For 75 years, Caloundra Golf Club has been a place where the beauty of nature and a love for golf have come together in a stunning outdoor setting. Set among towering trees just minutes from the town centre, the course has become both a sanctuary for golfers and a gathering place for generations of locals. In 2026, the club celebrates its 75th anniversary – a milestone that reflects the course’s reputation and the enduring community that surrounds it.
Today, Caloundra Golf Club is thriving, guided by a strong management team and a passionate membership base, the club has struck the right balance between honouring tradition and delivering a premium modern golfing experience. The course itself is beautifully maintained, thoughtfully designed and known for rewarding both strategy and skill.
Situated off Sugar Bag Road, near Ben Bennett Park, the course offers a rare expanse of green space in a mostly built-out coastal town. Towering trees frame wide fairways while carefully designed greens create a layout that is as scenic as it is challenging.
Players of all skill levels are welcomed. For experienced golfers, the course demands thoughtful shot-making and precision. For newcomers, the friendly atmosphere and accessible layout make it an ideal place to learn and improve.
Over the decades, the club has produced some exceptional players, including Ian Baker-Finch, who honed his skills at Caloundra before going on to win The Open Championship in 1991. The most notable female player is Cheryl Cowie, who began playing at the club in 1967 and went on to claim the club championship 22 times in 23 years between 1971 and 1993.
The club’s history stretches back even further. Its origins trace to 1936, when a humble three-hole course operated at nearby Battery Hill before World War II brought play to a halt. After the war, a determined group of locals pushed through dense bushland at the present site to establish what would become Caloundra’s golfing home.
Long-term member Rob Smith says the club has been part of his life from the very beginning. “My father and grandfather were involved before it officially opened, and I’ve been around the place since the day I was born—apparently my sisters and I were passed around the women in the clubhouse. Ever since, it’s been a huge part of my life; when I’m not working, you’ll usually find me out there golfing three or four times a week.”
Over the decades, the club has evolved into a genuine social hub for the region — a place where friendships are formed and community spirit flourishes, evident in a membership waiting list that now stretches six years long.
Rob Smith says that despite its growth, the atmosphere remains welcoming and familiar. “While the club has grown a lot over the years and there are many new faces, it still feels like a close community.”
Today, competitions, social rounds and tournaments keep the course buzzing throughout the week, while the clubhouse offers a relaxed space for members and visitors to gather. With sweeping views over the course, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a meal, a drink and a conversation about the round just played.
At 4pm each day, one of the club’s most colourful traditions unfolds – the daily feeding of the resident Rainbow Lorikeets, a ritual that has delighted members and guests since the 1970s. Moments like these capture the easy camaraderie that defines the club. Generations of members have contributed their time and volunteer spirit to shaping it into what it is today.
Celebrating 75 years is more than a nod to the past – it is a tribute to the generations of members, volunteers and staff whose passion and dedication have built the club’s enduring legacy.
And if the current momentum is any indication, the future looks every bit as promising. Here, community connection and coastal lifestyle meet on beautifully kept fairways — where traditions endure and a shared love of golf carries the club confidently into its next chapter.
