Australia’s Most Remote Golf Series Tees Off From The Edge of the Simpson Desert

June 17, 2024

Birdies for golfing nomads were challenged by crows at the Birdsville Dunes Golf Course over the weekend during the official start of Australia’s most remote golf series, on the edge of the Simpson Desert.

Over 980 golfing enthusiasts, some travelling from as far as Tasmania and Western Australia are joining the 1,600km outback golf journey now following onto Boulia, Winton, Barcaldine, Charleville and culminating in Quilpie with a Million-Dollar Hole-In-One challenge in July.

Diamantina Shire Council Mayor Francis Murray said The Masters, has become an iconic Australian bucket-list event, introducing a new cohort of visitors to their part of the world.

“Who wouldn’t want to play golf on rolling red dunes under big blue skies with the added challenge of beating the crows to the ball?”

“This is a very remote course, throwing up a lot of challenges,” explained Stephan Pursell, Birdsville Dunes Golf Club Vice President.

“It’s not only the style of the course, the sand greens and desert fairways but the local wildlife. This weekend crows were out in numbers and must have known the Outback Masters was on.

“The crows for some reason love golf balls. We’ve tried all different things to stop them including different coloured balls to stop them coming in and taking them. One player reported they had lost over twenty balls in one afternoon alone!

“We don’t know where they take them, but there’s sure a lot of them somewhere!” Pursell said.

Golf Australia Events General Manager, Therese Magdulski said, “Amateur golfers are willing to go the extra mile, not only to play for Australia’s largest amateur golfing prize pool but to experience Queensland’s most western frontier.

“This event showcases how different the game of golf can be. The sand green courses of Outback Queensland provide a unique experience and challenge for players of all levels and ages.

“It’s all about having fun on and off the golf course. It’s about the outback experience, discovering new places and meeting new people, and we can’t wait to share that with those joining over the coming weeks of the competition.

“We started the weekend with a friendly warmup before the official tee off for golfers and the community to have a crack at our Big Red Hole-In-One Challenge, teeing off from the top of the iconic 40-meter-high Big Red Sand Dune, to support the Birdsville Dunes Golf Club.”

As a community give-back and to provide opportunities for young people in Outback Queensland, free Junior Golf Clinics are being staged at all six locations of the Outback Queensland Masters with PGA Pro, Darren Weatherall.

Birdsville Mayor Francis Murray added, “When I was growing up in Birdsville the most popular sport was tennis because you only needed two people to play.

“Any sport that can be played at the drop of the hat with just two people is the kind of sport we need out here, and we are lucky that our dedicated and passionate locals did the work to bring golf to the Diamantina Shire, with the Outback Queensland Masters in Birdsville bringing a new level of engagement, motivating locals to get involved and kids to learn new skills with the free junior clinics.”

“The Outback Queensland Masters legacy is to give youth in Outback Queensland an opportunity to either try golf for the first time or fine-tune their skills,” explained Darren Weatherall.

“We had some juniors make a 400-kilometre round-trip to Birdsville this weekend to join in. It’s so encouraging to see the next generation interested in the game and giving it a go in these small bush communities. Who knows, we may even see one of them represent Australia one day.”

“Here in Birdsville and throughout the next five locations, we’re touring with the Australian PGA Championship Trophy, the Kirkwood Cup,” said Darren Weatherall, “The Cup, named after Joe Kirkwood, put Australian golf on the map, credited with scoring twenty-nine hole-in-ones and numerous national and international tournaments across the United States of America, Canada, and the Australian and New Zealand Opens.

Darren further explains, “What’s fascinating, as the story goes, when Joe Kirkwood was a youngster he went to work on an outback station where his boss introduced him to the game of golf. From these humble beginnings, he turned professional in 1920.”

Winners of the event’s coveted orange jacket in Birdsville were Wendy Bodkin of the Quilpie Golf Club in the Women’s with 42 points and in the Men’s, Garry Meek of the North Rockhampton Golf Club, also with 42 points.

Therese Magdulski added, “The event is presented by Golf Australia, and we would especially like to thank our strategic partner Tourism and Events Queensland and Birdie Spirit Partners PGA of Australia, Rex Airlines and BCL Production Services.

“Support from local golf clubs and their members who so eagerly embraced the masters has been integral to this success. The Birdsville Dunes Golf Club has been outstanding in its participation and support for the Outback Queensland Masters.

“We could not have been staged without assistance from local government, including the Diamantina Shire Council, Boulia Shire Council, Winton Shire Council, Barcaldine Regional Council, Murweh Shire Council and Quilpie Shire Council. Thanks to our Mateship Partners Bushnell Golf, Drummond Golf, Callaway, IJS Productions and Your Mates Brewing Co.”

The 2024 Outback Queensland Masters is taking place from 15 June – 21 July 2024; limited player and spectator passes remaining at www.outbackqldmasters.com!

Outback Queensland Masters is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland.