Birdsville $1M hole-in-one sells out ahead of tee off

Outback Queensland’s most iconic amateur golf event, the Outback Queensland Masters has officially sold out for the second year running in what will be the first tournament at Queensland’s newest golf course on the edge of the Simpson Desert.

The event which began in 2019 is expected to see 2,500 golfing enthusiasts travel to some of Queensland’s most remote and unique golf courses this June and July in the hopes of hitting a Million Dollar Hole-In-One.

Known as Australia’s most remote golf series, the Outback Queensland Masters is yet to see a player strike it rich with the Million Dollar Hole-In-One remaining unclaimed.

Birdsville local and President of the Birdsville Dunes Golf Club, Nell Brook is bringing her passion for the sport to Queensland’s far west corner.

“We’ve always had the idea of building a golf course here in Birdsville and it’s taken decades of planning and hard work from the small community, but the 18-hole course is in the final stages of preparing to host its first tournament, the Outback Queensland Masters,” said Nell Brook.

“Designed as a championship course, it meanders through three sand hills, presenting a stiff challenge to good players looking to score well but provides plenty of width and forgiveness for beginners.

“We preserved the native vegetation as much as possible and, in places, it creates an extra layer of strategy as players must decide if they will challenge strips of shrubs in the fairway or take a longer route around.

“Birdsville isn’t traditionally a destination you think of for a golfing holiday and our new Birdsville Dunes Golf Club will be a showcase piece to golfers of the world where they can experience the beauty of the desert.

“Throughout the year Birdsville’s population fluctuates with visitors taking on four-wheel-drive trips through the Simpson Desert, so now we’re encouraging them to pack their golf clubs for their adventures too.

“I trust golfers will enjoy the ‘dunes, sand, dust and scrapes’ challenge and also some bird watching along the fairways,” Brook said.

The sold-out announcement comes with the reveal of the event’s Dinner Under the Stars live entertainment. 2022 Golden Guitar Winner, Adam Harvey set to entertain at the opening tee-off location in Roma. The Hillbilly Goats will bring their quirky and energic twist on traditional folk music to players in Barcaldine while daughter of Slim Dusty, Anne Kirkpatrick, will join the event in Winton, the home of Waltzing Matilda.

Outback Queensland Tourism Association CEO, Denise Brown, said she is thrilled to see the 2022 Outback Masters sold out for the second year in a row.

“Building upon last year’s success, the 2022 Outback Masters will boast the largest crowd the event has seen to date, and we are excited to welcome golfing enthusiasts to Outback Queensland take their shot at the Million Dollar Hole-In-One,” said Denise Brown.

“Despite borders reopening, Outback Queensland is seeing travellers near and far flock to the outback, and we encourage travellers to book ahead this season to ensure they don’t miss out,” she said.

Luke Bates, Golf Australia’s QLD & NT Manager said, “It’s the most remote the event has been taken and has really proved that amateur golfers are willing to go the extra mile to not only have their shot at the Million Dollar Hole-In-One but experience Queensland’s most western frontier.

“We designed the event to make it easy for participants to compete at multiple events in different regional locations and extend overnight visitation in various parts of the Outback,” said Mr Bates.

“We would especially like to thank our strategic partner Tourism and Events Queensland and Birdie Spirit Partner PGA of Australia.

“Support from local golf clubs and their members who so eagerly embraced the masters has been integral to this success. It could not have been staged without assistance from Maranoa Regional Council, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Barcaldine Regional Council, Winton Shire Council, Mount Isa City Council and Diamantina Shire Council,” Bates said.

The Outback Queensland Masters is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.