A Brief History
The Townsville Golf Club was established in 1893 and is the oldest golf club in Queensland and the fourth oldest in Australia.
Mr Jas Macintosh was the driving force behind the club. On a visit to England in 1892 he found that golf was becoming very popular and brought back many golf clubs and balls that he presented to friends.
Initially the Club was called the North Queensland Golf Club.
The club first played at Kissing Point (1893 – 1921) and then Aitkenvale (1921 – 1924), before settling on Rosslea, its present location, where play commenced on 18 April 1924.
Mr Daniel Gordon Soutar designed the original 18 hole course which was opened by Mr Justice R.J. Douglas, the Northern Judge of the Supreme Court of Townsville. A loan from the lessor of the land, Mrs M.F. McInnes, helped finance the construction of the clubhouse.
Aided by its Patron and President, Mr J.S. Love, the club raised enough money to purchase the land outright for 4,000 pounds in 1932, which secured its long-term future.
Water security has always been an issue, so an agreement made in the early 1970s allowed the use of treated wastewater on the course. The treatment plant was decommissioned in 2018. A pipeline from Aplins Weir currently supplies water to the course.
The club celebrated its centenary in 1993 with a hugely successful Centenary Bash. Likewise, the 125th anniversary was celebrated in style and the 130th Anniversary coincided with the opening of Stage 1 of the New Clubhouse precinct.
The club has always been progressive and forward-thinking. Currently the golf club is undertaking a clubhouse and course redevelopment process, with course architects Bob Harrison and Karrie Webb, creating a superb 18-hole layout. Additionally the club completed the construction of “Fairways”, Townsville’s only master-planned golf course residential community.
While the Townsville Golf Club has a proud history and commitment to the traditions of the game, its excellent facilities are there for the current and future enjoyment of our wonderful sport.
