Brisbane 2032 Archives

Queensland Loses the PGA Championship for First Time in 26 Years as Royal Queensland Prepares for 2032

The BMW Australian PGA Championship will leave Queensland for the first time since 2000, with the 2026 edition heading to The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney after Brisbane’s Royal Queensland Golf Club enters a significant phase of upgrades in preparation for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The tournament, one of Australia’s most prestigious golf events, will run from 26 to 29 November at The Lakes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, marking the first time New South Wales has hosted the PGA Championship in almost 30 years. The move brings to an end a 26-year Queensland run that has wound through three iconic venues and helped grow the event into a genuine global drawcard.

For Eagle Farm locals and Brisbane golf fans who have watched the PGA attract up to 50,000 spectators across four days at Royal Queensland over the past five years, the temporary departure stings. But tourism and events leaders are confident the championship will return to Queensland once the Olympic upgrade work is complete.

Why Royal Queensland Had to Step Aside

Royal Queensland will add a new nine-hole layout, a riverside pavilion, and enhanced training and recreational facilities as part of its approved masterplan, with the club confirmed as the venue for men’s and women’s golf events at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The club was granted its Royal Charter by King George V in 1921 and has hosted the Australian Open three times, but the scale of the Olympic preparation work now underway makes it unsuitable as a PGA host venue in the near term.

Photo Credit: Royal Queensland Golf Club (Nick of Airswing Media)/Facebook

The search for an alternative Brisbane home for the 2026 PGA Championship came up short. No venue within Queensland was found that could comfortably accommodate the event’s full footprint, including the 50,000 spectators across four days, the on-course infrastructure and the operational requirements the tournament now demands at its current scale.

Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Craig Davidson said the venue change reflected Royal Queensland entering a significant phase of works to ensure the course met future world-class standards. “TEQ has a strong and longstanding partnership with the PGA and remains committed to ongoing discussions about future event opportunities for Queensland,” he said.

Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said a temporary relocation was expected given the upgrade timeline. “Queensland continues to lead as Australia’s events capital, with major upgrades to be delivered at Royal Queensland Golf Club ahead of Brisbane 2032,” he said. “We welcome future opportunities to see it return once the upgraded course is complete.”

Photo Credit: Andrew Powell MP/Instagram

Twenty-Six Years of Queensland Golf

The PGA Championship has been held in Queensland continuously since 2000, initially at Royal Queensland before moving to Hyatt Coolum, later renamed Palmer Coolum, for 11 consecutive years from 2002 to 2012, then to Royal Pines on the Gold Coast from 2013 to 2019. The event returned to Royal Queensland for 2021 and has remained there for the past five editions, building the tournament’s international stature alongside its co-sanctioning with the DP World Tour.

The BMW Australian PGA Championship launches the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai each season and has become a key part of Australia’s sporting summer, with the world’s leading players regularly making the trip for what is now a genuinely global event. PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman described the move to Sydney as an exciting opportunity.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with NSW authorities in bringing the BMW Australian PGA Championship back to Sydney,” he said. “The city is synonymous with world-class sporting events and we are thrilled that we are able to return to The Lakes Golf Club.”

The Lakes is a three-time previous host of the BMW Australian PGA Championship and has staged eight editions of the Australian Open, which it last jointly hosted in 2023.

Queensland Golf’s Broader Picture

While the PGA Championship heads south, Queensland’s women’s golf calendar is growing stronger. The 2026 Australian WPGA Championship was held at the Palms Course at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club on the Gold Coast from 19 to 22 March, offering a $600,000 prize purse and co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour, with plans to build the event further as a major in its own right.

The PGA of Australia said it was focused on building momentum with the championship for the long term. “The BMW Australian PGA Championship has become a standout event on the DP World Tour and a key part of Australia’s sporting summer,” a spokesperson said. “Planning for future editions of the event is focused on building on that momentum and delivering an even better experience for players and fans.”

With Royal Queensland’s upgraded course and expanded Olympic-standard facilities expected to be complete ahead of 2032, Queensland golf’s flagship event has every reason to come home.

Published 17-April-2026

Royal Queensland Golf Club Redevelopment Approved in Eagle Farm

Photo Credit: MID-0125-0907

A redevelopment of the Royal Queensland Golf Club in Eagle Farm has been approved, including a new nine-hole course, pavilion, and upgrades to existing facilities.

A Century-Old Venue Prepares For Change

The Royal Queensland Golf Club, which has a history of more than 100 years, will undergo a major redevelopment following the approval of a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation. The site has been identified as a potential venue for golf events during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

New Facilities To Support International Sport

The redevelopment plan features a championship-standard nine-hole course, an Eastern Pavilion with amenities and an undercover deck, an administration building, and a kiosk. Outdoor racquet sport facilities are also included. This is alongside upgrades to the existing course. These works form part of wider preparations for hosting international sporting events.

Royal Queensland Golf Club — Photo Credit: MID-0125-0907

Returning Golf To Eagle Farm’s Eastern Side

The redevelopment will return golf facilities to land east of the Gateway bridges at Eagle Farm, an area that once formed part of the club’s original course. The project is intended not only to support Olympic requirements but also to contribute to the long-term future of the venue.

Mixed Community Reactions To Approval

Public opinion has been mixed. Comments on social media raised concerns about other priorities such as healthcare, housing and public infrastructure, while others acknowledged the redevelopment as an opportunity to strengthen Brisbane’s sporting legacy and tourism profile linked to the 2032 Games.

Brisbane 2032 — Photo Credit: MID-0125-0907

Next Steps For The Royal Queensland Golf Club

With approval granted, the Royal Queensland Golf Club is now able to move forward with its redevelopment plan. The upgrades are aligned with preparation for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, after which the enhanced facilities will continue to serve members and the sporting community.

Published 29-Sep-2025

Homegrown Legacy: Greg Norman and Royal Queensland’s Road to Brisbane 2032

A historic full-circle moment is unfolding at Eagle Farm’s Royal Queensland Golf Club, as former shop assistant turned global golfing icon Greg Norman AO joins the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee (OCOG). For local residents, this appointment carries special significance as their neighbourhood golf club prepares for its Olympic destiny.

Read: Summer Surge: How the North Brisbane Property Market is Heating Up in 2025

From Pro Shop to Olympic Leadership

Greg Norman, who once worked in Royal Queensland’s pro shop during the 1970s, now returns in a pivotal role, helping to shape the club’s transformation into an Olympic venue. Reflecting on this journey, Norman remarked, “In my youth in the 70’s I worked in the golf shop at Royal Queensland and now that course will be the home of golf at Brisbane 2032.”

“As a proud Queenslander it is an honour and privilege to help shape the Brisbane Games.”

Greg Norman Shapes Olympic Future of Royal Queensland

Since its founding in 1920, Royal Queensland has been a cornerstone of the Eagle Farm community, hosting numerous prestigious tournaments. Now, it stands on the cusp of an unprecedented evolution. As the venue prepares to welcome the world’s best golfers in 2032, Norman’s deep-rooted connection to the club adds an invaluable perspective to its Olympic planning.

*Photo Credit: CC-BY 2.0 / Ted Van Pelt / Flickr*

OCOG President Andrew Liveris reinforced the significance of his involvement, stating, “What better Queensland sports brand than Greg Norman? He will help elevate our state and our city on the global stage over the next seven years.”

Read: Olympic Stadium Debate Heats Up in Ascot: Doomben Racecourse at Risk

Beyond his sporting achievements, Norman brings substantial business expertise to the role. As chairman and CEO of the Greg Norman Company, he has overseen successful ventures in apparel, interior design, real estate, and golf course design—experience that could prove invaluable in Brisbane’s Olympic development.

As Royal Queensland Golf Club prepares to welcome the world’s best golfers in 2032, the community can take pride in knowing that one of their own is helping guide the way.

Published 31-January-2025

Queensland Cricket Sounds Alarm Over Gabba’s Revamp, Proposes Renovation of Allan Border Field

Artist interpretation of Queensland Cricket’s vision | Photo Credit: Queensland Cricket / qldcricket.com.au

Queensland Cricket’s Chairman Chris Simpson, and Chief Executive Terry Svenson have proposed a revitalisation of Allan Border Field. The proposed revamp is to be done ahead of the comprehensive reconstruction of the Gabba, in preparation for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Queensland Cricket recently called for a significant renovation of Allan Border Field citing the Gabba’s unavailability during rebuild, scheduled to commence in December 2025.

The Gabba is in line for a substantial upgrade that comes with an estimated price tag of AUD$ 2.7 billion, as it assumes the central role for the 2032 Olympic Games.

An open letter from Queensland Cricket expresses these concerns, stating in part that: “As a result, we face the real prospect of losing important Test and BBL cricket matches from Queensland to interstate venues during the pre-Olympic displacement from the Gabba and hold a reasonable fear that a suitable solution to enable continuity of matches in Brisbane may not meet our needs or expectations.”

They further said that, “as a not-for-profit body, our concerns encompass the effect such uncertainty could have on participation throughout Queensland and the ensuing material financial impact across multiple areas of the sport, including at the grass roots level. We are preparing ourselves for a worst-case scenario where cricket could face the loss of access to the Gabba for potentially greater than seven years during the period of demolition, construction, and post-Games return.”

At present, Allan Border Field serves as the host venue for women’s international matches, the Women’s Big Bash League, and domestic fixtures. Simpson and Svenson advocate for strategic enhancements to enable the facility to broaden its hosting scope, deeming this approach the most sensible, cost-effective, and timely course of action for the sport.

“We see the Allan Border Field precinct playing a major role in hosting more cricket while the Gabba is being redeveloped, while other options presently available to cricket will mitigate some of the displacement challenges, including Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast and regional centres.”
Queensland Cricket

“Queensland Cricket will strongly advocate for top level cricket (Test Matches, Women’s, and Men’s Big Bash League (W/BBL), ODIs, T20Is) to continue to be played in Brisbane during those seasons when the Gabba is unavailable. The most efficient, cost-effective, and timely option to enable this is for Allan Border Field to be upgraded with a capacity of 10,000 permanent seats.”

Their vision for the Albion site entails expanding its seating capacity to 10,000 permanent seats—an impressive increase of 3,500 from its existing capacity of 6,500. Notably, Allan Border Field is already equipped with a fixed wicket block and cricket-specific infrastructure, encompassing elements such as sight screens, a vision screen, field lighting, and broadcasting necessities. The facility also includes outdoor and indoor training amenities.

In the upcoming Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Gabba is designated to host athletics competitions as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Published 13-August-2023

Royal QLD Golf Club in Eagle Farm Eyeing New Short Courses, Practice Facilities

Royal Queensland Golf Club is planning to develop its premises in Eagle Farm, a multimillion-dollar expansion that would include par-3 short courses and practice facilities.

Read: World-Class Hypersonic Precinct Opens in Eagle Farm

After considering a range of options, the Club announced, through a circular sent to members, its plans to invest in short courses and practice facilities to cater to members such as business executives who don’t have much time to play their favourite sport.

Short courses are defined as anything under 6,000 yards. They are divided into three categories: 9-hole courses, par-3 courses and sub-6k-yard courses of any number of holes.

Photo credit: Royal Queensland Golf Club/Facebook

Although short courses still provide plenty of challenge, they don’t require players to hit the ball excessively, allowing them to score better whilst saving time and developing their golf skills.

The club did not reveal much about the expansion plans but will conduct an online poll by October 2022 to allow members to have their say on the recommendation.

They previously recommended the establishment of a Top Golf facility, but members opposed the plans, believing that it would diminish the brand of Royal Queensland.

Top Golf does not have a dress code whereas Royal Queensland’s dress code states that members are required to dress and present themselves both on the course and in the clubhouse in a manner respectful of each other and consistent with the club’s standards.

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In the golf and tennis areas, for instance, men’s shirts must be collared and tucked in, short socks must be mainly white, and shoes must be soft spikes only.

Royal Queensland Golf Club believes the interest in the club will remain strong, especially after their successful delivery of the Australian PGA Championship earlier this year.

The expansion also comes ahead of the anticipated Brisbane 2032 Olympics, where the elite club has been confirmed as host of golf competitions.