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Professional Golf in Mackay

The first recorded Professional Golf Tournament to be played at the Mackay Golf Club was the Queensland Close Championship held in 1951, which was won by Ken Jones, the professional at the Pacific Golf Club.  This was followed by five more professional championships from 1956 to 1975.  The first Pro-Am was held in 1978 over 18 holes for a purse of $2000, and was won by Wayne Grady and Gerry Taylor (tied at 70 - 2 under par).

It was another eight years, in 1986, before professional golf returned to the Mackay Golf Club. Club member, the late Reg Cran, with support from Seven Mackay, sponsored the Gold Seal Homes 36 hole Pro-Am on a three year agreement. The second year of this sponsorship also coincided with the club's hosting the 36 hole Queensland Close Championship.

The club committee of the time subsequently agreed to continue the professional event as an integral part of the Queensland professional circuit, affectionately known as the "Troppo Circuit". The club saw our participation in the Troppo Circuit as a avenue for our younger "up and coming" members to gain experience against the visiting professionals and amateurs, while providing an opportunity for young professionals to hone their skills, and facilitating an engagement by the club with the local business community in promoting the game of golf.

Thus the annual 36 hole Holiday Mackay Classic was inaugurated in 1988 with $12,000 professional prize money and $2,000 in amateur trophies, developing from the competition into a major event on the Sunshine Circuit in North Queensland. The event has progressed, together with a change of name, from the original thirty-six holes competition to a fifty four (54) hole event.  In 2007, the championship became a seventy-two hole competition conducted over four days with $50,000 professional prize money.

In 2007, the City of Mackay Pro-Am was voted the Country Tournament of the Year at the prestigious Golf Industry Awards, for the fourth year in succession. This is a reflection of the co-operation between sponsors, the club members, the Professional Golfers Association, and the Tournament Committee and, in no small way, the diligence and skill of the staff in the presentation of the course and facilities.

The Troppo Circuit (or more correctly, the Queensland Sunshine Circuit) has been a great stepping stone for Australian professional golfers in their preparation for the major events of the wider world stage. One of our earlier winners on the "Troppo Circuit" was David Graham, long time member of the American PGA Tour, winner of a "major", and currently still involved in course design and development projects. Current world ranked players on the American scene include our 1993 winner Rod Pampling (a recent winner in the USA) and John Senden. The list of those who have graduated to the Asian and European Tours is endless, as are those that have performed well in Australian majors.  Recent winners Aaron Townsend, Steven Jeffress and Kurt Barnes are currently attending Qualifying School in the USA.

Unique in the history of professional golf in Mackay, the 1989 event provided a three way play off for the title, one of whom was a local amateur, Peter Maclean. Peter lost in the play-off, but this has been the best performance by an amateur despite the regular attendance of many of the Queensland Amateur State Squad members. Each year, leading A grade amateurs from around the district are invited to participate in the event - can anyone match Peter Maclean's performance?

One of the features of this tournament is the opportunity for club members to assist in the promotion of the game through various sponsorship schemes and to develop friendships with the visiting professionals. Members of all standards get the benefit of playing a round or two with players who approach the game as a career rather than just for enjoyment, and many friendships with visiting professionals have developed through members offering to billet visiting players.  The final day always provides superb spectator viewing as the leaders vie for the top prize.

The Club cordially invites all members and the general public to visit the Club during these events to watch some exciting golf and to mingle with members, sponsors and professionals around the course and in the club-house. Entry is free, snacks are available all day, and there are many vantage points around the course where spectators can watch some truly spectacular golf.

Course Records