History
The club has a proud history spanning across three centuries. It began when 11 enthusiasts met on Wednesday evening 4th November 1896 and formed the first golf club in the State capital. The club was the third in Queensland after the North Queensland (now Townsville) and Toowoomba Golf Clubs.
The first course of nine holes at Chelmer was opened on Saturday 12 December 1896 by the club president and colonial governor, Lord Lamington, a keen golfer. It was situated between Honour Avenue and the river, upstream of the Indooroopilly bridge.
Play was across vacant suburban allotments. Subsequent housing development forced the club to look elsewhere for a permanent site. The original clubhouse at Chelmer still stands, now being used as a residence.
A freehold block of 110 acres was acquired in November 1903 at Yeerongpilly. It was adjacent to the Yeerongpilly-Corinda rail line and arrangements were made for the suburban trains to stop outside its entrance. The club was one of the few golf clubs in Australia at that time to own its course. Additional land was bought over the years to amass 150 acres.
The first eighteen holes, designed by Carnegie Clark, were brought into play by May 1904 and was the first full length course in Queensland. Although the layout has been lengthened and extensively improved over the years, many of the original holes are still in play. The noted Scottish architect, Dr Alistair MacKenzie, was engaged in 1926 to advise on changes to the design.
Later, an additional nine-hole layout was completed and used until 1999 when the area was incorporated into a redesign of the main course.
The club committee organised the inaugural Queensland Amateur Championships (men and ladies) in 1900 and conducted the first Queensland Open in 1925. The course has Australia Amateur rating and hosted the Australian Amateur championship in 1966 and 1996 as well as several Interstate Series. The club has been the venue of over one hundred tournaments at State, National and International level.
The club committee took the initiative in 1914 to form the Queensland Golf Association in conjunction with nine country clubs and provided the initial delegates and office bearers for the new body. Numerous members have since made major contributions to the game at State and national level.
The first club house at Yeerongpilly was destroyed by fire in July 1909 and the present building, designed in "Queensland colonial" style dates from early 1910. Extensions and refurbishment over the years have retained this form.
The club's Honour Boards list trophies dating back from 1898 which are the oldest in Australia.
Many members have enjoyed success at State and National level and have been members of interstate and national teams. Member, Ernest Gill, was the first player from Queensland to win an Amateur title in 1906. Alex College won fifteen club championships plus many lesser events. He represented Australia and was a member of the first Queensland team in 1936 and continued to play for the state until 1962.
Although a frequent winner of the open pennant competition before the Second World War, victories since have been confined to the lower divisions.
