1930 – Wide Bay and Burnett Golf Association is Formed
There were two golf clubs in the district, Childers and Maryborough. Childers is mentioned first because this club was in a flourishing condition, and, moreover, at that time was probably the best country golf club in Queensland. As golfers are aware the control of the game was, until late last 1929, in the hands of the Queensland Golf Association, but with the increased number of clubs which sprung up all over the State, each having a representative at Brisbane, the machinery became unwieldy. The outcome was the formation of the existing councils to the number of ten, each body being represented on the Golf Council, which met in Brisbane. The Maryborough Golf Club at once took the matter up with great enthusiasm, and appointed Messrs. E. S. Corser (pictured left) and T. J. Strong as its representatives. in 1929 a meeting was called, and a fully representative number of those interested attended. Those present, in addition to the Maryborough representative members, were J. G. Dawson, G. W. Treloar, and E. J. White, representing Biggenden, Nambour and Gympie. It was thereupon resolved to form an association, and the following were elected: – President, E. S. Corser; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer T. J. Strong; Committee, J. G. Dawson and W. B. Liddle (Maryborough), D. C. M. Finemore (Bundaberg), J. Ellworthy (Gympie).
Photo courtesy of Men of Queensland, 1937: [Brisbane] : Osborne Publishing, 1937.
Area of District
The Wide Bay and Burnett district extends from Caboolture to Bundaberg. At present there are the following clubs: – Caboolture (a private club), Maleny (not affiliated), Gympie, Kingaroy, Wondai, Murgon (in course of formation), Biggenden, Bundaberg, Bargara, Isis, and Maryborough – in all, about 1,300 members and associates. About 1,000 have joined up in less than 3 years.
1933 – The Wide Bay Expands
The increasing popularity of golf in the Wide Bay and Burnett district was revealed at the annual meeting of the association that controls the sport in that area. It was disclosed that four new clubs – Goomeri, Montville, Mary Valley, and Caboolture – had been formed during the year and it was expected that clubs would be formed in the near future at Monto, Gayndah, Mundubbera and Hervey Bay. There are now 20 clubs in the district.
According to the annual report of the Queensland Golf Council there are 51 clubs in Queensland with official standard scratch scores. Ten of this number are in the metropolitan area, therefore Wide Bay with its 20 clubs constitute half the number in the whole State, outside the metropolitan area.
It has been estimated that there are more than 1,000 golfers – men and associates – in this association. From information supplied the figures are: – Associates 630, men 681: total, 1,311.
1946 – The Wide Bay Golf Association Reformed
In 1939 the Wide Bay and Burnett Golf Association was the largest in Queensland and one of the largest in Australia, having 34 clubs affiliated. With the cessation of hostilities and return of service personnel many of the clubs have again joined the association under president Dr. L. McKeon of Bundaberg (pictured left). The affiliated clubs are as follows: – Bargara, Biggenden, Bundaberg, Cooroy, Gayndah, Gin Gin, Goomeri, Gympie, Howard, Isis, Kingaroy, Maryborough, Mt. Perry, Monto, Murgon, Mundubbera, Nambour, Nanango, Pialba, Tewantin and Noosa, Wondai, Woodford.
The membership of the association members 800 men and almost 600 ladies.
Photo courtesy of Men of Queensland, 1937: [Brisbane] : Osborne Publishing, 1937.
Revival of Pennants
Prior to the war pennant competitions were held and were keenly contested in the zones and finals at the association carnival in the month of September. Bargara Club holds both A and B grade trophies. No doubt these pennant games will be again instituted in 1947. The conditions previously were that the association was zoned as follows:
- Bundaberg, Bargara, Gin Gin, Mt. Perry
- Monto, Mundubbera, Gayndah, Biggenden
- Gympie, Cooroy, Woodford, Nambour, Tewantin and Noosa
- Nanango, Kingaroy, Wondai
- Proston, Murgon and Goomeri
- Maryborough, Pialba, Isis, Howard
Each zone plays off; the winners play a final on a course to be decided at Easter next at the association’s annual meeting which is to be held in Maryborough. The teams are of six in either A or B Grades, four to qualify by stroke play. Prior to the war, Gympie, Bundaberg, and Maryborough courses in turn handled these competitions.
Officials
The officials of the associated are:
- President Dr. L. McKeon (Bundaberg)
- Vice-President J. J. Butler (Isis)
- Secretary and Treasurer T. J. Strong (Maryborough), pictured right
- Committee W. B. Liddle (Maryborough)
G. Thomas (Gympie)
S. Buffey (Howard) - Delegate to the Queensland Golf Council A. Strong (Brisbane)
Wide Bay Burnett District Ladies Golf Association Inc.
Wide Bay Burnett District Ladies Golf Association was formed 1976 and consisted of Lady golfers from Bribie Is. in the South to Kingaroy in the West and Mt. Perry to the North. 3 zones were formed being South Burnett Zone, Wide Bay Zone and North Coast Zone. There were 50 clubs in this District in 2013.
A lady from Kingaroy (South Burnett Zone) was first President. Presidents could only hold a President’s position for a maximum 3 years in a row. The next President was then nominated and elected from Wide Bay Zone and the 3rd President was elected from North Coast Zone and continued in this rotation. Meetings were held at Gympie and Maryborough alternately and the AGM was held at the venue of the District Championship’s. District Championships were also rotated each year through the zones.
Mid-week Pennants were held in the three zones during the year and the winning club from each Zone played in the final. The format of this was a 3 way handicap match play. This was rotated each year. Weekend Pennants were also played at Ladies Club Open Days with 3 best nett scores to count. The winning Club from each Zone then competed in a final again with 3 players from each zone and the aggregate of the 3 best nett’s were the District winners – again this event was rotated throughout the zones each year.
The final District championships of WBBDWGA were held at Kingaroy in 2013 and the final Wide Bay Zone Women’s Golf meeting was held at Isis in December 2013. Wide Bay Ladies departed from WBBDWGA on November 30th 2013. The 1st Women’s WBG Championships were held at Bargara March 2014.
Wide Bay Golf District (Men)
In 1982 the Wide Bay Golf District saw the Sunshine Coast & South Burnett Golf Association being formed breaking away from Wide Bay Golf District and forming its own 3 golfing zones.
The South Burnett Golf Zone became part of the Sunshine Coast District in 2010 breaking away from the Wide Bay Golf District for the purpose of amalgamating both men and women in South Burnett under the same umbrella, however operating under the Sunshine Coast & South Burnett District Golf Association Inc for male golfers and the Wide Bay Burnett District Womens Golf Association Inc for the female golfers.
Golf Wide Bay Inc.
A Steering Committee and then an interim committee was formed in 2013/2014 with executive from Men’s District and Women from Wide Bay Ladies Zone. From this committee Golf Wide Bay was formed.
Golf clubs in our district are entitled to become members of our association and thus gain affiliation with Golf Australia. Members of affiliated clubs enjoy the benefits of the programs, funding and services available from Golf Australia Queensland, as well as GolfLink services from Golf Australia. Our district Executive Committee, made up of delegates from affiliated clubs, is responsible for the management and administration of the association’s affairs and funds.
Locality Today
The Golf Wide Bay district covers a large geographical area, stretching from Boonooroo in the south, to Bundaberg and Bargara in the north, and Mt Perry, Eidsvold, Monto and Mundubbera in the west. 18 clubs operate in the district with collectively about 3,080 women and junior members as of March 2019. Census figures show that our numbers have remained reasonably steady over the past four years, a testament to the efforts of clubs to attract and keep female members.
Historical Interest
Eidsvold Homestead
The first golf known to be played in Queensland involved Francis Ivory (Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Burnett) from 1873 to 1878) and his brother Alexander Ivory, who laid out a few holes on their Eidsvold pastoral station in the 1880s.
By Heritage branch staff - State of Queensland: Queensland Heritage Register: Eidsvold Homestead (2009)
Francis Jeffery Ivory (1831 – 21 January 1896) was a grazier and politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council. Together with his brother Alexander, he is believed to be the first golfer in Queensland.
