Golfers shot for $1M hole at Quilpie for 2021 Rural Bank Quilpie Golf Open

More than $15,000 of prizes up for grabs at the Central Queensland golf course on top of the lucrative hole-in-one competition.

Golfers were swinging with hopes of landing a million dollar hole-in-one at Quilpie as part of the 2021 Rural Bank Quilpie Golf Open.

The 18-hole stroke competition had $15,000 of prizes up for grabs on top of the lucrative hole-in-one On August 14 and 15.

“Unfortunately we didn’t send anyone home a millionaire on the Saturday, but we had a lot of fun trying,” Quilpie Golf Club President, Bruce Paulsen said.

“The excitement of competitors was palpable.

“We had groups of friends who’d come to try their luck from all around South Western Queensland, as well as a good contingent of local would-be golfers.”

More than 110 keen golfers took to the red earthed outback golf course at Quilpie, with the 10th hole from 167 metres being chosen for the magical million dollar hole-in-one.

The 18-hole stroke competition had $15,000 of prizes up for grabs on top of the lucrative hole-in-one On August 14 and 15.

“A few of our golfers were very much on the right line but a bit short of the hole,” Mr Paulsen said.

“They really gave it a great crack, and there was a lot of laughs and camaraderie out on the golf course.”

He said social distancing was easy to manage on the vast outback golf course, and the day provided much needed relief for many locals who had a roller coaster year in business due to Covid and travel restrictions.

Based on the success of the weekend, the Quilpie Golf Club is already looking at staging another big competition in August next year.

“It was a great day, and we’re already looking at how we can make our 2022 event an absolute must on the golfing calendar,” Mr Paulsen said.

“We have some exciting ideas in mind for next season and advise golfers of all talent to start making plans for August 2022.

“We’ll definitely do something innovative again next year.”

The Quilpie Golf Clubhouse is a modest weatherboard structure sitting on a small island of green grass in a sea of red earth.

What the Club House lacks in grandeur it makes up for in outback hospitality, cold beer and a totally unique golfing experience.

Golfers headed to the Quilpie Golf Club on August 14 and 15 for the 2021 Rural Bank Quilpie Golf Open.

The Quilpie golf course is a mostly flat range, proving itself a great leveller for golfers of all skill levels.

“In between times gives keen golfers a full year to come out to Quilpie and enjoy our unique, and beautiful red earth golf course and hopefully better their knowledge of the course,” Mr Paulsen said.

“There’s lots of other things for them to also enjoy in our region.

“We have Australia’s biggest dinosaur not too far down the road at Eromanga, as well as renowned Opal mining, a beautiful landscape and a vibrant arts scene.

“And we’re of course Covid free in Outback Queensland so it’s also a safe and easy place to travel.”

Results from Saturday, August 14:

• Best Nett Winners: Andy Cameron, Terry Fields, Dugald Shaw and Richard Agar (Morven and Augathella)
• Best Gross Winners: Ken Cavanough, Jason Thomas, Peter Widgell & Brett Hamlyn (Cunnamulla)
• Hole-in-one shootout: Josh Lambert (Roma), Andrew Turnbull (Tambo), Sam Bartlett, Al McNall, Dave Bodkin and Duncan McNair (all from Quilpie) were the qualifying players for the shootout. Quilpie’s Duncan McNair had the closest shot.
• Lucky Door Prizes were taken home by Peter Widgell (Cunnamulla), Jarrod Lander (Quilpie) and Ruby Gamble (Cunnamulla)
• Ken Walton (Longreach) took out the $500 putting Competition.

Rural Bank Quilpie Golf Open 18 Hole Stroke results from Sunday, August 15:

• Men’s Best Gross: Josh Lambert (Roma) 69
• Best Nett: Russell McWaters (Quilpie)
• Best Gross: Mary Sutherland (Tambo)
• Best Nett: Kerri Vagg (Quilpie)