Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Autumn 2012 | Page 19

back in play by the Saturday just four days
after Yasi hit.

and volunteers. A contractor was used to
clean up the few big trees the course lost.

“I think we were the only course in North
Queensland to be up and running that
quickly,” said the Club’s Treasurer Arthur
Durant. “The full 18 holes were in play
within another three weeks or so and
much of that was only because of the
flooding that prevented us from mowing.
It was a hell of a working bee, many with
chainsaws.”

“The deluge was our biggest problem and
we could not play because of the amount
of water,” said Club President Ian Phillips.
“We had had six months of rain really
leading up to Yasi and the annual total
that year was close to twice the normal
so this time last year we were up to our
necks in tree frogs and cane toads.”

The Cairns Golf Club has a new manager
since Yasi hit. Charlie Adams was in
control at the time but in June of last year
Gerard Casey took over and is only too
aware of the issues the Club faced at the
time and the course applied for several
grants but none were approved.
“The course was only down for about 10
days or so but a lot of trees were lost,
some damage was caused by flying debris,
erosion damage to bunkers and there was
damage also to the clubhouse. Insurances
were paid out but although we applied for
grants including one from the Queensland
Government’s Disaster Assistance fund
none were forthcoming.”
The 9 hole Lavarack Golf Course is on the
Lavarack Army Barracks south and west
of Townsville. The course was handed
over to