are vital in our mission to support and uplift local communities through sport,” Mr Henderson added.
Jodie Staples, Director of Sales & Marketing at The Vintage Golf Club, said the organisation was delighted to host the state’s premier golf championship again, adding the opportunity to display to the world what a fantastic destination The Vintage, and indeed the Hunter region, was.
"The Vintage Golf Club is thrilled to host the Ford NSW Men’s Open on our course, and we can’t wait to welcome the players and guests to the Hunter Valley. It’s an exciting opportunity to showcase our beautiful grounds while celebrating the sport we love. We look forward to hosting an incredible event in November.”
Nick Dastey, PGA of Australia’s General Manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relationships, noted the Ford NSW Open's importance on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule and highlighted the excitement of returning to the Hunter Valley region.
“The efforts of Golf NSW to elevate the Ford NSW Open in recent years have been tremendous, and when combining the tournament’s history with the increased prize money, it makes it a highlight of our schedule,” Mr Dastey said.
“Everyone from the players to our staff thoroughly enjoyed Murray Downs in 2024, and I am certain it will be a similar story this year as we return to the Hunter Valley, where the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia has strong ties.”
Tournament Facts:
Host Venue: The Vintage Hunter Valley
Dates: 13 - 16 November 2025
Prize Fund: AU$800,000 (Min)
Website: www.nswopen.com
The Venue
Nestled in wine country, The Vintage is widely regarded as the Hunter Valley's premier golf destination.
The Greg Norman and Bob Harrison masterpiece combines bold bunkering with rolling terrain and strategic hazards, creating a challenge that rewards skilled play.
At 6,310 metres (par 71), this exceptional course ranks among Australia's finest, testing golfers with holes that demand complete mastery of your game.
History
The New South Wales Open has a rich history stretching back to 1931, predating the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
First held at Manly Golf Club, the tournament was initially played as a 'close' format championship, meaning it was open only to residents of New South Wales.
Tom Howard, Sam Richardson, and Charlie Gray finished in a three-way tie in the inaugural event, with Gray lifting the title after a 36-hole play-off.
The Open grabbed the NSW public's attention during the Great Depression when many had little to look forward to other than cheering on our sporting heroes.
It quickly evolved into the tournament 'They All Wanted to Play' and soon became one of the big three tournaments, alongside the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship.
Legends
The list of players crowned NSW Open Champion is impressive and includes some of the greatest names in Australian golf, such as World Golf Hall of Fame inductees Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, and Peter Thomson.
Six amateurs, including five-time champion Jim Ferrier, Owen Beldham, Tony Gresham, Rick Kulacz, Ben Eccles, and Harrison Crowe, are also on the honour roll.
Notable Past Champions
1976, 79 Jack Newton
1981 Bill Rogers
1984 Ian Baker-Finch
1978, 83, 86, 88 Greg Norman
1987, 92 Craig Parry
2004 Peter Lonard
2015 Ben Eccles (a)
2017 Jason Scrivener
2018 Jake McLeod
2019 Josh Younger
2021 Bryden MacPherson
2022 Harrison Crowe (a)
2023 David Micheluzzi
2024 Lucas Herbert
The Ford NSW Open is proudly supported by the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
