What’s Happening?
The Australian PGA Legends 9 Hole Championship Pro-Am has wrapped up at the Town of 1770 Golf Course.
Touring veteran Jason Norris won the professional division, while regional golfers also claimed honours across the amateur competition.
The tournament brought professionals and amateurs together in Agnes Water and 1770. It was delivered through a new partnership between the golf course and Discovery Coast Tourism and Commerce.
This was the first time both organisations had worked together to deliver the event.
Why It Matters
The national tournament brought visitors to the Discovery Coast outside the region’s usual peak tourism season.
This supported accommodation providers, restaurants and retailers during a traditionally quieter period, with the benefits also flowing to local workers.
“A sold-out national event outside our peak season is exactly what this region needs more of,” DCTC General Manager Alistair Tavares said. “Accommodation, restaurants and retail all trade in a period when they would otherwise be quiet, and that flows directly through to local jobs. Our strategy has never been about chasing raw visitor numbers. It is about spreading demand across the calendar so businesses can employ people year-round.”
Mr Tavares said the Town of 1770 Golf Course had created an event with strong regional appeal.
“The Town of 1770 Golf Course has built something with real drawing power, and DCTC’s role is to help events like this reach further and return more to the region,” he said.
Local Impact
Strong support from volunteers, sponsors and the local community helped organisers manage the tournament’s record level of participation.
Rick Niven, from the 1770 PGA Legends Tour Pro-Am project team, said the full field contributed to its success.
“This year has been the most successful of the five due to the fact that we had a full complement of professionals and amateurs attend,” Mr Niven said. “We had tremendous support from our volunteers and from the Town of 1770 Golf Course itself. I was extremely thankful for the job that DCTC did throughout the lead-up to the event. They made nominations and information so much easier.”
The tournament also offered a new car from Bill Robertson Toyota in Gladstone for a hole-in-one on Hole 1.
Although the car went unclaimed on Saturday, another player landed an ace on Hole 3 during tournament play.
The shot prompted loud celebrations across the course. However, the supplied event information did not identify the player or their town.
The tournament was supported by Gladstone Regional Council’s Councillor Discretionary Fund. Organisers also thanked the sponsors, volunteers, players and community.
By the Numbers
- More than 150 touring PGA professionals and amateur golfers competed across two days in Agnes Water and 1770.
- The tournament sold out weeks early for the first time in its five-year history, leaving a long waitlist of players.
- The Town of 1770 Golf Course covers 68 acres of natural bushland and includes nine holes and a driving range.
Zoom In
Professional champion Jason Norris arrived in 1770 with an established record across Australian and international golf.
Norris won the 2017 Fiji International, which was co-sanctioned by the European, Asian and Australasian tours. He later won the 2023 Australian Senior PGA Championship and holds the 2010 Victorian Open title.
Norris described the Town of 1770 course as a “phenomenal test of golf” and praised its condition and setting.
“It’s a beautiful spot, a beautiful country town. It’s like the old days of not too many people, so it’s a beautiful place to come and visit,” Norris said.
“It’s a great golf course and it’s good fun to come and play. It’s in great condition, a tough layout, and a really good challenge.”
Local Agnes Water golfer Di Wolfe dominated Division 1 across both days and secured back-to-back victories.
Division 2 honours went to Agnes Water golfer Mick McConnell on Day 1. Gladstone’s Lexi Robinson then won the division on Day 2.
Zoom Out
The Town of 1770 Golf Course is located in Agnes Water, about five hours north of Brisbane on Queensland’s Discovery Coast.
Its fairways feature hybrid Legend Couch grass under full irrigation, while its raised greens were built to PGA specifications.
These features have given the club a reputation as one of Queensland’s best-maintained and most challenging nine-hole courses.
Weekly medley competitions are open to visitors and members. The club also hosts weddings, corporate events and private functions in its course-side marquee.
Discovery Coast Tourism and Commerce is the region’s official tourism organisation and chamber of commerce.
The non-profit organisation represents Agnes Water, Seventeen Seventy, Captain Creek, Baffle Creek and surrounding communities.
Its work includes destination advocacy, tourism marketing, regional events and partnerships that support economic development and community connections.
What To Look For Next?
Planning is already underway for the PGA Legends Tour to return to 1770 in 2027, with priority player registrations now open.
“So, all in all, looking forward to next year, she’ll be bigger and better than this year,” Mr Niven said.
Organisers plan to build on this year’s demand and the new partnership between the golf course and DCTC.
Further tournament information will be available through the Visit Agnes 1770 website.
