Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club on the Central Coast has been confirmed as the host of the 2026 Australian Women’s Classic from March 5-8. In what looms as a blockbuster summer of women’s golf, $600,000 in prizemoney will be up grabs at the co-sanctioned Ladies European Tour (LET) and WPGA Tour of Australasia event which is expected to field a strong international and local field.

The Classic will follow the Ford Women’s NSW Open at Wollongong Golf Club a week earlier and provide a key lead-in to the two big tournaments on the calender – the Women’s Australian Open at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide (12-15 March) and WPGA Championship at Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club on the Gold Coast (19-22 March).

After six years at Bonville Golf Resort and most recently at Coffs Harbour Golf Club earlier this year, the Classic’s shift to Magenta Shores will provide a much different test for the field. Set between the Pacific Ocean and Tuggerah Lakes, Magenta Shores is renowned for its spectacular coastal backdrop and testing links style course layout. It’s a significant tournament on the WPGA Tour calendar, which has seen a host of international winners in recent years with Belgium’s Manon De Roey the defending champion in 2025 at Coffs Harbour.

Designed by Ross Watson, Magenta Shores is home to ex-pat Kiwi course superintendent James Newell (CSTM) (pictured) who is also the current treasurer of the NSW Golf Course Superintendents Association. Newell oversees a dedicated team of nine full-time staff and three casuals who look after the top-35 ranked course which covers 35 hectares and is complemented by a further 11 hectares of native vegetation.

Golf NSW Chief Executive Officer Stuart Fraser said the event marks another important step in strengthening the women’s game in Australia.

“The Australian Women’s Classic at Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club is a premier event at an exceptional venue,” Mr Fraser said. “Following directly after the Ford Women’s NSW Open, it provides an incredible opportunity for fans to see elite women’s golf up close, while continuing to inspire the next generation of players across New South Wales.”

WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn was full of praise for the Central Coast-based course.

“We’ve already experienced how tremendous a host venue Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club is, and we are thrilled to partner again with Golf NSW and the Ladies European Tour to deliver another exciting week of competition for both players and fans.”

The Australian Women’s Classic will once again deliver significant benefits to the region, drawing players, officials, and fans to the Central Coast and boosting local tourism and hospitality industries.

For those unable to attend in person, the final two rounds of the Australian Women’s Classic will be broadcast live, showcasing Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club and New South Wales to a global audience.

Story by Nick Creely/ Photos: Magenta Shores GC Facebook/John Deere