Friends have paid tribute to Craignish Country Club owner Greg Harding after his shocking death

Friends of a Queensland country club owner, whose death has sparked a murder investigation, have paid tribute as the loss continues to send shockwaves across the small community.

The slain owner of Craignish Country Club is being remembered as a man who loved to chat with the people who teed off at his golf course and enjoyed sharing a laugh.

Greg Harding, 64, was found dead at his home on the grounds of the country club about 8am on Monday morning.

Police have launched a homicide investigation and believe Mr Harding was involved in an altercation on Sunday night.

On Wednesday, Anthony Turner, who has lived in the neighbouring suburb of Dundowran for years and often stop at the country club for a drink, paid tribute to Mr Harding.

Working at Channel 10, he handled Mr Harding’s advertising account and organised an event at the venue.

“He was a lovely guy,” Mr Turner said.

“When you got to know him, he was a good bloke at heart.”

Mr Turner said the community he had known for 16 years had been quiet and safe and it was shocking to learn of his friend’s death.

Now living on the Sunshine Coast, he has spoken to other friends who remain in the area and all had all expressed their disbelief at Mr Harding’s death.

He was known to the Fraser Coast Chronicle newsroom as a man who fought for his community.

Talking to the Chronicle in 2015, Mr Harding raised concerns about a blackspot near his club after a horrific fatal crash, adding that he believed the speed limit should be reduced.

Fraser Coast Councillor Denis Chapman said he had known Mr Harding for a long time.

“I knew Greg when he first bought the place,” he said.

“I always found him approachable and very nice to talk to.”

Cr Chapman said he would often run into Mr Harding and he was “always up for a bit of a laugh”.

“It’s sad to lose a person out of our community, it’s a shocking thing for any community,” he said.

“It shocks the community that a thing like that can happen here.

“I feel for the police who have got to do this investigation.”

Mr Chapman said he had been contacted by community members who were in disbelief about the suspicious death.

Commenting on Facebook, Mark Wall said he would miss their chats before teeing off.

Rebekah Dulcie Dun said Mr Harding was a client of hers.

She worked with Coca Cola and said she would “miss our yarns on the phone”.

“The place won’t be the same without you mate,” she said.

Investigations into Mr Harding’s death continue.

A spokesman from Queensland Police Media said no arrests had been made.

Police are asking anyone with dashcam footage or CCTV footage that may be of assistance to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.