SCHOOL teacher Harry Griffiths, the man who called the inaugural meeting of the Gympie Golf Club in 1926 and became its first captain, is generally considered the founder of organised golf in Gympie, the historic gold-mining town two hours’ drive north of Brisbane.
But had it not been for a heroic local doctor, who famously survived the Japanese sinking of the hospital ship Centaur off Caloundra in 1943, Gympie Golf Club might not have endured those first few frantic years.
Dr Leslie McDonald Outridge, who attended that first meeting and became one of the club’s earliest presidents, was responsible for much of the early planning of the course, which opened for play in early 1928 with just a few holes.
Dr Outridge then donated a five-acre parcel of land known as Twoomey’s Paddock, which allowed for more holes—the land these days the site of the second, third and part of the 13th holes—and followed up by providing the funds for the club to buy its first truck.
The cigar-chomping doctor, who played off a handicap of six, also covered the early wages of Scott Murphy, the Irish-born greenkeeper who became Gympie Golf Club’s first professional and went on to assume legendary status at the club.
The two-level clubhouse at Gympie.
Dr Outridge, who studied in Sydney before relocating to Gympie where he established a practice, was the only doctor to survive the sinking of the Centaur, which was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1943 with the loss of 268 lives. He spent more than 30 hours in a lifeboat, administering care to fellow survivors.
In 1975, a shelter shed behind the 12th green was dedicated to Dr Outridge’s memory, to acknowledge his contribution to the club.
Enthusiasts had been hitting golf balls in the area since the 1890s, but it wasn’t until Gympie Golf Club was formed that organised golf was available, and as the club grew it became not just a place to play the game, but a social hub where locals forged friendships and traditions.
As Gympie Golf Club celebrates its centenary this year, it is timely to recall the contribution of people like Dr Outridge and a group of outstanding pioneers who overcame significant obstacles to shape the direction and character of a unique sporting institution.
Among them were Tom and Thelma Stallard, who joined the fledgling club soon after its formation and went on to become the first husband-and-wife team in Australia to notch up a combined club membership of 100 years. In 1978, they were honoured with life membership.
One of Gympie’s earliest Presidents, Dr Outridge with his three sons Jonathon, David and Peter.
Gympie Golf Club’s first greenkeeper was William Dean Snr, who tended the sand greens and used his own draught horses to pull a mower across the fairways. Course maintenance was assisted by cows, which freely roamed the course until it was fenced in 1933.
His son, William ‘Bill’ Dean Jnr, became greenkeeper in 1932, drove the club’s first tractor in 1936, and was still the greenkeeper 44 years later.
Scott Murphy joined the club in 1931, working firstly as a greenkeeper, then a barman, before being appointed club professional, a position he would hold for 42 years. When Murphy, who grew up in Ireland before moving to Queensland in 1928, retired, he was made a life member—the first professional in Queensland to be so honoured.
Murphy was appointed club patron in 1976, and when he died in 1991 at the age of 94, he ended a 60-year association with the club.
Gympie itself is rich in history, having been founded following James Nash’s discovery of gold in 1867, an event that transformed the settlement into a booming goldfield and brought huge population and economic growth to the area.
Gold mining and the Gympie Golf Club have been closely linked since the club’s inception. Indeed, two gold mines were located on the course itself.
A mullock heap from the Homeward Bound mine, which produced 516 ounces of gold from 261 tons of stone, can still be seen near the seventh tee, while the New Gympie mine was located near the 17th tee.
When the price of gold increased sharply in the 1930s, miners sunk an 800-foot-deep shaft, while the 17th tee was temporarily relocated to prevent wayward golf balls from finding their way into the mine site.
Returns from the New Gympie mine were disappointing, however, producing gold worth only £5,000. The operation was closed in 1941, the shaft later used as a well to provide water for the golf course.
In those early years, golfers had to trek across the highway to play six holes on the western side of Chatsworth Road, where a Chinese vegetable garden was located, its produce used to feed the hungry miners.
From cow paddocks and Chinese vegetable gardens to one of regional Queensland’s finest country clubs, with an outstanding modern two-storey clubhouse, Gympie Golf Club has achieved a great deal in its 100-year history.
Situated north of the Gympie town centre, its par-70 course features undulating fairways, excellent greens, strategically placed bunkers and a natural bush setting that challenges players of all levels while offering scenic views of the Wide Bay region.
The golf shop is the domain of Sean Dwyer, the former director of coaching at Brisbane’s Victoria Park Golf Course. A PGA member, Dwyer followed Simon Linnane, who in turn succeeded Paul Orchard as head professional.
Orchard, a former touring professional who was the Gympie head pro for 16 years, was a passionate supporter of junior golf, running coaching clinics for kids of all ages and skill levels.
Today, the club operates in partnership with the Gympie Sports Club, which manages the course, clubhouse and licensed facilities. With members ranging from teenagers to veterans, Gympie Golf Club provides regular competitions, social play and community engagement.
The club kicked off its centenary celebrations in late September with a range of initiatives aimed not only at raising the profile of the club, but also highlighting the historical richness of the Gympie region.
Celebrating 100 years, the Gympie Golf Club invites golfers visiting the region to come and enjoy everything the Gympie course has to offer. “Discover this unique historic golf course for yourself — a must-do experience when visiting the region.”
Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig unveiled the first of 18 specially designed historic gold mine signs that now grace the tee boxes of each of the club’s holes, serving as a living tribute to the town’s storied past. The first tee highlights the contribution of James Nash, who discovered 72 ounces of gold in Nash’s Gully over just seven days in 1867.
The 18 signs, which provide an identity for the holes, are in chronological order, beginning with James Nash and ending with Eldorado, the last operating gold mine in the area. Each sign also includes a section featuring historical facts and stories about the club and the local gold-mining era.
Members and visitors will share in gold nuggets to the current value of about $3,300 in a unique initiative that began in October.
To enter a lucky draw, golfers need only contribute $1 when they pay green fees for a round of golf. They will receive a receipt, which can be placed in a barrel in the pro shop.
There is no limit to the number of entries, and the winners will be drawn—with a first prize of a 10-gram gold bar and a second prize of five grams of gold—at the centenary dinner on September 26.
Other planned centenary highlights include a Centenary Family Day Challenge in August, contested by father and son or mother and daughter; a Retro Golf Day in June; and a Major Centenary Championship in September, which will offer a $4,000 prize and hopefully attract the lowest-handicapped golfers from throughout the country.
There will be a party hole on the 17th and a $10,000 prize for the first player to score a hole-in-one, sponsored by Gympie Sports Club.
Another special event will be the Centenary Masters in April, where the final nine holes will reflect the Masters at Augusta National, with a shotgun start and breakfast provided.
There will also be a sportsmen’s dinner in August and a Centenary Dinner Dance at the Gympie Showgrounds Pavilion on Saturday, September 26. A glossy magazine featuring the first 100 years of the club will be available for sale at the dinner.
One of eighteen hole signs depicting the history of Gympie and the golf club.
Centenary Diary
Sunday, April 12: Centenary Masters, sponsored by Horizon Living
Sunday, June 28: Retro/Heritage Golf Day, sponsored by Harrington’s Bullion
Saturday, August 8: Centenary Sportsmen’s Dinner at Gympie Sports Club
Saturday, August 15 & Sunday, August 16: Centenary Family Golf Challenge, sponsored by Liven Willow Rise
Sunday, September 6: Major Centenary Championship, sponsored by Riversun Developments
Saturday, September 26: Centenary dinner dance at The Pavilion, Gympie Showgrounds
October 2025-September 2026: Win Yourself a Gold Nugget promotion at Gympie golf shop
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