IF you searched around Southeast Queensland sporting locations you would find few that had a history dating back 100 years.
Ipswich’s Sandy Gallop Golf Course reached that milestone this year and despite a tough last few years it’s now as popular as it has even been.
The course welcomed its first golfers back on March 22, 1922.
Billy Hughes was our Prime Minister then and the ruling monarch was King George V.
The Queensland Times reported on Friday April 28, 1922, in Golf Notes by Bunker, “The variety lendeth charm, is truly exemplified on the recently opened Sandy Gallop course, where the natural contour of the land provides all the intricacies and similarly. advantages, so essential to the course proper.”
Current course owner, Brett Lawton, who took over 15 years ago believes the success of the course has always been that it’s a member’s club that has never aspired to be anything that it’s not.
“We are here to look after the Ipswich community and we support the district’s leading charities,” he said.
Evidence of that was on show just last week when the club opened up the 18 holes for more than 150 golfers to play in the annual Hospice Golf Day which raising more than $15,000.
The club currently has around 700 members who have remained loyal despite the last few years of floods and covid lockdowns.
While the pandemic closures saw the course deserted for months it also reignited the passion for residents to get out of their homes and exercise.
Sandy Gallop like courses all around Queensland has now seen a resurgence in the number of people wanting to play golf.
Brett said in a way of thanking the people of Ipswich for their support of the club for more than a century he wanted to give away 100 rounds of golf.
“The first 50 people who send an email to us at sandygallopgolf@hotmail.com and simply saying Happy Birthday Sandy Gallop will be given a double pass for 18 holes,” he said.
“The giveaway is limited to one per person and one per family.”
