Carbrook Golf Club has reopened following a long and expensive rebuild to fix damage caused by the 2022 floods.
About $1.8 million was spent concreting four kilometres of new golf cart paths and repairing damage caused to the course and car park in February 2022.
It wasn’t the first time the club was hit hard by floodwaters, with tough times also experienced in 2013 and 2017.
According to the club, the destruction in 2022 was “unlike anything before”, with the entire course submerged and closing for 30 days.
“It was heartbreaking,” Carbrook general manager Scott Wagstaff said.
“However, we did what Australians do best – we got on with it.”
Mr Wagstaff thanked the state government for investing more than $1.5 million for the refurbishment, which has also been used to make the club more resilient to future events.
The upgraded Carbrook club faced its first battle during Cyclone Alfred earlier this year.
Following the cyclone, the course was closed for only 10 days – as opposed to the 30 day closure experienced in 2022.
“We hope we’ve demonstrated that investment in golf is indeed a worthwhile investment, and more so, that investment in Carbrook Golf Club is an exceptional one,” Mr Wagstaff said.
Queensland’s sport minister Tim Mander said more than half of the course was now serviced by concrete golf paths that were previously unsealed grass or gravel.
“… so the course will be far more enjoyable to play on and better protected from weather events,” he said.
“Golfers are now far more likely to drive on the concrete paths than up the fairway, which will protect the surface of the course.
“The look and feel of the club near the first tee and car park have been improved during the upgrade and will drive participation and encourage new people to join the club to try their hand at golf.”
Carbrook Golf Club president Bruce Weston thanked the government.
“While the floods of 2022 were devastating at the time, without them we wouldn’t have received the funding that we did to achieve this amazing result.
“Our club is now set up for a wonderful future where we will continue to do our part for the community and share our great game of golf with as many people as we can.”
A plaque commemorating the reopening will be placed at the entrance to Carbrook’s clubhouse.
Federal Member for Forde Rowan Holzberger said: “Community assets, like the Carbrook Golf Club provide an important space for recreation and contribute to the local economy, so it is fantastic to see this site receive much-needed repair works.
“Our community has undergone repeated flooding events in recent years, so building resilience will be key to ensure the longevity of our much-loved community facilities.
“I am committed to working in partnership with my State and Local counterparts to ensure organisations like the Carbrook Golf Club are able to continue to provide their valued services in to the future.”
