Venue
Gailes Golf Club is situated on the western outskirts of Brisbane, on the Ipswich Road, and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1999.
Gailes is an attractive, long course, with interesting bunkers, and minimal water. It has excellent drainage and is arguably the best wet weather course in Brisbane.
Gailes was lucky enough to host the 1955 Australian Open which was won by South African Bobby Locke (Pictured below)
Please Visit Gailes Website for more info and pics of the historic course.
The 1955 Australian Open
As Thursday, the 26th May, 1955 approached, the incessant rain was causing deep concern. Many members took the week off work and the staff members together with the green staff kindly lent by other clubs overcame all the preliminary difficulties. All the clubs assisted but Oxley was outstanding. That club's offer, which was gratefully accepted, was "take all the men, just leave us one on Friday to cut the greens."
The Open commenced in clear weather but the respite was temporary. The rain came back and by early afternoon it was torrential. Water cascaded down the roadway past the eleventh tee, overflowing the mounds behind the seventeenth to inundate that green. Players, officials and spectators stood by helplessly as the first day's play was seriously in jeopardy.
It was that fine golfer from Cairns, Ray Howarth, who came up with the idea that saved the day. He said "why don't we build a wall?" There was a quick meeting of the Match Committee and the decision was to give it a go. Officials, spectators and players set to immediately and with double handfuls of sand from the big bunker added several inches to the height of the mound.
The impromptu levee worked. The stream was diverted and the green drained. A "GUR" peg for the bunker and the Open was on again in the rain. The first day’s play was saved.
Throughout the crisis, the ever optimistic Frank Foley was forecasting to all and sundry that this was the clearing shower. No one was then impressed but he was right. The rain cleared and the sun came out about 2pm and after that the westerlies blew.
Despite the weather, Kel Nagle turned in a 70 on the first day, followed by Indooroopilly's Peter Davies on 71. Victorian Doug Bachli, then the reigning British Amateur Champion, was next on 72.
On the second day, South African, Bobby Locke (Pictured Above), put a 70 with his first round 75 and Lee Wilson scored a 72. On the morning of the third day, Tasmanian, Peter Toogood, then the Amateur Champion of Australia and the leading Amateur in the 1954 British Open hit a 69.
In the final round on the third afternoon, Bobby Locke needed his 69 and his total of 290 to win by one stroke from New South Wales professionals Kel Nagle and Norman von Nida, both of whom had scored consistently. Jack Coogan was fourth with 296. This score led the amateurs.
