The 20th Annual William Buckley Classic

October 10-12, 2025
Bellarine Peninsula, Vic

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The 20th Annual WBC

Battle for Bushranger Glory, fun and prizes.

Enjoy 36 holes of world-class golf
Stay on-course in high-quality accommodation
Register as a pair, or we will pair you up
Open to ALL Golfers, regardless of skill level, age or ability.

PRICING & PACKAGES

GIDDY-UP! CLICK HERE TO BOOK

2025 William Buckley Classic - Event Info

2025 is the 20th running of the William Buckley Classic, with the event returning to the magnificent Bellarine Peninsula. Golfers will play at Queenscliff and Curlewis golf courses (with an optional bonus round at Portarlington GC) and stay on course at Curlewis. The format for the weekend is an exciting 2-ball Ambrose for stableford points.

Friday (The Advance) (Optional warm-up round)

Portarlington GC

Welcome to one of Bellarine golf’s best-kept secrets – a wonderfully prepared layout which has that rare and much-sought combination of challenge and fun for players at all levels. The course features superbly conditioned bent greens, drains quickly and is an easy walk with only gentle undulations.

Saturday (The Ambush)

Queenscliff

Queenscliff Golf Club provides a unique island setting, residing on Australian Defence Force land. The club is surrounded by the natural beauty and tranquillity of Swan Bay. The absolute beauty of the course and its’ environs is not lost on Golfers, as it evolves with the time of day, the light, the sea breezes, and the change of seasons. The tranquillity is only disturbed by the occasional train whistle from the Bellarine Steam Train.

Sunday (The Assault)

Curlewis Golf Club

With a sandy base, a minimum of trees and naturally undulating couch fairways the links type course has maintained its position as one of the best on the Bellarine - Ranked #25 Golf Australia Top 100 Public Access Courses. Featuring challenging bunkers and firm and fast greens, the course measures 6150 metres from the championship marks and is a challenging par-71/73.

On-Course Accommodation

Accommodation @ Curlewis

When it comes to facilities, functions and epicurean experience, the new Curlewis Clubhouse is next level. Commanding in both scope and ambience, no detail or expense has been spared in bringing The Bellarine’s newest and most dynamic destination to life.

Add to that an accommodation complex like no other. Cool eco-suite installations are nestled amidst indigenous native landscape, flanking one of the region’s most revered golf courses.

William Buckley Classic Event format

Day 1 (The Advance)

Optional Warm-up

Get your weekend started early, (and scout the upcoming field of battle) with an optional warm-up round.

Day 2 (The Ambush)

Ambrose Stableford (Pairs)

The two-person teams play Two-Ball Ambrose Stableford. A rodeo rule is applied (minimum number of drives). The day's stableford score is recorded as Round 1.

Day 3 (The Assault)

Ambrose Stableford (Pairs)

Team members battle together (side-by-side!) in an all-out assault, playing two-person team Ambrose Stableford, with a Rodeo rule applied. The day's score is added to Saturday's team score to create a two-round total.

The 2025 William Buckley Classic Packages

Triple-Share Package

$529 per person

36 holes of golf on Saturday & Sunday
Shared Golf Cart both days
Two nights' accommodation
Tournament entry fee
Play for Trophies and prizes
Complimentary Bushranger Accessories
Full event management, online portal and leaderboard

Twin-Share Package

$599 per person

36 holes of golf on Saturday & Sunday
Shared Golf Cart both days
Two nights' accommodation
Tournament entry fee
Play for Trophies and prizes
Complimentary Bushranger Accessories
Full event management, online portal and leaderboard

Single-Room Package

$779 per person

36 holes of golf on Saturday & Sunday
Shared Golf Cart both days
Two nights' accommodation
Tournament entry fee
Play for Trophies and prizes
Complimentary Bushranger Accessories
Full event management, online portal and leaderboard

OPTIONAL EXTRAS (Friday Golf)

$89 per person

18 holes of golf at Portarlington
Individual Stableford Competition, with prizes + NTPs
Optional: Add a shared Cart on Friday for $25pp

A $250 deposit secures your place in this exclusive field.

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Previous William Buckley Classic Events

The William Buckley Classic Format

The William Buckley Classic is a 36-hole siege for teams of two playing two-ball ambrose.
Each team will be assigned a handicap by the organisers on the basis of official Australian handicaps and information supplied by the Bushrangers. The handicapper will be governed by a commitment to rewarding good play according to a player’s ability.

Rules:

Each member hits their shot, then chooses the best of the two, and continues play from there. Teams play their chosen best ball on each shot and may place their ball half a club length (about 50cms) from where the chosen ball lay, no nearer the hole. Balls must be placed in the same cut as the chosen ball. In the interests of fast play from tee to green, teams are NOT required to mark with a tee and precisely measure from the chosen ball as they play each shot. Once on the green, Bushrangers should mark near the chosen best ball so both team members play from near enough to the exact same position.
The event features a Rodeo Rule, which requires a minimum number of drives for each team member. Each team’s rodeo requirements will appear on their scorecard.
Nearest-the-Pin & Longest Drive: will be held as some usual tasty ‘side action’ between teams.

Playoffs:

In the event of a tie, a sudden-death playoff will be conducted. Teams play together as a twosome (taking alternate strokes playing one ball). Teams can determine the order as each member takes their first shot. This order is then continuous and carries over from one hole to the next until the playoff is decided.

VIEW PAST WINNERS AND EVENT INFORMATION