A new bridge approaching Maleny Golf Club’s first green has been named the Steve Porter Crossing, forever celebrating an historic link with one of the pioneering families on whose land the golf course now sits.

The Porter family land was combined with the adjacent Armstrong farm to create the 128 hectare Maleny Community Precinct, incorporating the 18-hole golf course.

President Jeff Kruse said gaining access to a large portion of Steve Porter’s former dairy farm within the precinct had been absolutely essential to accommodate the 18-hole, Par 68 course designed by Graham Papworth.

“Steve originally had no intention of selling his farm to the Council and took some persuading to agree, so we’ll be forever grateful that he did,” he said.

Getting rid of all the weedy trees, lantana and rocks to convert the Armstrong portion of the precinct to fairways, tees and greens, was an enormous task.

“Steve proved a tireless volunteer during this time with his tractor and slasher, to help convert the wilderness into the lovely picturesque golf course we have today,” Mr Kruse said.

Steve, 72, and now a keen golfer who usually plays twice a week on the course he helped create, has been humbled by all the fuss and honour of having the bridge linking the two properties named after him.

“As far as I’m concerned the people who should really be getting all the recognition are our greens director Rob Bailo and the great team of volunteers who helped him build the bridge,” he said.

Naming of the Steve Porter Crossing featured as part of the official opening of the final six holes of the golf course by Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson in mid-February.

The course, serviced by a top-drawer maintenance facility, is comprised of two Par 5s, 10 Par 4s and 6 Par 3s featuring unique revetted greenside bunkering, Tiffdwarf Bermuda Grass greens and Kikuyu fairways within a peaceful, scenic hinterland setting.

MALENY GOLF CLUB, QUEENSLAND

Maleny is a hidden Queensland gem in the Sunshine Coast hinterland that recently went from a 12-hole fun course to a very good 18-hole layout. With next to no budget the club has incorporated the holes into the land and not the other way around, the elevation changes, blind shots and short par 4s all making for interesting shot selections. What is now the 11th hole features a drive over a hill with a green that sits adjacent to a small wetland and the long par 3 that follows is both visually appealing and a challenge to make par. This is pure golf, where the community has ownership of the club, from raising money to volunteering their time and equipment. It’s just the perfect little course you can play, have fun with your golf buddies, forget the world and have a nice cold beer and laugh at the end of the round in a gorgeous setting. – Richard Maxwell

Full article: www.australiangolfdigest.com.au/theyre-top-100-in-our-hearts