On Sunday May 22 up to 400 runners will converge on the picturesque Maleny Golf Club.

Andrew Bock (left) & Jeremy Wilson measuring out the course for the upcoming race in the Sunshine Coast Cross Country Series

Up to 400 runners aged from under eight to over 70 will converge on the picturesque Maleny Golf Club on Sunday May 22 for the next Sunshine Coast Cross Country Series race over distances varying from 500m to 10km.

Race series coordinator Andrew Bock [left in accompanying images with assistant Jeremy Wilson] from the Maroochydore Athletics Club said the spectator-friendly course would be comprised of a 3km loop around the extremities of the golf course and a 1km internal loop.

“We are really looking forward to this fourth race event in the series because the course at Maleny provides spectators with a fantastic vantage point from which to watch all the action without losing sight of the competitors,” he said.

Maleny Golf Club President Dr Max Whitten said providing access to the golf course as a cross country race venue aligned with the club’s community engagement program.

“There will be a cost to the golf club because Sunday mornings are usually one of our busier times, but we are very keen to embrace such opportunities which broaden community access to this beautiful tract of open space,” Dr Whitten said.

Mr Bock said plans were afoot to promote the Maleny Golf Club course as a potential future venue for Queensland’s annual Cross Country Championships.

“There will be several observers attending the Maleny event on behalf of Queensland Athletics, including World Cross Country gold medallist Benita Willis,” Mr Bock said.

Racing starts at 8am. The golf course will re-open for play at 10:00am and visitors are more than welcome to book in and play a round.