Playing to its strengths has made Gailes stronger than ever.
At a time when many golf clubs in Australia are searching for new revenue streams, Gailes Golf Club went back to its roots.
A former host venue of the Australian Open won by none other than four-time British Open champion Bobby Locke, Gailes has always held a place within Brisbane golf circles as a place for purists.
It’s the type of course that would be as much fun to play with persimmon and wearing plus-fours than with the modern armory provided by equipment companies today. A place where shot-making, positioning off the tee and a razor-sharp short game is required to bend the scorecard to your will.
For a time the club veered away from its traditions, but a renewed focus on its core business and the fruition of a 14-year project that yielded an expanded dam and new pump station has the course in the best condition long-time members can remember.
“He’s now a member of our pro shop staff but Bronson La’Cassie – who played on the PGA Tour in 2014 – says it is the best he’s ever seen it,” says general manager Frank McCarthy, whose association with Gailes stretches back to the 1980s.
“Our course superintendent Stewart Poole and his team continue to do an amazing job, and we’ve got a growing group of members who come out twice a week to volunteer their time and make improvements around the golf course.
“That investment in the quality of the facility by the members is helping to foster
a wonderful environment at the moment.”
Not only are the members appreciating the elevated condition of their course but visitors to Gailes are noticing the improvments, too.
Like many clubs in south-east Queensland, Gailes witnessed a significant uptick in demand for tee-times from the public during the COVID-19 lockdown and
a large number of those golfers were eager to come back for more.
“Overall membership is up 20 per cent on 12 months ago and many of those are low-handicap golfers under the age of 40,” McCarthy adds.
“We’ve seen double our usual numbers for our Dingo Hill black marker challenge each month, and what that says to me is that word is getting out that Gailes is a place that good golfers want to play.
“We’ve had quite a large number of people join recently because they came out for a hit and liked what they saw.”
Although staying true to its past, Gailes has also embraced the new world, removing any differentiation between male and female members four years ago to treat everyone equally.
Located just 35 minutes south-west of the Brisbane CBD, Gailes continues to make tee-times available for visitors but be warned… one visit may provide enough compelling reasons to join.
THE DETAILS
Gailes Golf Club
Where: 299 Wilruna St, Wacol QLD 4076
Phone: (07) 3271 1045
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: gailesgolf.com.au
