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

Not even a torrential downpour could dampen the spirits on Saturday 15th of February, 2020 when, in our opinion, the Sunshine Coast’s most picturesque golf course officially recognised the completion of the final six holes with the public golf course now boasting 18 scenic and challenging holes.

The historic event also marked the opening of the Steve Porter Crossing – a new bridge approaching the First Green on the pioneering Porter family’s land which was combined with the adjacent Armstrong farm to create the golf course and Maleny Community Precinct.

Steve Porter and Mayor Mark Jamieson unveil an image of the plaque marking the Steve Porter Crossing

The official ceremony was captured in total and is available to view on social media: MGC Final 6 Holes Opening Ceremony

(the majority of this item first published on the Sunshine Coast Council Facebook page)

After 20 years of planning, consultation and construction employing volunteer labour and nous, Maleny Golf Club will finally celebrate completion of its 18-hole golf course this Saturday 15th February when Sunshine Coast Mayor Cr Mark Jamieson declares it open. The historic event will also mark the opening of the Steve Porter Crossing – a new bridge approaching the First Green on the pioneering Porter family’s land, which was combined with the adjacent Armstrong farm to create the golf course and Maleny Community Precinct.

President Jeff Kruse said the club had faced many challenges since plans to establish a golf club in Maleny gained traction in 1999 and owed a great debt to his long-serving predecessor Dr Max Whitten whose efforts were rewarded with a Queensland Government Sports Volunteer of the Year award in 2015. “This golf course would never have been built had it not been for the grit, determination and unwavering leadership provided by Max who only stepped down last September after 19 years as President when the finishing post finally came into sight,” Jeff said. “This day marks the end of the club’s rather long beginning and start of a bright future as the home of golf in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland – and an exciting focal point for other sporting and community pursuits such as cross country running and astronomy.”

The quality course, serviced by a top-drawer maintenance facility, was largely constructed by volunteers supported by local contractors, Bernie Porter and David Lowden, together with strategic input from professional golf course shapers. The course covers about 25 per cent of the Maleny Community Precinct – the rest being devoted to other sports, effluent disposal, heritage, walking paths, rainforest and wetlands. Jeff said construction had started in 2014 with a total budget of

around $1.6 million, following extensive community consultation over the precinct. “We certainly appreciate the pivotal financial support provided by the Sunshine Coast Council, with whom we have developed a great working relationship, as well as absolutely essential grant assistance from both the State and Federal Governments,” he said. “Our Superintendent Mick McCombe has really worked miracles with volunteers and contractors to oversee the transformation of dairy pastures and some dense weedy patches into a quality course. In the process he won two national and one state award for excellence.”

Golf Australia has recognised that the future of golf lies in quality community golf courses like Maleny’s located in regions with mild climates, an abundant water supply and proximity to urban areas free from the severe land-use pressures being experienced in our larger cities.

The Official Opening will commence at 12.30pm and the formalities should be completed by 1.30pm.

Other honoured guests include Cr Jenny McKay, Deputy Mayor Tim Dwyer, former Caloundra City Council Mayor Don Aldous, Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace and course architect Graham Papworth.

Social golf will resume after 2pm but bookings are recommended.

You can also follow Maleny Golf Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malenygolfclub