“The (Gailes) structure is first price. There’s little to criticise and I used to be tickled to dying to have the ability to play there. I’ll guess that course develops some (nice) gamers as a result of they should play golf there.” – GENE SARAZEN, 1934
GAILES Golf Membership’s historical past is a lucky one, made attainable by Dr Henry Byam Ellerton.
Born in London in 1871, Dr Ellerton graduated from Nottingham Asylum and went on to turn out to be its senior medical assistant officer.
Then, in 1908, the Queensland Authorities known as functions in England and Australia for a medical superintendent on the Hospital for the Insane, Goodna.
Dr Ellerton was chosen from 25 candidates and took up responsibility on January 21, 1909.
The references from his superiors, which the federal government sought previous to his appointment, point out his eager pioneering curiosity in what was the toddler science of occupational remedy. His confidence on this type of therapy was later to be of immense worth to Gailes Golf Membership.
He had a fanatical curiosity in cricket and inside a couple of years of his arrival at Goodna he transformed a swampy despair to the left of what’s now the seventh fairway right into a high quality cricket oval.
Aged 46, the nice physician was nonetheless enjoying cricket however failing eyesight resulted in him turning to golf and he joined Brisbane Golf Membership. To play, he travelled by hospital cab to Goodna, prepare to Corinda, after which one other prepare connection to Yeerongpilly, strolling the ultimate mile (1.6km).
The journey was irksome and, to a person of his temperament, an appalling waste of time. As well as, as soon as every week play was removed from his thought of sport.
It was Mrs Ellerton who instructed that he ought to construct his personal course. It took somewhat prodding however ultimately he succumbed. The one land obtainable was the uninviting waste exterior his backyard fence.
Dr Ellerton satisfied the state authorities that the unused land surrounding the Goodna Hospital for the Insane was good for a golf course, which might in flip present a chance for his sufferers to enterprise outside and do some voluntary work as remedy on the course.
He was given the inexperienced mild and any golfer might have foretold what was going to occur subsequent.
Dr Ellerton walked till he knew each tree and hole and by early 1923, he had what he wished. He would construct a course and it will be of championship customary.
Turning again the clock 100 years to February 4, 1924 9 holes had been accomplished and the then Queensland Premier, E. G. (Ted) Theodore, stepped as much as the primary tee at Goodna Golf Membership and bought away a drive that reportedly introduced real applause from the gallery.
And so it was that what would ultimately turn out to be referred to as Gailes Golf Membership started a wealthy and profitable existence of the Brisbane {golfing} scene.
“The foresight of a husband-and-wife group 100 years in the past to determine this plot of scrubland was price one thing extra – after which to have the motivation and drive to design and construct a group golf course on that website because of this – is actually inspirational,” stated Gailes GC normal supervisor Frank McCarthy.
“What an unimaginable present to the group.”
It didn’t take lengthy for Gailes golf course to be recognised as a stern take a look at of golf and it quickly started to host district and regional championships.
The last word accolade got here in 1955 when Gailes hosted the Australian Open – becoming a member of Royal Queensland as the one two Brisbane golf equipment to have staged the nationwide open.
South African Bobby Locke, a four-time main winner, recorded a one-shot victory over Norman von Nida and Kel Nagle. The main novice was Jack Coogan, who went on to turn out to be the membership’s long-serving head skilled.
However lengthy earlier than Locke received at Gailes, one other world-beater rated the course Queensland’s finest. American Gene Sarazen, a winner of seven majors, toured Australia with Joe Kirkwood in 1934 and performed an exhibition match there in opposition to Arch McArthur and Ossie Walker.
Sarazen managed to eke out a classy 71 and writing within the Courier-Mail the next day declared Goodna (now Gailes) Queensland’s finest.
He later repeated that opinion in a radio broadcast from Sydney and strongly really helpful an Australian Open be held in Queensland and that the primary one ought to go to Goodna.
THE COURSE: The primary 928 metres of Gailes golf course is reasonably uncommon because it begins with two par-5s, which some consultants imagine helps velocity up play.
The primary is arguably probably the most attention-grabbing because the fairways begins with a slight rise, timber both aspect, then drops down a steep hill earlier than rising once more to a two-tiered inexperienced. 4 bunkers guard the inexperienced and there’s a pond to the fitting.
The gamers will solely have two holes to heat up earlier than reaching the primary par-3 – the prolonged and difficult 169-metre (blue tee field) and 123m (pink) third gap.
“We’ve got the hardest par-3s within the nation … in my view,” head skilled Brett Barlow advised Inside Golf.
“The par-3 sixth gap is 193 metres to a slender inexperienced and being barely uphill it performs longer than its precise size. The par-3 twelfth is simply 126 metres, nevertheless it’s equally difficult.
“The smallish inexperienced is raised and nearly surrounded by bunkers. Should you miss the placing floor there’s no assure you’ll get up-and-down.
“The bunkers at Gailes are fairly deep so it’s vital you hit your targets,” Barlow warned.
“The par-4s supply a combination of brief, mid-length and lengthy holes that dogleg left and proper giving golfers the chance to make use of each membership within the bag.”
The fourth is the shortest par-4 and a particular birdie alternative whereas the slight dogleg proper fifteenth at 403m, is the hardest task because it goes downhill for the primary half, then uphill.
Longer hitters can attain the par-5s in two, however provided that they hit their tee pictures to the right aspect of the fairways – usually down the fitting as a result of the fairways do slope from proper to left.
In fact, Gailes caters for golfers of all talents with 4 tee positions (black, blue, white and pink) from which to decide on.
From the black tee markers, the course measures 6245m (slope 127), 6148m from the blue tees (slope 126) and 5984m from the white tees (slope 124). From the pink tees, the course measures 5339m and has a slope ranking of 128.
One of many benefits of enjoying Gailes is you don’t want a field of golf balls to barter the course.
“Gailes is a pleasant course so far as misplaced balls are involved,” Barlow stated. “You received’t lose too many round right here as a result of there isn’t plenty of water.”
And should you do miss a fairway, you’ll probably have a gallery of kangaroos as firm. Kangaroos are a function across the picturesque course and it’s common to see the marsupials near the clubhouse and placing inexperienced.
What makes Gailes distinctive is that no tee or fairway do golfers look into the solar and all fairways have a slight slope to maintain water from laying on the floor.
Whereas Gailes is just not lengthy by fashionable requirements, it constantly resists low scoring. It’s a pleasure to play as a result of there isn’t the faintest suggestion of trickery or artificiality within the design.
On ending your spherical, head for the commodious clubhouse that has all of the anticipated comforts together with a eating and bar space that caters for 120-plus individuals.
It’s a preferred venue for weddings and different features together with seminars and company golf days.
A progressive and pleasant membership, Gailes welcomes guests and company.
GAILES GOLF CLUB INFORMATION
Normal supervisor: Frank McCarthy
Head skilled: Brett Barlow
Educating execs: Matthew Guyatt and Warren Austin
Classes: $75 for half-hour (guests); group classes obtainable
Inexperienced charges: Mon-Fri $35 (18 holes) – $30 (9 holes). Weekends and public holidays: $45
Particular supply: Mon-Fri two gamers in a shared golf cart $99 (excluding public holidays)
Cart rent: $45 (18 holes); $30 (9 holes)
Pull buggy: $5
Greatest days to go to: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Observe services: Gailes Golf Membership boasts one of many largest driving vary observe services in Brisbane. The vary, which is now in a position for use from each ends thereby doubling its capability, measures roughly 300 metres. Observe balls can be found on the professional store.
As well as, the vary has a devoted observe inexperienced full with sand bunkers for these wishing to hone their brief recreation abilities.
Open occasion: The favored Dingo Hill Basic is a black marker occasion that’s a part of the Western Suburbs Problem with Oxley, Wolston Park and McLeod golf golf equipment. It prices guests $45 (burger included) and is an actual take a look at of ability. There are prizes galore.
Membership: Gailes GC provides 15 membership classes from seven-day to social membership. (See membership’s web site).
The one centesimal anniversary e-book: The Gailes Golf Membership – 100 years (1924-2024) e-book launch might be on February 4, 2024. The e-book’s writer, Vicki Mynott, is a former English and Historical past trainer and librarian.
Contact: Gailes Golf Membership, 299 Wilruna Road, Wacol Qld 4076
Telephone membership: (07) 3271-2333
Telephone professional store: (07) 3271-1045
E mail: workplace@gailesgolf.com.au
Professional store: proshop@gailesgolf.com.au
Web site: www.gailesgolf.com.au
Highway distances:
Gailes is 25km southwest of Brisbane’s CBD (a 25-minute drive)
Brisbane Airport: 33 minutes
Surfers Paradise: 55 minutes
Three golf programs – Wolston Park, Oxley and McLeod – are inside a 10-minute drive from Gailes.
How Gailes Golf Membership will have fun its centenary yr
Saturday, February 3: Gailes Centenary Pipe Opener – Clive Boyce Cup
Sunday, February 4: Gailes Centenary Occasion – Lengthy lunch and e-book launch
Thursday, July 11: Gailes Women Centenary Open Day Occasion
Monday, July 15: 2024 PGA Affiliate Trainee 18-Gap Centenary
Professional-Am
Thursday, August 8: PGA Legends Centenary Professional-Am
September 23-24 (Monday-Tuesday): Bobby Locke Junior Basic – Golf Australia 2-day occasion
Sunday, September 29: Brisbane Beginner and Mid-Beginner Occasion
November/December (date TBC): Centenary Official Closing Occasion
Different commemorative options:
• Centenary emblem
• Wall mural within the Coogan Room – ‘The First 10 A long time’
• The First 10 A long time – expanded for the Heritage part on the membership’s web site.
• Tales from 25 impartial interviewees – accessible by way of the membership’s web site
• Slideshow of highlights and personalities working within the Coogan Room.
• Merchandise – numerous objects carrying the Centenary emblem obtainable within the professional store.
