Boolbardie Golf Club welcomed the sight of that rarest of golfing birds — the albatross — at the Denham Open in late June.
Almost 40 men and women from across the Gascoyne region and beyond participated in this year’s annual event — and few would have guessed history would be made at one of the nation’s most unique golfing destinations.
The most westerly golf course on the Australian mainland, Boolbardie GC offers a distinctive desert layout featuring 18 holes played across nine fairways, complemented by nine sand greens and 18 tee boxes.
The clubhouse boasts breathtaking views over Little Lagoon and out to the Indian Ocean, providing a fitting backdrop for a moment of golfing magic.
The highlight of the tournament came courtesy of Stephen Denman, a member of Serpentine GC, who etched his name into club history with a remarkable albatross on the 418-metre par-five 16th hole.
After a well-struck drive, Denman (pictured above) opted to take on the green with another driver off the deck. It was a bold decision given the approach is played blind over a ridge, but it paid off most memorably.
As the group ahead finished putting, they were stunned to see Denman’s ball charge on to the green and disappear straight into the hole for the first recorded albatross in Boolbardie GC’s 61-year history.
A stunned Denman could only say: “I was surprised the shot made it to the green — I didn’t think for a moment it was going to get there.”
The extraordinary shot was a fitting highlight for a weekend filled with strong competition and camaraderie.
The respective men’s and women’s titles may have gone to Tim Winship and Julie Werndly, but we have a feeling that Denman’s going to be dining out on his Denham Open experience for years to come!
2026 Denham Open champions Julie Werndly and Tim Winship
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