Two years ago, golf barely rated a mention in conversations across Sydney’s Muslim community.
Fast forward to now, and the fairways at Brighton Lakes Golf Course in Moorebank are shaping up to host one of the most anticipated dates on the community calendar, as the Lebanese Muslim Association and its charity Feed The World gear up for the third annual Australian Muslim Community Golf Day on Saturday, 19 December, under this year’s theme, “Every Swing Counts.”
The numbers tell the story of just how far this event has come.
More than 70 players teed off at that inaugural 2024 tournament, and by 2025 the field had grown by a further 25 percent – proof that what started as a niche idea has snowballed into one of the most talked about fixtures in the Muslim community’s social and charitable calendar.
With interest in 2026 already at a high, organisers are supremely confident that this year’s event will be the biggest yet.
And here’s the best part: you don’t need to be Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Rory McIlroy or Scottie Scheffler to walk away a winner!
The tournament is played in the 4-Ball Ambrose format, where teams of four all tee off, then choose the best shot among them and play their next shot from that spot – repeating the process all the way to the hole.
That means a team’s score reflects its best shots, not its worst, levelling the playing field between scratch golfers and complete beginners alike.
It’s this format that’s made the day so accessible – and so much fun – for a community that, until 2024, had barely been known for picking up a club.
The day will kick off with Dhuhur prayer out on the course, before a 1:30pm shotgun start sends every team out simultaneously for an afternoon of friendly competition, bragging rights and plenty of laughs.
Then comes the part so many are really talking about: the gala dinner.
After a two-year hiatus, The Lakehouse – Brighton Lakes’ award-winning function centre – is back as the venue hosting the Community Gala Dinner.
Expect a packed room of players, sponsors, community leaders and special guests coming together for a night of celebration, recognition and, of course, a spirited fundraising auction, all in support of Feed The World’s work supporting vulnerable communities overseas.
It’s a serious step up from last year, when The Lakehouse was unavailable and the post-round celebrations were shifted to a relaxed outdoor café setting instead.
LMA Religious Affairs and Events Coordinator Salim Allouche says the buzz building around this year’s event is unlike anything he’s seen before.
“The level of enthusiasm this far out is unlike anything the event has seen before,” he said, adding that with The Lakehouse back on board, “we’re heading into what I expect will be our biggest Golf Day yet.”
Course professional Kurt Stegbauer and the wider Brighton Lakes team continue to be invaluable partners, tailoring the course and dinner arrangements to suit the community’s needs.
Behind the scenes, the Golf Committee has been hard at work since the concept first took shape in mid-2024, coordinating everything from logistics to sponsorships and volunteers.
To find out more about what the event, to register your team for the golf day and or purchase tickets for the Gala Dinner, click on the following link: www.bit.ly/golfday2026
