As the countdown to the Masters intensifies, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler is chasing a third green jacket, and even with Rory McIlroy returning to defend, the benchmark remains firmly set.

Overturning Scheffler’s dominance this year will take a remarkable performance, and Callum Hill casts an eye over those capable of rising to the occasion - among them, our cover star Tommy Fleetwood, whose form and temperament suggest he could be ready to seriously contend on golf’s grandest stage.

Beyond Augusta’s azaleas, this issue takes readers deep into the fabric of Australian golf, beginning with a journey back to a formative era in course design. The Hilltop Course at Mollymook Golf Club stands as a reminder of the quiet influence of the 1970s, a period which helped shape the national golfing landscape in ways still felt today. Now, with its heritage carefully preserved and enhanced by bold, modern touches, Hilltop is enjoying a deserved renaissance, blending nostalgia with contemporary appeal, writes Brendan James. 

There is a similar sense of evolution at Spring Valley, a course long respected by those in the know, but now stepping more confidently into the spotlight. A thoughtful, multi-stage renovation is sharpening its architectural identity, while elevating conditioning to new heights, reinforcing its place among the country’s most compelling layouts.

Few courses, however, capture the imagination quite like Cape Wickham Golf Links, and a decade after its opening, it continues to define what modern links golf can be. Set against the wild backdrop of Bass Strait, it offers a raw and exhilarating experience where wind, terrain and isolation combine to create something truly rare. Ten years on, writes Brendan James, its reputation as an icon of the modern era is not only intact, but continuing to grow.

Resilience, too, emerges as a powerful theme in this issue. When cyclonic winds, record floods and even snow battered the NSW Mid North Coast in 2025, the region’s golf clubs responded with determination and grit. Fairways were cleared, damage repaired and communities rallied, ensuring the game returned far sooner than many expected – a testament to the enduring spirit of local golf, writes Matt Cleary.

There is also a celebration of the game in its most accessible form, with a look at nine-hole courses across Australia that deliver enjoyment without the time commitment of a full round. From coastal dunes to inland layouts, these courses offer variety, challenge and charm, proving that great golf need not always come in 18-hole packages. For beginners, families and time-poor players alike, writes James Smith, they represent an increasingly important part of the game’s future.

And then there is Hannah Green, whose brilliance on the international stage continues to resonate. Her victory at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore – where she edged fellow Australian Minjee Lee to claim her second title at Sentosa and seventh LPGA Tour win – stands as a defining moment in a remarkable run. While she has gone on to achieve even more since we went to print, this was the performance that set the tone; the beginning of a dominant stretch in the southern hemisphere that underlined her place among the game’s elite.

From the anticipation of Augusta to the windswept edges of Australia’s coastline, our April 2026 issue captures golf in all its forms - elite, enduring and evolving - offering readers a rich snapshot of where the game stands and where it is headed.