Royal Queensland Golf Club set to open eastern short course in early 2026

One of Australia’s most challenging and fondly remembered golfing holes will be brought back to life next year as part of a prestigious Brisbane club’s masterplan. SEE THE PICTURES

The state’s most exclusive golf club will reopen a famed hole early next year for the first time in two decades after lodging plans with the state government.

Public submissions on the Royal Queensland Golf Club masterplan have opened after the club applied for a ministerial approval a month ago.

It included a championship-quality, par 3 eastern short course which would be built on club land taken over by the government for the duplicate Gateway (Sir Leo Hielscher) bridge.

That site has been vacant ever since, with the bunkers now collapsed and the turf in a dire state.

Club general manager Sean Dobson said the extension was not needed for the 2032 Olympics, which RQGC would be hosting, but was instead aimed at its existing members who wanted a more relaxed experience or who had higher handicaps.

One of the holes set to be restored.

Members will enjoy wonderful river views.

“We’ll be bringing back the old 14th (hole), near the Tangalooma ferry, which was a par 3,’’ Mr Dobson said.

“Younger members have never had the chance to play it, but the older ones fondly remember it.

“They still talk about it because it was so challenging.’’

Club members approved a two-year, multimillion-dollar masterplanning process in 2023 after considering various options including a $35m theme-park style Top Golf facility.

That was dropped after some members complained it would have diminished the brand of the club, which charged more than $18,000 for membership and boasted many of Brisbane’s elite among its membership.

The new short course will overlook the Sir Leo Hielscher (Gateway) bridges.

The design of the new waterfront pavilion.

Mr Dobson said they hoped to begin work in June and open the new short course in January or February.

“It should take about six to seven months including re-contouring, new turf which we hope to lay in spring, and more drainage,’’ he said.

“There won’t be an expansion of membership, this is for our existing members.

“The golf holes and amenities are already there, but the turf is no longer viable and the bunkers have collapsed.’’

The application also included a new snack shack/kiosk, outdoor racquet sports facility, eastern pavilion, new landscaping, undercover deck and administration building.

The duplicate Gateway bridge under construction in 2009, with the old holes on the RQGC's eastern section still visible (right). Picture: Nearmap

The site of the proposed eastern course has been vacant for years.

Aerial view of how the short course will look.

Three later stages of the masterplan would deliver improvements to the greens, better practice and storage facilities, increasing the overall length of the course, upgraded irrigation and drainage, a main clubhouse renovation to be finished by 2028 and a high-performance training facility at the eastern course.

It came after RQGC last year sealed a multimillion dollar deal with Cirque Du Soleil that will see the Canadian circus troupe hold its Brisbane shows on club land for the next eight years.

Short courses, which typically feature par 3 holes, are becoming more popular as time-poor business executives seek a quicker version of their favourite sport and seniors aim to reduce the amount of walking required.

The club, set up in 1920 and ranked 29th in Australia by Golf Digest, has hosted the Australian PGA and other major titles.

It will be the home of Olympic golf events in 2032.

Originally published as Royal Queensland Golf Club set to open eastern short course in early 2026